| Origin
New York City, U.Naked City and klezmer influenced quartet Masada.He has also used the pseudonym Dekoboko Hajime for a number of his projects based in Japan and with Japanese musicians.Recent projects
13 Zorn in popular culture
14 Selected discography
14.Masada (John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron)
14.Birthday Celebration series
14.Zorn then recorded on the Japanese DIW and Avant labels before forming Tzadik Records in 1995, where he has been prolific, issuing several new recordings each year and releasing works by many other musicians.Masada book of over 300 tunes incorporating klezmer styles with his already broad musical palette.In 2007, he was the recipient of Columbia University's School of the Arts William Schuman Award, an honor given "to recognize the lifetime achievement of an American composer whose works have been widely performed and generally acknowledged to be of lasting significance."Early composition
Zorn's early major compositions included several "game pieces", in which performers are allowed to improvise while following certain structural rules.These works were, in the main, named after sports, and include Hockey, Pool, Archery (recorded at Martin Bisi's legendary studio), and Lacrosse.These compositions use cues, rules, and strategies to combine and contrast improvisations in various, sometimes extreme, ways, enlisting the talents of many downtown musicians in large ensembles for performances of these pieces.Zorn's breakthrough recording was 1985's The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone, where Zorn offered radical arrangements of the Roman composer's themes from movies including The Big Gundown, A Fistful of Dynamite, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Once Upon a Time in America.The Big Gundown was endorsed by Morricone who is quoted as saying "This is a record that has fresh, good and intelligent ideas.Spillane in 1987 composed of three different tribute compositions.Further exploration of film noir themes were recorded for radio plays and released by Zorn as The Bribe: variations and extensions on Spillane.All of these albums contain examples of Zorn's "file card compositions", in which Zorn would write down a description of what he wanted on file cards and arrange them to form the piece.Jazz interpreter
Beginning in 1986 Zorn participated in several projects focused on modern jazz composers which highlighted his saxophone style.Ornette Coleman's music featuring Zorn and Tim Berne on saxophones, Mark Dresser on bass and Joey Baron and Michael Vatcher on drums, and News for Lulu (1988) and More News for Lulu (1992) where Zorn, Bill Frisell and George Lewis performed compositions by Kenny Dorham, Sonny Clark, Freddie Redd, and Hank Mobley.From 1986 Zorn's music has featured in many underground films, cartoons, and documentaries.Zorn has documented his music for television and film in his Filmworks albums on the Tzadik label.While Hollywood acclaim was not forthcoming he attracted the attention of several alternative filmakers.The Good, the Bad and the Ugly which was first relased on Nonesuch Records and subsequently on Tzadik.Filmworks V: Tears of Ecstasy consists of 48 sound cues lasting around one minute which were recorded in a single day.Zorn established Naked City in 1988 after working with the group in an improvisational workshop.The band performed an aggressive mix of jazz, rock, blues, country music, and thrash metal later combined with classical compositions and ambient music styles.Zorn also formed Painkiller (who performed a mix of grindcore, free jazz and ambient styles) with Bill Laswell on bass and Mick Harris on drums.Releases from both bands were criticized for their graphic or offensive album covers.Establishing a label
In 1992 John Zorn collaborated with the Japanese Disc Union label to curate the Avant imprint, a subsidiary of the DIW jazz label which released the first Masada albums.Kazunori Sugiyama, Zorn established the Tzadik label to ensure availability of his catalogue and promote experimental musicians.Zorn has a special attraction to underground artists and musical styles that are extremely loud, wild, or creative.The label's releases are divided into several series.The Radical Jewish Culture Series features contemporary Jewish musicians and the New Japan Series features Japanese underground music.Soundtracks by other musicians appears on the Film Music Series.The experience prompted Zorn to further explore his Jewish heritage and led to an interest in Jewish musical styles.The initial releases featuring this compositional approach were ten albums by Masada appearing on the Japanese DIW label from 1994.Sephardic scales and rhythms.The original Masada albums were titled after the first ten letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and the song titles were Hebrew words.Further releases by Masada consisted of live performances of the band recorded around the world.The Masada Book has been performed in several different arrangements by many combinations of musicians including the Masada String Trio, Bar Kohkba, and Electric Masada.Tenth Anniversary Series of Masada recordings was released by Zorn beginning in 2003.Concert music
