ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ OOOOOOOOOOO RRRRRRRRRRRRR NNN NNN Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ooooooooooooo r rr nnnn nnn zz o o r rr nnnnn nnn zzz o o r rr nnnnnn nnn zzz o o r rr nnn nnn nnn zzz o o r rr nnn nnn nnn zzz o o r rr nnn nnn nnn zzz o o rrrrrrrrrrrrr nnn nnn nnn zzz o o rr rr nnn nnn nnn zzz ooooooooooooo rr rr nnn nnnnnn zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ OOOOOOOOOOO rr rr nnn nnnnn ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ rr rr nnn nnnn rr rr NNN NNN RR RR (AND OTHER NYC DOWNTOWN MUSICIANS) posts: zorn@unh.edu sub/unsub: zorn-request@unh.edu *** BACK ISSUES of this digest can be obtained in 3 ways: *** 1) anonymous FTP at cs.uwp.edu *** 2) via my homepage: http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mpj1 *** 3) send mail to mpj1@kepler.unh.edu, on the subject line, put: send #, where # is the issue you want DIGEST #75, 7-14-95 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From j-germuska@nwu.edu Wed Jul 12 11:17:34 1995 Subject: Cartoon Music >And are there other similar, or related, projects (related to "cartoon >music" ) by Zorn or other jazz musicians ??? I haven't heard a lot of the Carl Stalling recordings (except, of course, when I used to sit in front of the tube on Saturday AM :-), but what I did hear didn't come close to comparing to Raymond Scott, who composed many of the themes later licensed for use in WB cartoons, including "Powerhouse", which is probably the most famous. Columbia released a compilation of his stuff a few years ago called "Reckless Nights and Turkish Twilights." I think it is all much more interesting performed by a jazz quintet than an orchestra, although I probably should go listen to some of those Stalling CDs again... ObZorn: Have you heard that new DIW album by John Patton, featuring Zorn on Alto (and co-production)? It's called "Minor Swing", and it's very nice; fairly straight organ-jazz quartet, including a "sometime-drummer" for Masada, whose last name I believe is Wolleson(?). Not the frenzied blowing that many people love Zorn for, but a good example of his versatility. -- joe germuska * j-germuska@nwu.edu * www * res hall net * instruct tech academic computing & network services * northwestern univ "The problem with computers is there isn't enough Africa in them." -- Eno ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From lbh2@cornell.edu Wed Jul 12 11:19:37 1995 Subject: Carl Stalling Project Those of you who enjoyed the Carl Stalling Project may be happy to know that a second volume has recently been released. I haven't had the scratch to buy it yet, but reviews have it being a more coherent, respectful collection than Vol. 1. Here is the info from CDNow: STALLING*CARL PROJECT -- VOL. 2-MUSIC FROM WARNER BROS. 1939-57 Tracks: 1. ZOOM & BORED (6:06) 2. STAGE FRIGHT (4:07) 3. THE HIGH & THE FLIGHTY (5:36) 4. BAD SWISS BAND (0:36) 5. MARCHING PINK ELEPHANTS (1:45) 6. THE SLAP HOPPY MOUSE (6:31) 7. ORCHESTRA GAG (0:44) 8. VARIATION ON GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK (0:11) 9. VARIATION ON CHINATOWN MY CHINATOWN (0:09) 10. VARIATION ON LUCKY DAY (0:27) 11. WIND-UP DOLL (0:45) 12. GUIDED MUSCLE (5:53) 13. FALL & SPLAT (SFX) (0:02) 14. GHOST WANTED (3:55) 15. THE UNEXPECTED PEST (6:21) 16. DRUNK LA CUCARACHA (3:13) 17. FLEA-RIDDEN SHEEP DOG (0:24) 18. GOLF CUE (0:25) 19. BARBARY COAST BUNNY (6:21) 20. SATAN'S WAITIN' (EXCERPT) (2:17) 21. RUBBER DOG (0:55) 22. PAPPY'S PUPPY (5:08) 23. VARIATIONS ON LA DANZA (1:28) 24. VARIATIONS ON JOHANN STRAUSS (1:32) 25. KANGAROO (SFX) (0:03) 26. MOUSETAKEN IDENTITY (6:03) 27. VARIATIONS ON MEXICAN HAT DANCE (3:05) 28. FRAZZLED COYOTE (1:54) Category: TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK COLLECTIONS WEA/WARNER BROTHERS 7599 45430 4 Regards, -Bruce ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L. Bruce Higgins lbh2@cornell.edu Well, I got hip, got wet, with the jet set But they were flying too high to see my point of view... