Great Jewish Music: Serge Gainsbourg

by John Zorn

Overview

The music world has certainly been enriched since composer and saxophonist John Zorn got his consciousness raised about his Jewishness. He subsequently formed a band with the ominous name Masada and established the Tzadik label, which has produced some of the best avant-garde recordings of the last ten years. Tzadik's fledgling Great Jewish Music series promises to be excellent, if this album is any indication. On it various members of the American and British avant-establishment take turns arranging songs by the great French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, with results varying from fairly straightforward (Cibo Matto's surprisingly gentle "Je T'aime, Moi Non Plus" and Ikue Mori's delightful "Pauvre Lola") to bizarrely wonderful (Faith No More frontman Mike Patton's take on "Ford Mustang" and Zorn's own all-vocal "Contact"). Medeski, Martin and Wood contribute a version of "Intoxicated Man" on which Medeski does his best to imitate a woozy French accordion before veering off into the trio's more familiar organic jazz-funk territory; Fred Frith acquits himself nicely on a one-man-band version of "The Ballad of Melody Nelson." All in all, this is a fine and fitting tribute to an underappreciated songwriter. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/21/1997
Label:	Tzadik Records
UPC:	0702397711629
Rank:	257467

Tracks

1. Les Amours Perdues  -  Elysian Fields  - Serge Gainsbourg
2. Ford Mustang  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Mike Patton
3. Bonnie and Clyde  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Robin Holcomb  - Wayne Horvitz
4. La Bas C'Est Naturel  - Cyro Baptista  - Serge Gainsbourg
5. 69 Ann¿¿e ¿¿rotique  - Serge Gainsbourg  -  Kramer
6. Pauvre Lola  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Ikue Mori
7. Ballad of Melody Nelson  - Fred Frith  - Serge Gainsbourg
8. Les Sucettes  - Serge Gainsbourg  -  Jon
9. L' Homme ¿¿ T¿¿te de Chou  - Serge Gainsbourg  -  Ruins
10. Ce Mortel Ennui  - Anthony Coleman  - Serge Gainsbourg
11. Un Poison Violent, C'Est ¿¿a l'Amour  - Eszter Balint  - Serge Gainsbourg
12. Initials B.B.  - Serge Gainsbourg  - David Shea
13. Sous le Soleil Exactement  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Eyvind Kang
14. Couleur Caf¿¿  - Steve Beresford  - Serge Gainsbourg
15. Le Chanson de Slogan  -  Blonde Redhead  - Serge Gainsbourg
16. Contact  - Serge Gainsbourg  - John Zorn
17. Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus  -  Cibo Matto  - Serge Gainsbourg
18. Intoxicated Man  - Serge Gainsbourg  -  Medeski
19. Comic Strip  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Shelley Hirsch
20. Requiem Pour un Con  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Franz Treichler
21. Black Trombone  - Serge Gainsbourg  - Marc Ribot

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fred Frith   Primary Artist,Vocals,Multi Instruments
David Shea   Primary Artist,Multi Instruments
Eyvind Kang   Primary Artist,Multi Instruments
Kramer   Primary Artist,Vocals,Multi Instruments
Blonde Redhead   Primary Artist
Ikue Mori   Primary Artist,Drum Machine
Shelley Hirsch   Primary Artist,Vocals
Cibo Matto   Primary Artist
Eszter Balint   Primary Artist
Franz Treichler   Primary Artist,Vocals,Multi Instruments
Elysian Fields   Primary Artist
Wayne Horvitz   Primary Artist,Multi Instruments
John Zorn   Primary Artist,Vocals
Robin Holcomb   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jon   Primary Artist
Ruins   Primary Artist
Medeski, Martin & Wood   Primary Artist
Anthony Coleman   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Cyro Baptista   Primary Artist,Percussion
Marc Ribot   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Steve Beresford   Primary Artist,Vocals,Multi Instruments
Mike Patton   Primary Artist,Multi Instruments,Vocals
Yuka Honda   Keyboards
Billy Martin   Drums
J.D. Foster   Bass,Organ
Amedeo Pace   Guitar
Robert Rodriguez   Drums
Ed Pastorini   Casio
John Medeski   Organ,Vocals
Tucker Martine   Vocals
Kazu Makino   Vocals
Sasaki Hisashi   Bass
Jennifer Charles   Vocals
Miho Hatori   Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Michael Attias   Sax (Baritone)
Reggie Watts   Vocals
Sean Lennon   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Oren Bloedow   Bass,Drums,Guitar
Timo Ellis   Drums,Vocals
Doug Wieselman   Clarinet
Tatsuya Yoshida   Drums,Vocals
Chris Wood   Bass
Haena Kim   Vocals
Michelle Amar   Vocals,Sound Effects
Jon ?   Vocals,Harmonium

Technical Credits

J.D. Foster   Producer
Shelley Hirsch   Arranger,Performer
Fred Frith   Arranger,Performer
David Shea   Arranger,Performer
Allan Tucker   Mastering
Kramer   Arranger,Performer
Blonde Redhead   Arranger,Performer
Ikue Mori   Design,Arranger,Performer
Billy Martin   Arranger
Kurt Ralske   Engineer
Joe Johnson   Engineer
Cibo Matto   Arranger,Performer
Eszter Balint   Performer
Franz Treichler   Arranger,Performer
Serge Gainsbourg   Composer
Elysian Fields   Performer
John Medeski   Arranger
Wayne Horvitz   Arranger,Performer
Mark Roule   Engineer
John Zorn   Arranger,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Robin Holcomb   Arranger,Performer
Jon   Performer
Ruins   Arranger
Medeski, Martin & Wood   Performer
Anthony Coleman   Arranger,Performer
Mike Patton   Arranger
Cyro Baptista   Arranger,Performer
Marc Ribot   Arranger,Performer
Steve Beresford   Arranger,Performer
Jamie Candiloro   Mixing
Eyvind Kang   Arranger,Performer
Kazunori Sugiyama   Associate Producer
Michael Johnson   Engineer
Guy Picciotto   Engineer
Chris Wood   Arranger
Jon ?   Arranger