John Zorn

John Zorn
Zorn in 2014
Zorn in 2014
Background information
Born (1953-09-02) September 2, 1953 (age 71)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer, arranger
Instrument(s)Alto saxophone, organ, soprano saxophone, clarinet, piano
DiscographyJohn Zorn discography
Years active1973–present
LabelsTzadik, Avant, DIW, Elektra Nonesuch, Earache, Hathut, Shimmy-Disc, Eva, Toy's Factory, Nato, Lumina, Black Saint, Subharmonic, Parachute, Yukon, Rift
Member ofNaked City, Painkiller, Masada, Moonchild, Simulacrum
Websitewww.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/john-zorn

John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, conductor, saxophonist, arranger and producer who "deliberately resists category".[1] His avant-garde and experimental approaches to composition and improvisation are inclusive of jazz, rock, Jewish music, hardcore, classical, contemporary, surf, metal, soundtrack, ambient, and world music.[1][2] Rolling Stone noted that "[alt]hough Zorn has operated almost entirely outside the mainstream, he's gradually asserted himself as one of the most influential musicians of our time".[3][4]

Zorn engaged New York City's downtown music scene in the mid-1970s, collaborating with improvising artists and experimenting with compositional strategies and arrangements.[1][2] Over the next decade he performed throughout Europe and Japan and recorded on independent US and European labels. He released The Big Gundown, reconstructing the film scores of a formative musical influence, Ennio Morricone, to acclaim in 1986.[1][5][6] Spillane and Naked City further demonstrated Zorn's ability to merge and blend musical styles in new and challenging formats.[7][8][9]

Zorn spent significant time in Japan in the 1980s and early '90s returning to Lower East Side Manhattan to establish the Tzadik record label in 1995.[10][11][12][13] Tzadik enabled Zorn to establish independence, maintain creative control, and ensure the availability of his growing catalog of recordings. He prolifically recorded and released new material for the label, issuing several new albums each year, along with recordings by many other artists.[14]

Zorn performs on saxophone with his Naked City, Painkiller, and Masada bands, conducts ensembles such as Moonchild, Simulacrum, and several Masada-related groups or encourages musicians toward their own interpretations of his work. He has composed concert music for classical ensembles and orchestras, and produced music for opera, sound installations, film and documentary.[4] Tours of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have been extensive, usually at festivals with musicians and ensembles that perform his repertoire.[15][16][17]

  1. ^ a b c d Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. pp. 685–686. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.
  2. ^ a b Milkowski, B., "John Zorn: One Future, Two Views" Archived 2015-06-10 at the Wayback Machine (interview) in Jazz Times, March 2000, pp. 28–35,118–121; accessed July 24, 2010.
  3. ^ Alkyer, F. First Take: Happy Birthday Mr Zorn, Down Beat, October, 2013, pg. 10.
  4. ^ a b Steamer, H., ‘He Made the World Bigger’: Inside John Zorn's Jazz-Metal Multiverse, Rolling Stone, June 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Zorn, J., Ennio Morricone Was More Than Just a Great Film Composer, He was one of the great composers, period., NY Times, July 9, 2020
  6. ^ Rockwell, J., Zorn Variations on Themes by Morricone, NY Times, November 2, 1986.
  7. ^ Watrous, P., "Spillane", a Blend of American Styles, NY Times, May 25, 1988.
  8. ^ Rockwell, J., As Important As Anyone In His Generation, NY Times, February 21, 1988.
  9. ^ Pareles, J., "There Are 8 Million Stories in John Zorn's Naked City', New York Times, April 8, 1990.
  10. ^ Burma, M., John Zorn Interview, Browbeat, Issue 1, 1993
  11. ^ Watrous, P., John Zorn Takes Over the Town, NY Times, February 24, 1989.
  12. ^ Fordham, J. (1993), The Essential Guide to Jazz on CD, Greenwich Editions: London.
  13. ^ Liner notes to Nani Nani (1995), Tzadik: New York.
  14. ^ Gordon, T., (2008), John Zorn: Autonomy and the Avant-Garde Archived 2012-03-12 at the Wayback Machine; accessed November 15, 2013.
  15. ^ John Zorn Festival in Israel 2008 website Archived 2008-05-08 at the Wayback Machine; accessed September 2, 2008.
  16. ^ Kelman, J. Festival International Musique Actuelle Victoriaville Review at All About Jazz, May 15, 2008.
  17. ^ Moore, C. Adelaide Festival 2014: Loud and Proud Archived 2013-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, Limelight, October 29, 2014.