John Zorn has established a diverse repertoire of music written for chamber musicians and orchestras.Elegy (dedicated to Jean Genet) in 1992 and Kristallnacht in 1993 which used chamber music arrangements of strings, percussion and electronic instruments.The establishment of Tzadik allowed Zorn to release many compositions which he had written (over the previous two decades) for classical ensembles.The Book of Heads (35 etudes for solo guitar written in 1978 for Eugene Chadbourne) were released in 1995 as part of Tzadiks Composer Series.Magick (2004) featured the Crowley Quartet on 'Necromicon: for string quartet' and 'Sortelage' for two bass clarinets.Zorn has lived and worked extensively in Japan and performs and records under the name Dekoboko Hajime, collaborating with, and producing numerous artists including Merzbow, Otomo Yoshihide, Melt Banana and frequent collaborator Yamatsuka Eye.Many of these artists have now released albums on Tzadik and some regularly travel to New York where Zorn is based.X) featuring interviews, essays, and commentaries by musicians including Anthony Coleman, Peter Garland, David Mahler, Bill Frisell, Gerry Hemingway, George Lewis, Fred Frith, Eyvind Kang, Mike Patton and Elliott Sharp, on the compositional process.This volume contains essays by more than 30 musicians including Annie Gosfield, Trey Spruance, Zeena Parkins, Steve Coleman, Marina Rosenfeld, Carla Kihlstedt, David Douglas, Bill Laswell, Trevor Dunn, and Jewlia Eisenberg.He conceptualized the month into several different aspects of his musical output.Zorn holds the title of artistic director.Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn, and Joey Baron: Moonchild: Songs Without Words and Astronome.Zorn, Ikue Mori, Jamie Saft and chorus, Six Litanies for Heliogabalus, was released in 2007.On March 27th, 2008, Miller Theater at Columbia University in New York City will premier a new composition by John Zorn, "27 Acts of Unspeakable Depravity in the Abominable Life and Times of Gilles de Rais."The music will be performed by John Zorn Amplified Ensemble, with Brad Lubman, conductor.Exile (Volume Two, 1999)
The Gift (Volume Three, 2001)
I.Leng Tch'e albums) 2xCD
Naked City Live, Vol.Masada Anniversary series
Masada Anniversary Edition Vol.The Book of Angels
Astaroth: Book of Angels Vol.The Cracow Klezmer Band, 2006)
Moloch: Book of Angels Vol.Uri Caine, 2006)
Asmodeus: Book of Angels Vol.Erik Friedlander, 2007)
Xaphan: Book of Angels Vol.The Stone website
Tzadik myspace
Tonic website may it rise from the ashes
Patrice Roussel's very extensive John Zorn Discography (May 2005, 500 kB)
John Zorn Primer The Wire Issue 156 Feb 1997
Mailing List
Zorn Mailing List Archives
Art of the States: John Zorn
John Zorn's biography and discography by Scott Maykrantz
Unofficial John Zorn Homepage maintained by Jamie Graves.Interactive dissertation on deconstruction in the music of John Zorn and others.John Zorn interview (Hungarian).Zorn, J (1995) liner notes to John Zorn: First Recordings 1973.Troyano E, John Zorn's Theatre of Musical Optics in The Drama Review: TDR, Vol.Jazz Times, March 2000: "One Future Two Views," interview by Bill Milkowski (pp.Lee Konitz: Conversations on the Improvisers Art University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor.Carla Chiti (1998), John Zorn in Sonora.Itinerari Oltre il Suono: John Zorn.Italy: Materiali Sonori Edizioni Musicali.Roussel, P Zornfest pages at WNUR at www.This page was last modified 02:51, 7 January 2008.All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.Note: Certain visual elements of
this web site may be disturbing to certain people.They push the boundaries
of conventional taste, and could be deemed offensive.News
John Zorn will be in residence at the Barbican arts centre in London on June 17th and 18th.Sat 17 Jun
A Tribute to Derek Bailey
Zorn brings together world class artists including Bill Laswell, George Lewis, Milford Graves, Tony Oxley, Gavin Bryars and Zorn himself to pay tribute to Derek Bailey, a master improviser.Am putting a lot of time and creative energy into this one, would like you to check it out at jamieabroad.Check out the
Bill
Frisell section to this site, with my comments on CD's, CD information
and covers, and a few ruminations on Frisell.General Information
So, who
is this John Zorn guy?Don't know where to start?I've got
a list
of recomended Zorn CD's.Answers to
Frequently Asked Questions.Album Commentary
by Project
This is my 2 cents on Zorn's work, arranged by project.Masada
Zorn's musical exploration of his Jewish roots.Filmworks
soundtracks by Zorn.Further Sources:
Writings, Essays, Liner Notes and Interviews
Index
of Liner Notes By and About John Zorn
John
Zorn's Theatre of Musical Optics Essay by Zorn on his early music experiments.This site was created and maintained by me, Jamie Graves.Who is John Zorn?Who is this john Zorn Guy, Anyway?The most basic answer to the
question "who is John Zorn?"John Zorn is a composer and
saxaphone player who lives and performs primarily in New York City.The only constant in his music
is a restless desire to move forward, to experiment with sound, in all
