JOHN ZORN

JOHN ZORN
FILMWORKS III: 1990-1995 (1996)
320 KBPS

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.

Thieves Quartet
1. Main Title
2. The Caper
3. Kidnapping
4. Nocturne 2
5. Bag Man
6. Nocturne 3
7. Juke Box
8. End Titles
9. Music for Tsunta (Nine Cues)
Hollywood Hotel
10. Main Titles
11. Washing Machine B
12. Night Hotel
13. Japanese Tourists
14. Night Hotel 2
15. Objects
16. Night Hotel 3
17. Rooftop Death Rattle
18. Taiwan
19. End Titles
20. Canada
21. Germany
22. Great Lobby
23. Wheelchair Races
24. Secret Code
25. Secret Code 2
26. Don't Break
27. Don't Break 2
28. Footnotes
29. Footnotes 2
30. Retraction
31. Retraction 2
32. Protest
33. Protest 2
34. Launch
35. Launch 2
36. Elevator
37. Elevator 2
38. Fiancé
39. Fiancé 2
40. Around the World
41. Batman
42. Abstract Woman
43. Mystic Woman