This single volume makes it all crystal clear: John Zorn is one of the most inventive, sophisticated, mischievous, and poignant film score composers who works (mostly) outside the Hollywood system. Some of the directors he has worked with are Walter Hill, Jean-Luc Godard, Dina Waxman, Sandi Dubowski, Oren Rudavsky, Henry Hills, and Marc Levin. This single volume contains 28 cues from 22 films and three commercials. For those intimidated by the sheer number of volumes comprising Zorn's Film Works series (18 as of October 2006), this is a great place to start. The full range of Zorn's moods, colors, textures, and, of course, humor comes across in these cues. The four from Cynical Hysterie Hour are choice, as are "Trembling Before G_D" (from Dubowski's film of the same name), "Pueblo" (a work for the silent film Rose Hobart by Joseph Cornell), and the cue from Protocols of Zion by Marc Levin. Zorn's different ensembles and methods of working are detailed in the individual volumes, but his working notes for this set are most revelatory as well. This is a fine addition to the Film Works library, and also provides the very best introduction possible. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Best of Filmworks: 20 Years of Soundtrack Music
09/06/2005 | Tzadik
All Music Guide Review
Best of Filmworks: 20 Years of Soundtrack Music Track Listing
Best of Filmworks: 20 Years of Soundtrack Music Notes
from Tzadik.com:
Film and film music has had a tremendous impact on the life and work of composer John Zorn, and his own soundtrack work reflects his affinity, love for and deep knowledge of the medium. As of this writing he has released sixteen volumes of film music-twenty years of work on over twenty-seven films, and dozens of commercials. Drawing upon his talented downtown musical community, the players on these recordings reads like a “who's who” of modern music: guitarists Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and Arto Lindsay; keyboardists Jamie Saft, Wayne Horvitz, Peter Scherer and Anthony Coleman; string players Mark Feldman and Erik Friedlander; bassists Bill Laswell, Greg Cohen and Trevor Dunn; percussionists Joey Baron, Bobby Previte, Kenny Wollesen and Cyro Baptista-the list goes on and on. As one would expect, Zorn's methods in the soundtrack world are remarkably unique, and have resulted in some of the most unusual and creative music for films in the past several decades. This CD is an excellent introduction to the burgeoning sixteen volume series and features twenty-seven tracks handpicked by Zorn for this rare “best of” compilation. As a bonus is an unissued track from Zorn's most recent soundtrack release Workingman's Death.
Credits of Best of Filmworks: 20 Years of Soundtrack Music
- Ikue Mori
- Drum Machine
- Roger Moutenot
- Recording
- Maxine Neuman
- Cello
- Bobby Previte
- Percussion, Drums, Bongos
- Chris Speed
- Clarinet
- Dan Stein
- Mixing, Recording
- Kazunori Sugiyama
- Associate Producer
- John Zorn
- Percussion, Sax (Alto), Bells, Liner Notes, Breathing, Wurlitzer, Producer, Gamelan, Arranger, Piano (Electric)
- Carol Emanuel
- Harp
- Keith Underwood
- Flute
- Jason Baker
- Mixing, Recording
- David Weinstein
- Keyboards, Mirage
- Kenny Wollesen
- Drums, Marimba, Vibraphone
- Sim Cain
- Drums
- Min Xiao-Fen
- Pipa
- Scott Hull
- Mastering
- Jamie Saft
- Organ, Wurlitzer, Recording, Mixing, Liner Notes
- Ricky Belt
- Recording
- Chris Wood
- Bass
- Rob Burger
- Accordion
- Heung-Heung "Chippy" Chin
- Design
- Anthony Coleman & Selfhaters
- Organ, Piano, Prepared Piano
- Ganda Suthivarakom
- Vocals
- Roberto Rodriguez
- Percussion
- Peter Scherer
- Keyboards
- Kenny Woleson
- Percussion, Vibraphone, Drums
- Arto Lindsay
- Guitar, Vocals, Lyricist
- Joey Baron
- Drums
- David Shea
- Keyboards, Turntables, Vocals
- Christian Marclay
- Turntables
- Jim Anderson
- Mixing, Recording
- Cyro Baptista
- Percussion, Vocals
- Vicki Bodner
- Oboe
- Jennifer Charles
- Vocals
- Greg Cohen
- Bass
- Kermit Driscoll
- Bass
- Trevor Dunn
- Bass
- Mark Feldman
- Violin
- Anton Fier
- Drums
- Bill Frisell
- Banjo, Guitar
- Miguel Frasconi
- Harmonica (Glass)
- Erik Friedlander
- Cello
- Melvin Gibbs
- Bass
- Andy Haas
- Didjeridu
- Alec Head
- Mixing, Recording
- Dave Hofstra
- Bass
- Wayne Horvitz
- Piano, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), DX-7
- Don Hunerberg
- Mixing, Recording
- Jill Jaffe
- Violin, Viola
- Robert Quine
- Guitar
- Mark Dresser
- Bass
- Bill Laswell
- Bass
- Marc Ribot
- Guitar, Liner Notes























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