of its various manifestations.There are certain themes one notices in Zorn's work,
though they are by no means applicable to everything he does.By the 1980's, this block concept had come to encompass recognizable genres as well.He has also explored the relationship
between performer and composer, most often writing pieces with specific performers in mind.One example is a
piece where he sawed a telephone book in half.The eighties saw Zorn expanding the game pieces,
but much of his really interesting work was done in the studio.Compositions
like "The Big Gundown", "Spillane" and his first scoring for films came
from this period.His music was beginning to become more post modern (however
you choose to define that), integrating and juxtaposing many different genres
of music, working with these "blocks of sound" to create his pieces.Zorn for about three years
now, and his music has profoundly affected my life.His music is both all embracing and discriminating, and his love and knowledge
for ALL kinds of good music, from Led Zeppelin to Debussy to Charlie Parker
has opened my ears and my mind to many different modes of thought and of
sound.Masada in September of
1997.After the concert I couldn't
sit still, I was bubbling over.This web site is intended to be a resource
for people who are interested in learning more about John Zorn, and I hope
that through it other people will be introduced to the wide range of wonderful
music he has created.Addition, May 25, 2000
After rereading my original "Who Is This John Zorn Guy?"Anyway, I've decided
to include this as a supplement to that essay, in order to expand on some
of the themes in Zorn's work.Zorn's work, but that's another one of those "if I get around
to it" projects.This label celebrates the unconventional, and in a world where so much
of the music and information we get is from certain large corporate interests
that for various reasons need to package and categorize music into certain
acceptable and definable genres, and exclude everything that doesn't fit
those genres, it is very refreshing to have a domestic label stuff that
isn't categorized.Zorn himself chaffed at the way Nonesuch packaged him,
he once said that they were trying to turn him into "the poster boy for
postmodernism."American wacko who no one has ever
heard of?Tzadik, but Zorn is definitely getting it out there.It's part of Tzadik's "New Japan"
series, and features Ruins drummer Yoshida Tatsuya; good start.The composition "Europe" has four sections, each based on a European country.Take any stereotypes you have about Germany: martial, angular language,
etc.Not everyday does one get to
hear a recording of three grown Japanese men do grunting an capella vocal
piece in German in imitation of German accents.Zorn puts out some music that I detest,
but, whether I like it or hate it, I've heard it, and I can learn something
from it.Zorn's composing challenges the way
you conceive of music, but like anything, it eventually becomes familiar
and accessible to your ears.Torture Garden was ridiculous at
first, but now I sometimes use it as background music.Thank god there are artists who continually
seek to challenge their audience with new definitions of what music and
art can be.Since every genre is the same, all musicians should be equally respected.It doesn't matter if it's jazz, blues, or classical.John Zorn is an American composer and saxophone player.He's used this freedom to write and record dozens of strange and beautiful albums.He is inspired by other artists and different musical styles.His interest in cartoon music, for example, has led him to compose a string quartet of cartoon themes, cartoon music for solo piano, and the soundtrack for an animated TV show.In some cases, he'll write a tribute to a specific artist, trying to capture the spirit of their work in a single song.He puts out a lot of music, but he doesn't do many interviews.There are no books about him.In some of the CD booklets, he explains who inspired him, how he wrote his compositions, how he got the musicians together, and what he was trying to accomplish.I've used Zorn's words, my own words, album reviews, and other sources to give you some background on each album.I've divided his work into seven categories: Masada, Naked City, soundtracks, game pieces, chamber music, other bands, and solo albums.Each category has its own page.All of this music is collected in the Filmworks series.Zorn: "The content of the piece is improvised according to complex instructions.The rules establish structures without dictating outcomes, much as the rules of baseball determine the conduct of the game but not its final score."The trouble is, Zorn doesn't tell the listeners what the rules are.This makes the music very confusing.Listening to a game piece is like listening to controlled chaos.But more often, he writes an abstract symphony, using blocks of sound and chunks of discreet instrumental breaks to build a long, complex piece.This is some of his most challenging music.Each of these bands has been around for over ten years, with an impressive list of albums.But Zorn has formed other, minor bands.Mick Harris and Bill Laswell.He makes an album with two or three people and, instead of calling