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From proussel@ichips.intel.com Wed Jul 12 11:45:59 1995 Subject: Re: ZORN DIGEST #74 On Wed, 12 Jul 1995 10:05:39 -0400 mpj1@kepler.unh.edu wrote: > > >From nick@simons-rock.edu Tue Jul 11 16:26:15 1995 > Subject: Laswell's VALIS?? > > > might be completely wrong here, but I thought I'd heard that Bill Laswell > was releasing an album called VALIS. being rather fond of Philip K. > Dick, I was looking forward to its release. However, I've come across > nothing in my searching. Have any of you folks heard anything about such > a release? I guess that you know about VALIS by Tod Machover. The Laswell project surprises me a little bit, but I am sure that Jeff is gonna give us the answer soon. Patrice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From proussel@ichips.intel.com Wed Jul 12 11:54:25 1995 Subject: Re: ZORN DIGEST #74 On Wed, 12 Jul 1995 10:05:39 -0400 mpj1@kepler.unh.edu wrote: > > >From remi@jessica.ina.fr Wed Jul 12 01:50:48 1995 > Subject: "The Carl Stalling Project" > > > I have never seen this CD anywhere in France. But I've heard a lot > about it. Is it commonly available in the US ? Is it under John Zorn's > name ? Can't be under Zorn's name because Zorn's involvement is only in writing the liner notes. All the music is by Stalling. As far as availability, still it once in a while. There is also the second volume but I have never listened to it. > I'm going to spend a few days in NYC and then LA during the summer. Any > suggestion for good CD stores to go look (other than Tower Records) ??? For NY, check DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY at 211 East 5th Street New York, N.Y. 10003 Tel: (212) 473-0043 Fax: (212) 533-5059 e-mail: dmg@panix.com > > Also, as far as I can remember, C. Stalling composed a lot of music > for animated films. What did Zorn do with it ? Is it a collection of > new interpretations of older musical themes ? Or a jazzier version ? Again, this is not a Zorn record (but could be :-). > And are there other similar, or related, projects (related to "cartoon > music" ) by Zorn or other jazz musicians ??? > If you like that stuff, you should definitely check David Shea and specially his first record: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** - SHOCK CORRIDOR: David Shea Anthony Coleman: piano, organ; Shelley Hirsch: voice, electronics; Ikue Mori: drum machine; Zeena Parkins: electric harp; Jim Pugliese: percussion; David Shea: turntables, sampler, voice, jaw harp, harmonica; Jim Staley: trombone, didjeridu. 1992 - Avant (Japan), Avan 013 (CD) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If I remember well, his last one on Sub Rosa (I am not talking about PRISONER) is also ... very cartoonish. Patrice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From kargatis@xfiles.gsfc.nasa.gov Wed Jul 12 12:28:06 1995 Subject: Carl Stalling Project (fwd) > > I was just wondering, has anybody heard "The Carl Stalling Project" which > Zorn's notes are entertaining and insightful, although John Zorn claims > to hate this album and is angry with being involved in it. He said that > the person at Warner Bros who put this disc together took the liberty of > rearranging the compositions, sewing parts of one piece together with > snippets of others - something Zorn would never tolerate if it were done > to his own work. Zorn thinks this guy figured that since Stalling was > dead that "no one would give a fuck about it." There is a second volume out now, again produced by Hal Willner. This one provides complete pieces. In the liners, Willner acknowledges the criticism of the first disc, but defends it, and personally believes that Stalling would've approved. However philisophically objectionable (I'm not sure where I stand), musically it works, and both are worth getting. The music is quite unique. And if you're new to Stalling's work, you may also want to check out the CDs available preseenting the work of Raymond Scott, whose themes Stalling often borrowed to work into his scores. Very good and distinctive also - Simultaneously cartoony and jazzy, yet truly neither, and completely unlike other musics of the 30s and 40s. You may have heard some of it on Ren & Stimpy or various other TV/films scenes. Recordings are on Columbia and Stash. -- Vincent Kargatis Code 631 Archive Scientist, Hughes STX/NSSDC Goddard Space Flight Center PH 301-286-6128 Greenbelt MD 20771 FAX 301-286-1771 e-mail: kargatis@xfiles.gsfc.nasa.gov ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From thayes@iglou.com Wed Jul 12 12:43:52 1995 Subject: Re: ZORN DIGEST #74 >----------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>From remi@jessica.ina.fr Wed Jul 12 01:50:48 1995 >Subject: "The Carl Stalling Project" >Hi, >I have never seen this CD anywhere in France. But I've heard a lot >about it. Is it commonly available in the US ? Is it under John Zorn's >name ? >I'm going to spend a few days in NYC and then LA during the summer. Any >suggestion for good CD stores to go look (other than Tower Records) ??? >Also, as far as I can remember, C. Stalling composed a lot of music >for animated films. What did Zorn do with it ? Is it a collection of >new interpretations of older musical themes ? Or a jazzier version ? >And are there other similar, or related, projects (related to "cartoon >music" ) by Zorn or other jazz musicians ??? >Thanks, Remi. >-- >Remi Ronfard (e-mail: remi@ina.fr ) Zorn only wrote the liner notes to the Carl Stalling Project. The music is Warner Bros. sountracks with no dialouge. Todd ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From voprey@mercury.interpath.net Wed Jul 12 13:52:08 1995 Subject: correction dammit In Zorn Digest #74, Mitchel from Epiphany concurred with Matt's opinion that the Carl Stalling Project disc is better than a home remedy otter spleen oil treatment for a ruptured vertebrae. And I would agree too- this disc is entertaining, fascinating, and nostalgia inducing for saturday morning childhoods spent 2 inches from the tv with toxic blood sugar levels. BUT BE WARNED- The new versions of The Carl Stallling Project are SANITIZED of all evidence of Zorn's presence. He has been removed from all credits; and his liner notes are gone. To get the first pressing, look for it used. On the back of the first pressing it says: Produced by John Zorn; and on the second it says Produced by Jack Nobody. Good luck- the liner notes are a great, but don't just buy any copy expecting to find them. Just like with girlfriends, religions and drugs- shop as usual, and avoid panic buying. This may be of interest to people living in my hometown, Chapel Hill- look for the Verbs of Prey show on local acess cable- our new segment is Beavis and Buckethead ("You RULE! Play that Praxis thing again!") $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Dr. Sammy Otix, VOP $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From i3sijo@itek.chalmers.se Wed Jul 12 14:20:45 1995 Subject: Re: ZORN DIGEST #74 >>From remi@jessica.ina.fr Wed Jul 12 01:50:48 1995 >Subject: "The Carl Stalling Project" > >And are there other similar, or related, projects (related to "cartoon >music" ) by Zorn or other jazz musicians ??? > >Thanks, Remi. Hi! The Kronos Quartet album "Short Stories", features a composition by Zorn called "Cat O'Nine Tails (Tex Avery directs the Marquis de Sade)" which has a lot of cartoon music-feeling to it. It's about nine minutes long if I remember correctly, and bloody great! (The entire album is great, btw!) Check it out! Johan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From i3sijo@itek.chalmers.se Wed Jul 12 14:23:55 1995 Subject: Re: ZORN DIGEST #74 Hi everybody! Is there anyone out there who is familiar with Eugene Chadbourne? I've heard a tune he played and I've read some about him. He seems really interesting. Seems like his been working a lot with Zorn in the past. I'd be greatful for any info, like what albums to check out, etc... Thanks in advance, Johan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From LeeGar@aol.com Wed Jul 12 21:16:29 1995 Subject: Re: ZORN DIGEST #74 >From remi@jessica.ina.fr Wed Jul 12 01:50:48 1995 >Subject: "The Carl Stalling Project" > >Hi, > >I have never seen this CD anywhere in France. But I've heard a lot >about it. Is it commonly available in the US ? Is it under John Zorn's >name ? > >I'm going to spend a few days in NYC and then LA during the summer. Any >suggestion for good CD stores to go look (other than Tower Records) ??? > >Also, as far as I can remember, C. Stalling composed a lot of music >for animated films. What did Zorn do with it ? Is it a collection of >new interpretations of older musical themes ? Or a jazzier version ? > >And are there other similar, or related, projects (related to "cartoon >music" ) by Zorn or other jazz musicians ??? > >Thanks, Remi. Actually, there are now 2 Carl Stalling Discs out.. they are: 1) the Carl Stalling Project (Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-58) <1990 Warner Bros. 9 26027-2> 2) the Carl Stalling Project Volume 2 (More Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1949-57) <1995 Warner Bros. 9 45430-2> that was just released in April '95. and yes, they are definitely reccomended. And while in NY, you should not miss "Downtown Music Gallery". I don't have their address as i've never been there personally, but i do mail order from them for zorn items from time to time and they always have it first! With everyone else generally getting new items (such as the masada discs) about 2-3 months later. Their price might be a $dollar higher, but they are definitely worth it. I'm sure someone will post their address if prompted. hope this helps, LeeGar@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From chhst9+@pitt.edu Wed Jul 12 22:14:11 1995 Subject: Re: Carl Stalling Project Mitchell writes: > > I