Tzadik
2006
Necklace
About This Album
It's been awhile since Zeena Parkins released a recording on Tzadik. Her last for the label, Pan-Acousticon was issued in 1999, and it was here she set out to explore relationships between orchestral instruments (sampled), strings, drums, and homemade instruments. She appeared in collaboration with Lesli Dalaba on her fantastic Tzadik issue Timelines in 2004 and collaborated with Ikue Mori on Phantom Orchard for the Mego label the same year. Necklace contains four new works, beginning with the dazzling "Persuasion," for string quartet and electronic processing. Performed by the Eclipse Quartet (Parkins' sisters Sara and Maggie are members), "Persuasion" is a dazzling series of moments where texture, dynamic, and timbre are brought into play gradually, interlocking with others. As one set of themes is ushered in, another leaves, only to return in combination with others in sometimes staggered and layered forms. This is done by the electronic processing of Parkins and Doug Henderson. The quartet can sound like dozens of strings harmonically playing as one. "16 Feet + Cello" was written for eight dancers (from Comanie Sui-Generis) and Maggie's cello. Scratched, plucked, detuned strings are mic'ed on the same level as the dancer's feet.
Track List (try tracks 1,3 and 6)

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