The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone (15th Anniversary Edition

by John Zorn

Overview

On this intriguing concept album, altoist John Zorn (who also "sings" and plays harpsichord, game calls, piano, and musical saw) utilizes an odd assortment of open-minded avant-garde players (with a couple of ringers) on nine themes originally written for Italian films by Ennio Morricone, plus his own "Tre Nel 5000." These often-radical interpretations (which Morricone endorsed) keep the melodies in mind while getting very adventurous. Among the musicians heard on the colorful and very eccentric set (which utilizes different personnel and instrumentation on each track) are guitarists Bill Frisell and Vernon Reid, percussionist Bobby Previte, keyboardist Anthony Coleman, altoist Tim Berne, pianist Wayne Horvitz, organist Big John Patton, and even Toots Thielemans on harmonica and whistling among many others. There are certainly no dull moments on this often-riotous program. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	08/22/2000
Label:	Tzadik Records
UPC:	0702397732822
Rank:	73326

Tracks

1. The Big Gundown
2. Peur Sur la Ville
3. Poverty
4. Milano Odeo
5. Erotico (The Burglars)
6. Battle of Algiers
7. Giu la Testa
8. Metamorfosi
9. Tre Nel 5000
10. Once Upon a Time in the West
11. The Sicilian Clan
12. Macchie Solari
13. The Ballad of Hank McCain
14. Svegliatti and Uccidi
15. Chi Mai
16. The Ballad of Hank McCain

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Zorn   Primary Artist,Saxophone,Conductor,Sax (Alto),Harpsichord,Musical Saw,Piano,Vocals,Voices
Vernon Reid   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Toots Thielemans   Guest Artist,Harmonica,Whistle (Human),Whistle (Instrument)
Bill Frisell   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Diamanda Galas   Guest Artist,Vocals
Jody Harris   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Arto Lindsay   Guitar,Guest Artist,Vocals,Batucada,Guitar (Electric)
Anton Fier   Guest Artist,Drums
Fred Frith   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Bob James   Tape
Trevor Dunn   Bass
Shelley Hirsch   Vocals
Christian Marclay   Turntables
Joey Baron   Drums
Robert Quine   Guitar (Electric)
Ned Rothenberg   Ocarina,Jew's-Harp,Shakuhachi
Miho Hatori   Voices
Melvin Gibbs   Guitar (Bass),Bass (Electric)
Anthony Coleman   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Harpsichord
Mike Patton   Vocals
Bobby Previte   Drums,Vocals,Timpani,Percussion
Tim Berne   Sax (Alto)
Cyro Baptista   Cuica,Culca,Percussion
Guy Klucevsek   Accordion
Orvin Aquart   Harmonica
Mark E. Miller   Drums,Timpani
Reinaldo Fernandes   Repique
Claudio Silva   Pandeiro
Luli Shioi   Vocals,Voices
Ciro Batista   Cuica,Culca
Polly Bradfield   Violin
Jorge Silva   Surdo
Laura Biscotto   Vocals
Vickie Bodner   Oboe,Horn (English)
Mark Miller   Drums,Timpani
Erik Friedlander   Cello
Carol Emanuel   Harp,Harpsichord
Wayne Horvitz   Organ,Piano,Celeste,Keyboards
Duduka Da Fonseca   Caixa,Percussion
Jamie Saft   Keyboards
Big John Patton   Organ
Marc Ribot   Guitar
David Weinstein   Computers,Synthesizer,Sampled Keyboards
Derek Bailey   Guitar
Vicki Bodner   Oboe,Horn (English)
Greg Cohen   Bass
Mark Feldman   Violin
Jim Staley   Trombone,Trombone (Bass)

Technical Credits

Don Hunerberg   Audio Engineer,Engineer
John Zorn   Audio Production,Liner Notes,Executive Producer,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Allan Tucker   Mastering
Bob James   Tapes,Tapes
Robert Musso   Mixing,Engineer
Martin Bisi   Engineer
Hahn Rowe   Engineer
Caroline Forbes   Photography
Tom Gartland   Mixing,Engineer
David Bither   Liner Notes
Frank Booth   Recording
Heung-Heung Chin   Design
Jim Shelton   Digital Mastering
David Baker   Engineer
Heung-Heung "Chippy" Chin   Design
George Chinsee   Photography
Jamie Saft   Engineer
David Weinstein   Mirage
Yale Evelev   Producer
Ennio Morricone   Composer,Liner Notes
Kazunori Sugiyama   Associate Producer