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viewing 1 To 16 of 16 items
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LP
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IF 034LP
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"Regularly hailed as one the most important composers of the late 20th century, John Zorn is comfortable at the helm of an ensemble, as improviser on an array of instruments, and as a bold theorist of collaboration. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the New York artist and operator of the esteemed Tzadik label became known for assembling hardcore-inflected jazz ensembles and for devising 'game systems,' or intricate musical conditions intended to force players into new territory. Released in 1990 on Nonesuch, Naked City bears a stark cover photograph by Weegee -- noted for his unsparing images of New York crime scenes -- and features one of the more staggering 'rock' lineups ever assembled: Zorn on alto saxophone, guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Fred Frith, drummer Joey Baron, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, and vocalist Yamatsuka Eye. Naked City is a maelstrom of styles, veering recklessly between country, noise, New Orleans R&B, polka, and grindcore, with overtures from detective shows and film noir. In other words, it's a daring maelstrom of American musical vernacular. It also explodes the rock format's supposed limitation and retains a wildly intersectional listenership: devotees of punk, free jazz, and harsh noise celebrate Naked City. In short, as one writer put it, Naked City remains a 'pinnacle of avant coolness.'"
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TZ 7385
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"Called in at the last minute to score this bizarre and fascinating black comedy out of the Netherlands, Zorn responded to the stark black and white cinematography by turning in this intimate and moody score for piano trio. Brilliantly performed by Rob Burger, the fabulous pianist from Alhambra Love Songs, along with the dynamic rhythm section of Trevor Dunn and Kenny Wollesen, they capture the mood beautifully, bringing a subtle depth to Zorn's lyrical and evocative compositions. Touching upon Debussy, Glass, Guaraldi and Satie, this is a fabulously enjoyable installment of the popular FilmWorks series!"
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TZ 7382
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"Radical in both conception and execution, Zorn's studio compositions are among his most personal and unique creations. Owing as much to film as to any musical model, these evocative postmodern tone poems have been described as cinema for your ears. This CD presents two exciting new pieces. The first, Dictée, is a ritualistic homage to Korean/American writer and conceptual artist Theresa Hak-Kyung Cha, whose brilliant work about loss, memory, language and identity is finally receiving due respect. The second piece, Liber Novus is a mythic psychodrama inspired by the legendary Red Book of Carl Jung; scored for keyboards, percussion and sound effects, this is truly Zorn at his best. Two outrageous, intense and poetically beautiful pieces filled with dynamic moments of sonic drama and experimental lyricism on one CD."
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TZ 7374
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"In an easy listening mode, Alhambra Love Songs is Zorn's touching and lyrical ode to the San Francisco/Bay Area and the wonderful artists who have made it their home. Including tributes to artists as diverse as Vince Guaraldi, Clint Eastwood, David Lynch, Mike Patton and Harry Smith, the music is some of the most beautiful and soothing Zorn has ever written. Touching on the jazz/pop/funk trios of Vince Guaraldi and Ramsey Lewis, the music is scored for a remarkable piano trio of Rob Burger (Rufus Wainwright, Marianne Faithfull, Laurie Anderson), Greg Cohen (Ornette Coleman, Masada, Burt Bacharach) and Ben Perowsky (Uri Caine, Steve Bernstein, John Lurie). Evocative and endlessly listenable, this is perhaps the single most charming CD in Zorn's entire catalog, and will appeal to fans of Vince Guaraldi, Ahmad Jamal, Henry Mancini and even George Winston!"
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TZ 7373
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"Eleven cues recorded for a striking documentary focusing on the life of controversial Mexican dictator Plutarco Elias Calles who was called everything from a nun-burner to the father of modern Mexico. Beautiful and dramatic, the music is scored for guitar, marimba, accordion/piano and bass and subtly draws upon Mexican, Spanish, minimalist and soundtrack traditions. Zorn's fifth film score in as many months is a pure delight. Moody and exotic music for a creative and revealing film dealing with truth and the complexity of history!"
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TZ 7366
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"Continuing in the tradition of his popular album The Gift, Zorn again combines a lifetime of musical passions -- world music, movie soundtracks, jazz, minimalism, exotica, funk, surf rock and more -- to create a vibrant and multifaceted album of instrumental fairy tales. Masterfully performed by the all-star players from Electric Masada, The Dreamers is a project of breathtaking variety and will attract listeners of all backgrounds and ages. Bathed in a lush package created by the acclaimed artist and exclusive Tzadik graphic designer, Chippy, and accompanied by a sheet of collectable character stickers, The Dreamers is one of Zorn's most beautiful and appealing projects. Seductive lyricism, hypnotic grooves, catchy hooks and romantic moods from this genre-bashing master of surprise."
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TZ 8035
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"Three distinctive instrumental works touching upon themes of magic and mysticism. Goetia are spells and incantations for summoning demonic spirits and this colorful set of variations for solo violin draws upon the ancient alliance between the violin and the devil. 'Gris-Gris' is a virtuosic work for thirteen tuned drums inspired by the music of Korean shamanism, Haitian voodoo and a scene from Howard Hawks' classic film To Have and Have Not. It receives a spectacular performance by one of the world's leading avant-garde percussionists -- William Winant. Completing the program is one of Zorn's most personal and elusive ensemble pieces. Scored for clavichord, three muted strings and percussion, 'Shibboleth' is a stunning tribute to the enigmatic Jewish poet, Paul Celan."
