John Zorn - Dictée Liber Novus (2010)

Radical in both conception and execution, Zorn’s studio compositions are among his most personal and unique creations. Owing as much to film as to any musical model, these evocative postmodern tone poems have been described as cinema for your ears. This CD presents two exciting new pieces. The first, Dictée, is a ritualistic homage to Korean/American writer and conceptual artist Theresa Hak-Kyung Cha, whose brilliant work about loss, memory, language and identity is finally receiving due respect. The second piece, Liber Novus is a mythic psychodrama inspired by the legendary Red Book of Carl Jung; scored for keyboards, percussion and sound effects, this is truly Zorn at his best. Two outrageous, intense and poetically beautiful pieces filled with dynamic moments of sonic drama and experimental lyricism on one CD.

Sylvie Courvoisier: Piano, French Narration
Okkyung Lee: Cello, Korean Narration
John Medeski: Organ
Ned Rothenberg: Shakuhachi, Bass flute, Clarinet
David Slusser: Sound Effects
Kenny Wollesen: Vibes, Percussion, Wollesonics
John Zorn: Foley Effects, Samples, German Narration
Stephen Gosling: Piano