wholeheartedly agree with Matt that this album is incredible and > Zorn's notes are entertaining and insightful, although John Zorn claims > to hate this album and is angry with being involved in it. He said that > the person at Warner Bros who put this disc together took the liberty of > rearranging the compositions, sewing parts of one piece together with > snippets of others - something Zorn would never tolerate if it were done > to his own work. Zorn thinks this guy figured that since Stalling was > dead that "no one would give a fuck about it." > Vol. 2 has been out for a few months now. I prefer it to the first, in part because the tracks are as Stalling recorded them. As nifty as Vol. 1 is, Stalling's own juxtapositions are far more interesting than the posthumous ones on Vol. 1. Chris Hamilton Dept. of Philosophy University of Pittsburgh chhst9@pitt.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From jeff@internet.net Wed Jul 12 23:30:21 1995 Subject: Re: Laswell's VALIS?? >might be completely wrong here, but I thought I'd heard that Bill Laswell >was releasing an album called VALIS. being rather fond of Philip K. >Dick, I was looking forward to its release. However, I've come across >nothing in my searching. Have any of you folks heard anything about such >a release? It's out on the Subharmonic label. It is being billed as a "trip-hop" collection, although the liner notes focus on the importance of the DJ. Lots of scratching, some interesting noise things, some dubby stuff. I don't think it will remind you of Philip K. Dick. Jeff Spirer jeff@internet.net Axiom Web Site: http://www.hyperreal.com/axiom/ ``We all enter this world in the same way: naked; screaming; soaked in blood. But if you live your life right, that kind of thing doesn't have to stop there."-- Dana Gould ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From mturner@netcom.com Thu Jul 13 00:54:30 1995 Subject: RE: Laswell's VALIS? > might be completely wrong here, but I thought I'd heard that Bill Laswell > was releasing an album called VALIS. being rather fond of Philip K. > Dick, I was looking forward to its release. However, I've come across > nothing in my searching. Have any of you folks heard anything about such > a release? > Yep, I bought it two weeks ago. The album is called VALIS 1: DESTRUCTION OF SYNTAX. I'm not sure what the PKD connection is, if any. Basically it's Laswell's foray into trip hop, with a little dub and jungle thrown in to make it totally trendy. Although it appears to be a compilation, with different artists listed next to the track titles (DJ Spooky, Automaton, DXT, Corporal Blossom, etc.), it's got the unmistakable sound of a Laswell production, for better or worse. If you are a fan of the Divination releases, you'd probably like this one. I personally found the music less interesting than the liner notes, an essay by DJ Spooky called "Flow My Blood the DJ Said." It puts the art of the DJ in a cultural context. A short excerpt: "Hip-hop accepts no barriers. It is a soundtrack for an absent film, a theater of the rhyme coupled with a theater of the mind. The sampler becomes a time machine in this picture, the record becomes a meme of metastasis. The mixed tape becomes a route of the divine unbecoming of the profane. These are all signifiers of European technology being put to an African use, of time unbecoming Time. The DJ is a reality hacker, a trickster breaking down people's codes of consciousness, reinscribing their perceptual base. In this role the DJ is the new interface, the new trickster of the crossroads. In form, the mix that a DJ creates is a fluid dialectic pulling together an architecture of shards of recorded musical expression blended and whorled together, as an equivalent of verbal and non-verbal time travel on association lines. At the core of dj'ing lies a mode of broken or syncopated manipulation to permit inclusive or simultaneous perception of a total or diversified field of representation. Such indeed is symbolism by definition - a collocation, a parataxis. Hip-hop is open to the unbecomings of the future. The earliest MC's and DJ's all plagiarised their material from the collective unconsciousness, the data-cloud of the records and songs of all the recorded material of the information space of electro-culture and in the process broke the laws of what constitued intellectual property and copyright control laws. Thus in a somewhat roundabout way Lautremont's prophetic phrase "Plagiarism is necessary. It implies progress," takes on a different light when seen from the shattered ruins of the world-cities." OK class, discuss amongst yourselves. :-) -- Mark Turner mturner@netcom.