Just back in front of a keyboard, a few thoughts/responses about NC in Amsterdam... Manolis said:

Highlight (for me) was “the vault“ during the encore, written when F. Bacon died, the only painter who didnt like Vermeer (JZ's words- here's the Vermeer connection!). Mike “1000 voices“ Patton stole the show.

Absolutely. Patton was superhuman throughout, never more so than on that tune.

JZ gave a public interview before the concert

At what time, and was it advertised? I missed this. I was also very surprised not to see *any* posters up around Amsterdam advertising the gig, which wasn't sold out. You couldn't move for the generic Holland Festival posters though. And if anyone wants to send me the one with the lady in the gold bikini on it they're more than welcome.

Then they present a greatest hit show and everyone is happy. Is that not a very “major“ thing to do? where is the challenge? Dont get me wrong, I loved it, but i also needed an extra thrill from them.

I missed that “extra thrill“ too. Leng Tch'e would have been nice, but more from “Radio“ would have been even better. And “Grand Guignol“ would have worked marvellously in that hall. The “Torture Garden“ songs were the highlight for me, once they'd turned Frisell's guitar up. Sean Westergaard said:

I was also kind of curious if Wayne Horvitz digged out all those old samples or he did something new? Did he really have them lying around fro ten years? They are pretty important in the Naked City sound, especially Torture Garden stuff.

Zorn said at one point that a sample that Horvitz was using was the sound of Horvitz's little girl when she was three (I'm paraphrasing). I don't know how old she is now, but I assume that means that at least that sample is an original. At least the advance in technology meant that Wayne didn't have to spend ages between each song loading new samples in! Thanks, Maa Meeshkaa Moww, for the setlist. For those that weren't there, “Inside Straight“ was the last number of the main set, followed by the last two songs. Not quite the “40 minutes of encores“ that Zorn promised us...but I'm not complaining. However, I did feel slightly deflated after the gig. Maybe I'd expected too much. I think my main problem was Frisell's playing (often too quiet and a bit duff throughout) and the choice of material. Still, they all seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Alastair -- Personalised email by http://another.com