John Zorn -- FilmWorks XVIII: The Treatment (Tzadik)

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

John Zorn -- FilmWorks XVIII: The Treatment (Tzadik)

Mark Feldman -- violin
Kenny Wollesen -- vibraphone
Rob Burger -- accordion
Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz -- bass
Marc Ribot -- guitar (2 cuts)


After a single listen, I'm prepared to proclaim this to be one of the best in the whole Film Works series (and I'm probably bracing myself to unleash less restrained hyperbole after additional listens).

This is a blue-chip Zorn group, of course. Feldman gives one of his most energetic, soaring performances ever. Burger (formerly of Tin Hat, who worked on with Zorn on the fine Filmworks XIII: Invitation to A Suicide) sounds terrific with Feldman, and their interplay grounded in close listening is one of the album's anchors. I'm not sure if I've heard Wollesen on vibes before, but he's excellent here, as is Blumenkranz, who is a new name to me. Ribot appears only on two short cuts, but they are two of the most daring cuts on the album -- one with layers of different rhythms and the other an stunning vortex of strange sounds, both threatening and irresistable. In the liner notes Zorn explains that he brought Ribot in at the beginning of the recording to help the group feel their way through the rhythmic complexities of the music.

The film, The Treatment, is a comedy, which may explain why the music overall is a bit faster and markedly busier than most of his his recent Film Works. But more importantly the music is more complex, richer in its sound palette, and more adventurous and intriguing than recent Film Works, although it is clearly of a piece with the other albums in this series (most of which I've like a lot). There are also moments where it swings more than anything else Zorn has done recently.

Essential for admirers of Zorn's Film Works. Highly recommended for all jazz fans. And if you used to pay attention to Zorn but have found his recent efforts too easy listening, check back in with this and see what you think.

[john williams]

Thanks SQDS. I've liked a few of the Filmworks disks, particularly XI and XIII. I will probably order the new one on the strength of your review.

Thanks again.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

he's excellent here, as is Blumenkranz, who is a new name to me.

Shanir Blumenkranz appeared on half the cuts of Segments by John Hagen in a 2004 release on Cadence Jazz Records. I was very impressed by the forceful elastic sound he got on the bass; reminded me a bit of how Fred Hopkins used to sound.

He also played with the Masada String Trio when Zorn premiered the second Masada songbook on 12/11/04 at Tonic and with a trio of Jon Madof on guitar and Mathias Kunzli on drums.

[Derek Taylor]

Blumenkranz also does good work on the recent Louis Belogenis disc UNBROKEN (Tick Tock). Definitely planning to keep an ear-cocked toward his future doings.

[jaka]

I've got several FilmWorks 'way-ahead' favorites, but the more I listen to XVIII, the more I share Steve's take on it.
Feldman alone is worth the entry price. Company makes it all the more enjoyeable.