The Art of Memory II
Encyclopedia
The Art of Memory II is a live album
of improvised
experimental rock
music by Fred Frith
and John Zorn
. It was recorded in New York City
in January 1983 and July 1985, and was released on Frith's Fred Records
label in May 2008. It is the second in a series of two Art of Memory albums recorded by the duo, the first being The Art of Memory
, recorded in New York City in late 1993, and released on Derek Bailey's Incus Records
label in 1994.
The Art of Memory II, recorded before The Art of Memory and described by Frith as "early 80s weirdness with John Zorn" marked the beginning of a long and fruitful musical partnership between Frith and Zorn. The concerts, recorded using a cassette
recorder, were "on the borderline between music and chaos" and featured Frith and Zorn playing a number of unconventional instruments.
and John Zorn
.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of improvised
Musical improvisation
Musical improvisation is the creative activity of immediate musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental technique as well as spontaneous response to other musicians...
experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
music by Fred Frith
Fred Frith
Fred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
and John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
. It was recorded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in January 1983 and July 1985, and was released on Frith's Fred Records
Fred Records
Fred Records is a British independent record label created in 2002 by English guitarist, composer and improvisor Fred Frith to re-release his own back catalogue of recordings and previously unreleased material...
label in May 2008. It is the second in a series of two Art of Memory albums recorded by the duo, the first being The Art of Memory
The Art of Memory (album)
The Art of Memory is a live album of improvised music by John Zorn and Fred Frith. The album was released on Derek Bailey's Incus Records in 1994.-Reception:...
, recorded in New York City in late 1993, and released on Derek Bailey's Incus Records
Incus Records
Incus Records is an artist-owned record label, founded by Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley, Evan Parker and Michael Walters, specialising in the dissemination of free-improvised music. The first release on the label was The Topography of the Lungs, recorded by Bailey, Parker and Han Bennink in 1970...
label in 1994.
The Art of Memory II, recorded before The Art of Memory and described by Frith as "early 80s weirdness with John Zorn" marked the beginning of a long and fruitful musical partnership between Frith and Zorn. The concerts, recorded using a cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
recorder, were "on the borderline between music and chaos" and featured Frith and Zorn playing a number of unconventional instruments.
Track listing
All tracks by Fred FrithFred Frith
Fred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
and John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
.
- "The Heaven" – 17:37
- "The Wood" – 4:43
- "The Standard" – 8:46
- "The Wheel" – 5:44
- "The Painter" – 20:21
Personnel
- Fred FrithFred FrithFred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
– home-made instruments, voice, Casio monophonic keyboard - John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
– alto saxophone, mouthpieces, duck-calls
Sound
- Tracks 1 and 5 were recorded live at P.A.S.S., New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 25 January 1983. - Tracks 2, 3 and 4 were recorded live at Roulette, New York City on 27–28 July 1985.
- The album was assembled by Fred FrithFred FrithFred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
and Bob Boster from the original cassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
recordings at the Center for Contemporary Music, Mills CollegeMills CollegeMills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
in April 1997.
External links
- Fred Frith discography
- John Zorn discography.
- The Art of Memory II. RēR USA.
- The Art of Memory II. SquidCo.