Filmworks Xii: 3 Documentaries

Artist: John Zorn
Label: Tzadik
Category: Music

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Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 702397734024
EAN: 0702397734024
ASIN: B00006C2QG

Release Date: 2002-08-27

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Tracks:

Vocal Phase
The Lips At Sway
The Well Tuned Harmonica
Dance Piece
Midnight Flight
Chippy Charm
Shaolin Spirit
Bamboo Forest
Shaolin Ulysses
Shaolin Bossa
Travelling West
Temple Song
Shaolin Family
Nostalgia
Shaolin Mambo
Transition
Shaolin Bossa (Fast)
Vegas
Kung Fu Percussion
Shaolin Spirit (Duo)
Shaolin Bossa Vibe
Shaolin Dream
Shaolin Ulysses (End Titles)
Family Found (Vocal)
Family Found (Solo Arco)
Family Found (Solo Pizz)
Family Found (Cello)

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Customer Reviews:

Three superb scores........2006-02-08

"Film Works XII: Three Documentaries" brings together three brief scores by John Zorn composed in 2002.

Six cues for "Homecoming: Celebrating Twenty Years of Dance at PS 122" open the disc. Recorded primarily by the composer at keyboards and glass harmonica with Mark Feldman (violin), Jennifer Charles (vocals) and Jamie Saft (wurlitzer) all contributing, the pieces are startlingly diverse. Zorn links three pieces to early minimalism although I hear more Brian Eno's early loop work in several pieces-- the cascading layered vocals of "Vocal Phase", with layered vocals (all from Charles) coming in and out of prominence and the circular organ riffs of "Midnight Flight" for example. Admittedly, tense "The Well Tuned Harmonica", where a sustained chord that sounds as if its designed to grate, does hint at the sort of late '60s minimalism, althoguh the remainder of the record is far too driven and, well, danceable to ever be though of in that way. This isn't a criticism-- the brief score is highly enjoyable, but an observation. Saft digs deep for the funky lines of "The Lips at Sway" and it's just a brilliant performance regardless of form.

The second score on here (and also with the most cues) is for the documentary "Shaolin Ulysses". A piece about Shaolin Monks settling in other parts of the world, Zorn chose to attempt to illustrate the placement of the monks in a foreign environment by attacking various forms of Western music, but with an Eastern lead voice. To this end, Zorn pits the pipa (often thought of as a Chinese lute) performed by virtuoso Min Xiao-Fen against a quartet featuring guitar virtuoso Marc Ribot supported by bassist Trevor Dunn and percussionists Roberto Rodriguez and Cyro Baptista. The results are nothing short of stunning, and prove to be among the best of Zorn's soundtrack work. Largely with Ribot providing a framework through a number of genres for Min to solo on top of, the pieces prove surprisingly diverse, tackling Spanish guitar traditions ("Shaolin Spirit"), bossa nova ("Shaolin Bossa"), Morriconesque pop ("Shaolin Family") and Eastern Asian traditions ("Temple Song"). Along the way, Zorn gives a percussion workout ("Kung Fu Percussion"), a couple delicate string duets ("the reprise of "Shaolin Spirit", "Nostalgia") and a piece bizarrely reminiscent of "La Bamba". In the end, it's really something to hear, simply fantastic work throughout.

The third score on here is four cues for "Family Found", a documentary about a man who built dolls to be his family evidentally. For this, Zorn wrote one theme and brought in cellist Erik Friedlander and vocalist Jennifer Charles to perform it in a number of variations. The theme is mournful and oddly hopeful, and goes a long way to reminding you that Zorn is capable of staggering beauty, in particular in the company of cellist Erik Friedlander.

Together, these three scores make for a fine record and this proves to be one of the most satisfactory entries in Zorn's catalog. Highly recommended.

my favorite zorn.......2003-03-25

this album touched me more deeply than almost any zorn album i own, aside from "duras:duchamp" and "aporias." surprisingly the only pieces i wasn't particularly fond of were the minimalist pieces (i am a great fan of minimalism, aside from the vocal phase, performed by jennifer charles. dance piece, with mark feldman on violin, is also enjoyable, even though it is one of the noisiest tracks on the album (aside from "kung fu percussion). the "shaolin ulysses" soundtrack is actually quite lovely; a collection of eastern-tinged bossa and jazz tunes. the highlights of these (in my opinion) are: shaolin mambo, shaolin spirit, and shaolin bossa (in all its permutations). the last film score on the album, "family found," is mesmerizing and beautiful. although there is essentially only one song here, the rhythm and melody are lovely, and complement each other...well, in my opinion, aside from the opening moments of duras, this is the most beautiful and mellifluous piece of music zorn has ever written. it bears similarities in mood to zorn's "untitled"(a tribute to joseph cornell), however the tonality of the piece here is much more straightforward. lovely, and jennifer charles' giggling voice is absolutely haunting.

Wow, particularly good Zorn!.......2002-09-12

This represents one of Zorn's stronger "Film Works" entries. All the compositions stand up outside the context of the film, and the bulk of the work from the ensemble including Marc Ribot and Cyro Baptista is wonderful. Ribot's acoustic blending with Chinese pipa is an inspired collaboration. Those who liked "The Circle Maker" should be happy with this collection.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em ~ Eric B & Rakim

The Weak's End ~ Emery

Wendy Lands Sings the Music of the Pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman

Dedicato A ~ Le Stelle di Mario Schifano

Hopefulness ~ Michael Carpenter

Alive: The Classic Hits Tour ~ 10cc

Super Hits ~ The Emotions

The New Danger ~ Mos Def

Face Off II ~ Various Artists

Crest ~ Da Unda Dogg