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TZ 7357
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"Zorn's newest project is a hardcore song cycle scored for voice, bass and drums. This powerful rock unit features three of his most illustrious, longtime cohorts who have worked together in bands such as Naked City, Fantomas, Mr. Bungle and Electric Masada and are keenly in tune with Zorn's language and aesthetic. Musicians are always at their best in Zorn projects and Moonchild is no exception. You have never heard these players as up front, on the edge or as inspired as they are here, raging through eleven pieces of terrifying intensity. Drawing on preverbal language and the primal power of rock music, this is Torture Garden with an alchemical twist -- spontaneous, complex and evocative. Eleven new Zorn compositions executed with a ritualistic passion that will take your breath away."
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TZ 8011
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"Owls, Windmachines, Gravedigging and Ritual Magick, Zorn's strange and mystical monodrama for mezzo soprano and ten instruments is presented here in a beautiful new studio recording. Composed for the Bayreuth Opera Festival in 1998, the Rituals premiere was a bit of a scandal, with the audience split down the middle... half outraged detractors, stomping out, whistling and jeering and half cheering supporters. Performed here by a stellar group of Zorn regulars and some very special guests, Rituals is opera at its virtuosic and intimate best. Five movements of magic and alchemy from the crucible of an uncompromising and unpredictable musical maverick."
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TZ 7171
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"In 1993, John Zorn began composing and performing his 208 tunes that now comprise what is known as the 'Masada' songbook. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this, his most popular musical project, John Zorn has organized a series of CDs, featuring his most illustrious colleagues performing their own unique arrangements of these classics of modern Jewish music. This first release contains three guitarists whose styles are as varied as the compositions they perform. From the singular brilliance of Marc Ribot, the lush sonorities of Bill Frisell, to the orchestral virtuosity of Tim Sparks, Masada Guitars is a glittering tribute, lovingly executed by three of the most original guitarists in the world."
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TZ 3162
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"Original recordings from 1980. In a catalog of bizarre oddities, this CD could be the weirdest yet. Written in 1978 the composition Hockey has produced some of the strangest music ever conceived. By limiting each improviser's personal language to five sounds and carrying them through a complex structure of solos, duos and trios, Hockey forces its interpreters to focus on timing, economy and context. Featuring all the music recorded at the original 1980 session (including over twenty minutes of unreleased material) this CD contains both the electric and acoustic versions of this startlingly bizarre piece."
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TZ 7328
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"Boasting an incredible all-star lineup of musical masters, The Big Gundown is the landmark album that first introduced Zorn's wild musical universe to a larger audience, influencing a whole new generation of creative musicians. Newly remastered, this 15th anniversary edition includes six remarkable bonus tracks recorded especially for this definitive edition now available exclusively from Tzadik. Accompanying this classic pairing of Morricone's brilliant originals and Zorn's exciting arrangements is a fabulous 32 page full color booklet filled with informative notes, movie stills, posters, and more. 'This is a record that has fresh, good and intelligent ideas. It is realization on a high level, a work done by a maestro with great science-fantasy and creativity. At times my works have been varied from but it doesn't change anything because the pieces are still recognizable. My ideas have been realized not in a passive manner, but in an active manner which has recreated and re-invented what have have done previously for films. Many people have done versions of my pieces, but no one has done them like this.' -- Ennio Morricone. It's also worth noting that the bonus tracks feature contributions by Derek Bailey, Mike Patton, Joey Baron, Trevor Dunn, Marc Ribot, etc.
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TZ 3163
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"This second release from the acclaimed box set The Parachute Years features some of the strangest music ever put to tape. Containing the essential seed that was to grow into Zorn's legendary gamepiece 'Cobra', the extended composition 'Pool' was a major step in Zorn's compositional development. Featuring electronics wizard Bob Ostertag, percussion madmen Mark E. Miller and Charles K. Noyes (The Toy Killers), the legendary master of noise violin Polly Bradfield and of course the composer himself on sax, clarinets and duck calls, this is one of Zorn's most rigorous and enigmatic game composition. Included as a bonus track is the original test and false start of 'Archery'."
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TZ 7321
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Originally issued in 1998, now reissued. "Revised and remastered for its 10th anniversary! There has never been a CD quite like Music For Children. The first installment of Zorn's challenging and controversial Music Romance trilogy (that includes Taboo and Exile and The Gift) it is easily one of the most eclectic CDs ever made. The music includes three short Torture Garden compositions performed by Zorn with the scorching hardcore band Prelapse; a soulful piece of Masada exotica; a virtuosic classical chamber piece for violin, piano and percussion; a poly-rhythmic etude for voice and percussion and a charming nostalgic lullaby for music box. The highlight of this re-release is a revised version of Zorn's infamously epic ear-bender 'Cycles du Nord,' which takes on new intensity through overdubbed bass drums and a newly recorded noise guitar track by none other than the master of feedback himself -- Lou Reed! Intensely intriguing, Music For Children is an unbelievable musical roller coast ride that takes you from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again in sixty jam-packed minutes."
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TZ 7320
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"Written a few months after the session that created one of Zorn's most influential compositional masterpieces, Spillane, The Bribe is a major new discovery in the Zorn oeuvre. Recorded in the same style as Spillane, with the same engineer, and very close to the same ensemble, these cues are not unlike an extended version of that classic piece. Created originally for three thirty minute radio plays produced by Mabou Mines theater company back in 1986, this exciting music features lush moody orchestrations, swinging jazz, hard rock, groovy funk, noise, improvisations, exotic ambience and much, much more."
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TZ 7009
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Composition for solo guitar, from 1978. Originally written for Eugene Chadbourne, it is performed here by Marc Ribot. "I took the scores home and stared at them for a long time in complete bewilderment. Virtually every note involved some sort of extended technique, non-traditional notation or nearly impossible juxtaposition. This was not surprising, given the task Zorn had set out for himself: to compose in the language of the late 70's/early 80's 'free improv' guitarists (Chadbourne, Frith, Bailey), a language most had assumed to be unnotatable."--Ribot.
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viewing 1 To 16 of 16 items
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