John Zorn - Les Maudits (2020)

Demolishing all boundaries and pushing the artistic envelope beyond all expectations, Ubu is one of Zorn’s greatest and most outrageous creations—a bizarre musical portrait of the subversive writer Alfred Jarry and his powerful Pataphyisical figure Ubu. The Ubu plays were a powerful precursor to many of the European avantgarde experiments of the early 20th century (Dada, Surrealism, Theatre of the Absurd, Futurism, postmodernism) and Zorn captures the vulgar, rebellious, gluttonous,childish and revolutionary spirit of Ubu in this major new studio composition. Accompanying this work are two pieces performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble under the direction of David Fulmer. A concerto grosso in three movements inspired by the work of radical French poet Charles Baudelaire, and Oviri (“savage” in Tahitian) a touching elegy to Paul Gauguin, the influential and complex artist who helped redefine painting in the 20th century.

Ikue Mori: Electronics
Ches Smith: Drums, Vibes, Glockenspiel, Haitian Tango, Percussion, Vocals
John Zorn: Sax, Organ, Piano, Percussion, Vocals
David Byrd-Marrow: Horn
Kivie Cahn-Lipman: Cello
Erik Carlson: Violin
Claire Chase: Flute
Miranda Cuckson: Viola
Nathan Davis: Percussion
Simon Hanes: Guitars, Bass, Piano, Accordion, Cello, Percussion, Toilet, Jew's Harp, Whistling, Vocals
Rebekah Heller: Bassoon
Dan Lippel: Guitar
Michael Lormand: Trombone
Andrew Madej: Tuba
Joshua Rubin: Clarinet
Cory Smythe: Harpsichord
Alice Teyssier: Flute