JOHN ZORN

FILMWORKS III : 1990-1995

 Thieves Quartet (1993), directed by Joe Chappelle
  1/  Main Title                                 (Zorn)                        1.00
  2/  The Caper                                  (Zorn)                        0.57
  3/  Cadence                                    (Zorn)                        0.15
  4/  Kidnapping                                 (Zorn)                        2.15
  5/  Doubt                                      (Zorn)                        0.19
  6/  Nocturne 1                                 (Zorn)                        0.26
  7/  Nocturne 2                                 (Zorn)                        0.55
  8/  Bag Man                                    (Zorn)                        2.00
  9/  The Cop                                    (Zorn)                        0.27
  10/ Nocturne 3                                 (Zorn)                        0.55
  11/ Juke Box                                   (Zorn)                        2.45
  12/ End Titles                                 (Zorn)                        4.28

 Music For Tsunta (1988), directed by Kiriko Kubo
  13/ Music For Tsunta (nine cues)               (Zorn)                        3.31

 Hollywood Hotel (1994), directed by Mei-Juin Chen
  14/ Main Titles                                (Zorn)                        1.36
  15/ Washing Machine a                          (Zorn)                        0.26
  16/ Washing Machine b                          (Zorn)                        0.39
  17/ Night Hotel                                (Zorn)                        1.17
  18/ Japanese Tourists                          (Zorn)                        1.54
  19/ Night Hotel 2                              (Zorn)                        1.18
  20/ Objects                                    (Zorn)                        3.16
  21/ Night Hotel 3                              (Zorn)                        1.00
  22/ Rooftop Death Rattle                       (Zorn)                        0.59
  23/ Taiwan                                     (Zorn)                        3.48
  24/ End Titles                                 (Zorn)                        1.50

 Music For Weiden and Kennedy (1990-1995)
  25/ Holland                                    (Zorn)                        0.16
  26/ Canada                                     (Zorn)                        0.31
  27/ France                                     (Zorn)                        0.16
  28/ Germany                                    (Zorn)                        0.33
  29/ Sweden                                     (Zorn)                        0.30
  30/ USA                                        (Zorn)                        0.28
  31/ Canada 2                                   (Zorn)                        0.15
  32/ Sweden 2                                   (Zorn)                        0.15
  33/ Italy                                      (Zorn)                        0.14
  34/ Great Lobby                                (Zorn)                        0.33
  35/ Wheelchair Races                           (Zorn)                        0.42
  36/ Logo                                       (Zorn)                        0.14
  37/ Secret Code                                (Zorn)                        0.34
  38/ Secret Code 2                              (Zorn)                        1.04
  39/ Don't Break                                (Zorn)                        0.40
  40/ Don't Break 2                              (Zorn)                        1.09
  41/ Footnotes                                  (Zorn)                        0.35
  42/ Footnotes 2                                (Zorn)                        1.10
  43/ Retraction                                 (Zorn)                        0.41
  44/ Retraction 2                               (Zorn)                        1.15
  45/ Protest                                    (Zorn)                        0.39
  46/ Protest 2                                  (Zorn)                        1.13
  47/ Launch                                     (Zorn)                        0.42
  48/ Launch 2                                   (Zorn)                        1.14
  49/ Elevator                                   (Zorn)                        0.40
  50/ Elevator 2                                 (Zorn)                        1.09
  51/ Fiance                                     (Zorn)                        0.39
  52/ Fiance 2                                   (Zorn)                        1.13
  53/ Around the World                           (Zorn)                        1.06
  54/ Batman                                     (Zorn)                        0.32
  55/ Abstract Woman                             (Zorn)                        0.35
  56/ Mystic Woman                               (Zorn)                        0.39

