No one ever accused Bill Laswell of closed-mindedness. He's done production work with artists from Herbie
Hancock to Public Image Limited. His own groups have explored the territory from subsonic dub to all-out
thrash metal. Laswell's remix record Panthalassa reassembled the electric fusion of Miles Davis into an
authentic, accessible form. On Operazone, he works with Alan Douglas and Karl Berger to revisit and
revamp some of the "greatest hits" of opera, using a Third Stream approach.I never thought I would ever
say this about a recording, but Operazone is a total and complete failure. It falters somewhere between
smooth jazz and new age—gentle strings and unceasing beats underlie saccharine melodies and intermittent
wimpy improvisations by cornet/flugelhorn player Graham Haynes and tenor saxophonist Byard Lancaster.
There is absolutely no meat to this record. Opera lovers: stay far, far away; the humanity has been taken out of
this music. Smooth jazz lovers: perhaps Operazone might have some appeal, but why not stay with the
tried and true Kenny G. At least he's a teeny bit controversial, if you were to judge by Pat Metheny's recent
outspoken criticisms.
Track listing: L'Elisir D'Amore (Una Furtiva Lagrima); La Traviata (Love Theme); Samson & Dalila (Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix); Turandot (Nessun Dorma); La Traviata (Prelude); La Forza Del Destino (Overture); Tosca (E Lucevan Le Stelle); Tosca Second Act (Orchestral Background); Reprise.
Personnel: Bill Laswell: producer; Alan Douglas: producer; Karl Berger: string & horn arrangements, keyboards; Graham Haynes: cornet, flugelhorn; Byard Lancaster: tenor saxophone; Material Strings: orchestra.
Style: Modern Jazz
Published: August 01, 2000
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No one ever accused Bill Laswell of closed-mindedness. He's done production work with artists from Herbie
Hancock to Public Image Limited. His own groups have explored the territory from subsonic dub to all-out
thrash metal. Laswell's remix record Panthalassa reassembled the electric fusion of Miles Davis into an
authentic, accessible form. On Operazone, he works with Alan Douglas and Karl Berger to revisit and
revamp some of the "greatest hits" of opera, using a Third Stream approach.
