3 1/2 stars: Fiery duet performance.
Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 05/31/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
"John Zorn's recent work has on occasion been criticized as too much embracing melody, too straight, etc. As someone who can listen to Pet Sounds as readily as Scum or Ghosts, I'm not terribly bothered by this trend, but for those who are, perhaps "Late Works" is what you've been waiting for.
Zorn (on alto) and frequent collaborator Fred Frith (on guitar) run through a series of duet performances, recorded in the studio, but of the form of their live performances. From opener "Foetid Ceremony", it's clear this is going to be an avant-garde workout, full of screeching sax, feedback drenched and occasional disjoint melodic statements. The record covers a lot of sounds, quiet, gentler prodding and straight performances ("Horse Rehab"), skittering, frantic energy ("Legend of the Small"0 and unusual building tension ("The Fourth Mind") are among the voices covered.
That said, while the record is intriguing, interesting and at times powerful (the superb "Baffled Hats"), I found that entering the studio caused it to lose some of the immediacy of the live performances it seeks to capture (the most recent example being 50th Birthday, Vol. 5) and ultimately it seemed to lose steam as a statement for me. John Coltrane once mentioned a propensity to tighten up when knowing one is being recorded (witness the superb Live at the Village Vanguard Again!, but compare it to the mindblowing Live In Japan), and I think that's at play somewhat here.
Still, "Late Works" is a good listen, and a return to the unbridled avant-garde for Zorn. Many folks will probably find a lot to love here."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1