          Tracks 1-12 recorded at Shelley Palmer Studio, New York City, July 1993
          Track 13 recorded at Shelley Palmer Studio, New York City, February 1988
          Tracks 14-24 recorded at Harmonic Ranch, New York City, April 21, 1994
          Tracks 25-56 recorded at Shelley Palmer Studio, New York City
          Engineered by Jason Baker
          Tracks 14-24 engineered by Brooks Williams
          Produced by John Zorn
          Mastered by Allan Tucker at Foothill Digital, New York City
(1-12) John Zorn : alto, piano (12); Dave Douglas : trumpet; Greg Cohen : bass; Joey Baron : drums; Robert Quine (11) : guitar; (13) Bill Frisell : guitar, banjo; Peter Scherer : keyboards; Carol Emanuel : harp; Christian Marclay : turntables; David Hofstra : bass, tuba; Ciro Baptista : percussion, vocals; Bobby Previte : drums, percussion; (14-24) John Zorn : alto; Marc Ribot : guitars; (25) Carol Emanuel : harp; Marc Ribot : banjo; Ciro Baptista : percussion; Kermit Driscoll : bass; (26) Peter Scherer : keyboards; David Shea : samples; Ciro Baptista : percussion; Carol Emmanuel : harp; (27) Arto Lindsay : guitar, vocals; Bill Laswell : bass; Ikue Mori : drum machines; (28) Arto Lindsay : guitar; Marc Ribot : guitar; Ikue Mori : drum machines; (29,32) Keith Underwood : flute; Jill Jaffee : viola; Carol Emmanuel : harp; Miguel Frasconi : glass harmonica; (30) Robert Quine : guitar; Bill Laswell : bass; David Shea : turntables; (31) Peter Scherer : keyboards; David Shea : samples; Ciro Baptista : percussion; Carol Emmanuel : harp; (33) Guy Klucevsek : accordion; Anthony Coleman : organ, keyboards; Greg Cohen : bass; Joey Baron : drums; (34) Robert Quine : guitar; Anthony Coleman : keyboards; Ciro Baptista : percussion; (35) Robert Quine : guitar; Marc Ribot : guitar; David Shea : keyboards; Chris Wood : bass; Sim Cain : drums; (36) Ciro Baptista : percussion; (37-52) Robert Quine : guitar; Marc Ribot : guitar; David Shea : keyboards; Eric Friedlander : cello; Chris Wood : bass; Ciro Baptista : percussion; (53) Robert Quine : guitar; Eric Friedlander : cello; David Shea : keyboards; Ikue Mori : drum machines; Ciro Baptista : percussion; (54-56) Robert Quine : guitar; Marc Ribot : guitar; Anthony Coleman : keyboards; Eric Friedlander : cello; Chris Wood : bass; Ciro Baptista : percussion; Joey Baron : drums; John Zorn : alto.

          1996  -  Toy's Factory Records  (Japan),  TFCK-??????  (CD)
          1996  -  Eva  (????),  33006  (CD)
          1997  -  Tzadik  (USA),  TZ 7309  (CD)

REVIEWS :

The third volume cataloguing John Zorn's film scores is a quality release that offers the scores from two films, a rare piece of music cues that would lead to Cynical Hysterie Hour, and music spots for commercials. First comes the 1993 score for {#Thieves Quartet}, which is warm, solid, smoky jazz written with Miles Davis' Escalator to the Scaffold soundtrack in mind. This score also marks the first recording of the quartet that would later be known as Masada. Combining musicians of the highest caliber and compatibility, this strong first outing gives full indication of the rapport between bassist Greg Cohen, trumpeter Dave Douglas, drummer Joey Baron and Zorn. Guitarist Robert Quine also guests on the closer, "End Titles." The track of music sketches for Japanese cartoonist Kiriko Kubo, "Music for Tsunta (nine cues)," separates the two film scores. Following this track is the score from 1994, for L.A. filmmaker Mei-Juin Chen's {#Hollywood Hotel}. This recording joins a long, impressive list of Zorn's sax collaborations with electric guitarists that includes Eugene Chadbourne, Henry Kaiser, Derek Bailey, and Keiji Haino. Here is his saxophone duo with exemplary guitarist Marc Ribot; Ribot most often provides fabric and rhythm for Zorn's solos, in addition to his crucial role in a few atmospheric and a few splurtey pieces. The remaining 31 tracks on the album are shorts composed for a commercial advertising firm with which Zorn had an excellent and open working relationship. The musicianship and stylistic range found here is commendable. The reed and brass-less instrumentation varies between tracks, as guitarists Arto Lindsay, Quine, and Ribot provide a strong front, seamlessly relaxed in southwestern and surf.

Joslyn Layne (courtesy of the All Music Guide, via the Get Music website)