Personnel: John Zorn, Tim Berne (alto saxophone); Mark Dresser (bass); Joey Baron, Michael Vatcher (drums).

Recorded at the Power Station, New York, New York on August 18 & 19, 1988.

John Zorn teams up with fellow altoist Tim Berne, bassist Mark Dresser and both Joey Baron and Michael Vatcher on drums to perform 17 Ornette Coleman tunes which range chronologically from 1958's "Disguise" to four selections from 1987's In All Languages. The performances are concise with all but four songs being under three minutes and seven under two, but the interpretations are unremittingly violent. The lack of variety in either mood or routine quickly wears one out. After about ten minutes, boredom sets in, although, when taken in short doses, the performances have the potential of shocking (or at least annoying) most listeners. ~ Scott Yanow

Old school jazz fans might very well be horrified at this tribute to Ornette Coleman by saxophonist, experimentalist and musical deconstructionist extraordinaire John Zorn. Coleman's retooling of jazz syntax, his theories of harmolodic structure and, moreover, the tenacity of his radical vision, have clearly had enormous influence on Zorn who, it might be said, has carried his mentor's torch into a chaotic musical universe that includes pop genres and hyperactive collage. Here Zorn applies his Coleman-inspired free-form ballistics to Coleman himself.

SPY VS. SPY features 17 Coleman compositions, sequenced chronologically with tracks ranging from 1958's SOMETHING ELSE to 1987's IN ALL LANGUAGES. But while the music here owes Coleman a debt in conception and attitude, it is far from a straightforward tribute. In fact, Zorn's approach borrows at least as much from hardcore thrash, as the songs are executed at a breakneck pace, with each collapsed to under three minutes of earth shaking drums, rumbling bass and squealing twin saxes. The set should prove of interest to Coleman collectors, Zorn fans and avant-noise enthusiasts.

Goldmine - Highly Recommended "...a masterpiece of mayhem."