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From pmcarey@students.wisc.edu Thu Jul 13 01:35:46 1995 Subject: Laswell's VALIS?? >From nick@simons-rock.edu Tue Jul 11 16:26:15 1995 Subject: Laswell's VALIS?? might be completely wrong here, but I thought I'd heard that Bill Laswell was releasing an album called VALIS. being rather fond of Philip K. Dick, I was looking forward to its release. However, I've come across nothing in my searching. Have any of you folks heard anything about such a release? Yes, VALIS I just came out a couple of weeks ago on Subharmonic. It seems Laswell has started a new Subharmonic thread as this release is not a direct continuation of the current set of releases. Info as follows: VCD 4400-2: VALIS I: Destruction of Syntax Valis I is a mesh of samples, turntables, hip hop beats & electronics with an occasional jazzy moment put in for good measure. On top of this Laswell lays down the ambience & basswork that are his trademarks. It features DXT (turntables on the "Rhythm" disc on Divination's "Akasha"), The Jungle Brothers, and artists working under the names of Spectre, Corporal Blossom, DJ Spooky etc. etc. Names listed under Organized Props on the sleeve include: S.H. Fernando, The JB's, M.J. Harris, Nicky Skopelitis & Anton Fier. I'm not sure if these are the individuals involved in the music, who may just be working under aliases . . . Anyone know??? -Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From nigelh@iconz.co.nz Thu Jul 13 01:40:43 1995 Subject: Carl Stalling A second volume of Carl Stalling has just come out-and is even better than the first.The albums should be easy to get as they are on Warners(The Carl Stalling project Music from Warner Bros cartoons 1936-1958 Warner 9 26027-2 and now the Carl Stalling Project Project Vol 2 Warners 9 454302). In volume 2,Hal Wilmer(co-producer) says the concept for the first volume was to present the varied sides of Stallings works alternating full scores with montages to create an album that worked like an audio filmm.Some people thought they had put Stallings music in too accessible a light.The second volume concept was to look at the full scores from a number of films jumping a bit from old to new and occasionally instering individual cues that were considered important and interesting."Since the last volume the classica annimation film editor at Warners unearthed more original tapes mostly from later scores that are wholly free of sound effects and dialogue.Thought\ not always commplete they are magical to listen to." Wild stuff. Also just picked up Hanna Barbera classics*Rhino R271887). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nigel Horrocks (nigelh@iconz.co.nz) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From jeffs@bgsuvax.bgsu.edu Thu Jul 13 02:31:25 1995 Subject: Art of Memory Got The Art of Memory today. Frith/Zorn live improv duo-guitar & alto. Very nice stuff. Similar to their duos on Heretic, but much more elaborate. Obviously influenced by European free improv, but not nearly as much as Improvised Music New York 1981 or Yankees. There's none of that pontillistic stuff-they're both playing A LOT most of the time. It's amazing how much sound Fred can get from a guitar-he's moving big chunks of noise around really gracefully, following Zorn's movements, and doing self-dialogue when Zorn lays out. Zorn's ability to get electronic music-type sounds out of his horn also helps him blend with Frith's work-sometimes he'll sound like feedback on top of a guitar riff. This LP is like a postscript to the last couple Naked City LPs (Heretic & Absinthe). John and Fred are exploring a lot of the same territory, without the baggage of pop song forms which Naked City took on (although I definitely find Zorn most interesting as a composer when he's working with/around/against pop song forms, he's definitely at his best as a player in a free setting like this). I reccomend this LP, especially as a bridge for folks who came to Zorn from a rock or jazz thang and are trying to get into the New Music or European free improv stuff. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From mitch@teleport.com Fri Jul 14 02:15:59 1995 Subject: Re: Daleth Hello all - can you repeat info on the Zorn 4th CD offer. thanks Mitch *********************************************************** "The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." - Voltaire Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, N.D., L.Ac. AMR'TA: Alchemical Medicine Research and Teaching Association -------------------------------------------------------------------------