ZORN, JOHNLove, Madness and Mysticism(Tzadik)cd$ 16.98
Three new compositions by Zorn, wonderfully executed by Jennifer Choi (violin), Erik Friedlander (cello), and Stephen Drury (piano). As to be expected, these pieces range from subtly beauty to harsh dissonance, just as the title might suggest: madness and love. Mysticism? We'll leave that for you to discover. Recommended, as this is definitely one of the better Zorn releases of this year. From the accompanying obi strip: "Definitive performances of three dynamic new chamber pieces pushing the boundaries of virtuosity and intensity. Le M�mo, for violin and piano is a work of extremes, a ritual about exorcism and possession inspired by the works of visionary 20th Century shaman Antonin Artaud. Untitled, dedicated to Joseph Cornell, the hermetic New York artist whose delirious box constructions mix innocent nostalgia with uncomfortable personal obsessions, is a tour de force for solo cello brilliantly performed by Erik Friedlander. The piano trio Amour Fou explores love -- obsessive love, mad love, doomed love in a compendium of moods ranging from Bu�uel to Bataille, Scriabin to Messiaen. A mysterious and romantic new direction from John Zorn."
- RealAudio clip: Amour Fou