Jennifer Choi: Violin
Sylvie Courvoisier: Piano
Carol Emanuel: Harp
Okkyung Lee: Cello
Ikue Mori: Electronics
Shayna Dunkelman: Percussion

Editor's info:
Structured as a colorful tribute to women in the Arts, Femina is a triumphant return to the file card technique that has produced some of Zorn's most shockingly original compositions. Much like an aural film, the music jumps from scene to scene with breathtaking precision, following its own peculiar logic. Hildegard von Bingen, Meredith Monk, Simone de Beauvoir, Frida Kahlo, Madame Blavatsky, Isadora Duncan, Hélene Cixous, Gertrude Stein, Abe Sada, Sylvia Plath, Louise Bourgeois, Margaret Mead, Loie Fuller, Dorothy Parker, Yoko Ono and the moon goddess En Hedu'Anna are just a few of the figures who are referenced, reflected and summoned in this soulful and exhilarating tribute to some of the greatest hearts and minds that ever lived. Featuring an all-woman band of some of the downtown scene's most creative and talented musicians, Femina is one of Zorn's deepest and most profoundly beautiful creations. Unique packaging contains artwork and a booklet of images by Kiki Smith, one of the world's greatest and most important art visionaries.


freejazz-stef.blogspot.com; ocena: * * * *
I'm always reluctant to put people into boxes, and especially the big boxes like gender, race or religion. But apparently not John Zorn, who creates this all female band, to release an album called "Femina", and inspired by great women in history. Is there music by women for women? Is there anything specific to women's music? Do they have different skills, insights, sensitivities? Can you stop being a "minority" if you behave like or act as a "minority"? All pertinent questions too complex for my two brain cells to fathom.

The band consists of Jennifer Choi on violin, Sylvie Courvoisier on piano, Carol Emanuel on harp, Okkyung Lee on cello, Ikue Mori on electronics, Shayna Dunkelman on percussion, with Laurie Anderson opening the album with a few seconds of narration.

The strange thing about the music is that it.......
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sz0408.wordpress.com:
Kobiety kobietom, a John Zorn niczym trener siatkarskiej drużyny. Jennifer Choi - skrzypce, Sylvie Courvoisier - piano, Carol Emanuel - harfa, Okkyung Lee - wiolonczela, Ikue Mori - elektronika, Shayna Dunkelman - perksuja i krótka liryczna wstawka Laurie Anderson na początku albumu. Słychać, że dziewczyny są prowadzone zgrabnie przez reżysera, ale także że nie są pozbawione własnego zdania. Płyta jak kobieta, trochę słodka, trochę ostra. Jeśli się spodoba to będzie za krótka, jeśli nie przypadnie do gustu, to jej 35 minut będzie w sam raz.


Editor's info:
Structured as a colorful tribute to women in the Arts, Femina is a triumphant return to the file card technique that has produced some of Zorn's most shockingly original compositions. Much like an aural film, the music jumps from scene to scene with breathtaking precision, following its own peculiar logic. Hildegard von Bingen, Meredith Monk, Simone de Beauvoir, Frida Kahlo, Madame Blavatsky, Isadora Duncan, Hélene Cixous, Gertrude Stein, Abe Sada, Sylvia Plath, Louise Bourgeois, Margaret Mead, Loie Fuller, Dorothy Parker, Yoko Ono and the moon goddess En Hedu'Anna are just a few of the figures who are referenced, reflected and summoned in this soulful and exhilarating tribute to some of the greatest hearts and minds that ever lived. Featuring an all-woman band of some of the downtown scene's most creative and talented musicians, Femina is one of Zorn's deepest and most profoundly beautiful creations. Unique packaging contains artwork and a booklet of images by Kiki Smith, one of the world's greatest and most important art visionaries.


freejazz-stef.blogspot.com; ocena: * * * *
I'm always reluctant to put people into boxes, and especially the big boxes like gender, race or religion. But apparently not John Zorn, who creates this all female band, to release an album called "Femina", and inspired by great women in history. Is the.......
more