it a John Zorn album, he gives it a band name.This includes News for Lulu, the Mystic Fugu Orchestra and the Sonny Clark Memorial Quintet.Godard, Mickey Spillane, and Jean Genet.There's also an album inspired by The Devil himself, and an album that is just plain amazing.Although his solo albums are listed under his own name, every Zorn album is a group effort.In the tradition of jazz and classical music, Zorn is credited as the composer and producer of each album, not the guy playing the instruments.In his liner notes, he goes to great lengths to credit and thank every musician for their dedication and their unique contributions.As the months go by, I'll add more reviews.Or my top ten favorites.During the late eighties, Zorn began spending time in Japan, saying he enjoyed the culture because it borrowed so heavily from other cultures.On this album, Zorn wrote new arrangements of soundtrack music originally composed by one of his heroes, Ennio Morricone.Once Upon a Time in the West).This is one of John Zorn's best albums.Ennio is truly one of the last giants in film scoring.Ennio Morricone was born in Rome 1928.As versatile as he's prolific, he has composed for thrillers, comedies, horror movies and Biblical epics.Many people have done versions of my pieces, but no one has done them like this.The title tracks on this album are musical tributes to two of John Zorn's favorite artists, a filmmaker and a novelist.He admires Godard's ability to "straddle the Hollywood and experimental independent film traditions."He sees Godard as "a philosopher who uses the medium of film."So I had all these things that I knew were just perfect for me."Spillane begins with a woman's scream that segues into a light jazz number.Using a dramatic subject (Godard, Spillane, Duras, Duchamp, Genet) as a unifying device was a revelation.It insures that all musical moments, regardless of form or content, will be held together by relating in some way to the subject's life or work.File cards are a convenient and versatile method of storing ideas.They were used by film directors such as Hitchcock, Welles, Lang and Lynch.Theater of Musical Optics to my arrangements of Morricone and Kurt Weill in 1983.Velda," you know, a portrait of who Velda is.That's all it would say.Later I'd pick the musicians involved.There is an older pressing of Spillane on the Nonesuch label, released in 1987.Christmas record by Jean Rochard, Joyeux Noel.Zorn describes Spillane:
Moments of music are compressed into blocks that, as separate scenes, take us on a kaleidoscopic rollercoster ride through an imaginary narrative.This was one of my first Zorn albums.While I listened, I studied the track listing.The Big Freeze, The Taxman Cometh, Night Walk, City Chase, A Taste of Voodoo, Skyline, etc.As far as I can tell, I think the story takes place on the wet streets of a city just before dawn, where a man's past is catching up with him.His latest criminal act, a bribe, was the straw that broke the camel's back.I'll never figure it out because the music is too good.If there weren't so many musical clues buried in each song, I would have figured out the story right away.And the CD would stay on the shelf, unplayed, for a long time.Because it's so rich with intruiging ideas, I've listened to The Bribe over and over for years.Latin grooves, hard rock, etc.Today, over a decade later, it seems almost normal for musicians to be aware of so many musical styles and to be able to play convincingly in them all.This is a very special group of musicians and their contributions and talents cannot be overstated.The proof is in the hearing.ZORN:
There is an interesting relation between the music here and my extended composition Spillane.In Spillane, the overall arc is kept intact precisely because of the momentum built up by the speed of the successive moments.The Bribe is quite a different story.Recorded in August of 1988, this is John Zorn's hardcore interpretation of Ornette Coleman's music.Zorn plays saxophone in the right channel.There are two drummers: Joey Baron and Michael Vatcher.The music is chaotic and repetitive.The bass is almost nonexistent.After listening to it over and over, I can hardly tell one song from the next.And it doesn't help that I've never heard the Ornette Coleman originals.The cover and interior art is by cartoonist Mark Beyer.RAW from 1991 called "The Bowing Machine," written by Alan Moore (Watchmen, From Hell).Spy was performed with two blues guitarists and Yamatsuka Eye added.There are four tracks: blue, yellow, pink, and black.Jean Genet was a French writer, born in 1910.He wrote The Thief's Journal, based on his early twenties when he lived on the streets as a beggar and prostitute.One of my critical moments occurred at a small movie theater in the West Village around 1965.The beauty of these images burned into my brain, branding my thought processes with an intensity that has scented much of my creative output, altering me forever.Trey Spruance is a member of Mr.Bungle and the Secret Chiefs 3.In 1936, he deserted from the army and traveled through Europe.This provided him with the material for The Thief's Journal (1949).In 1937 he was arrested and identified as a deserter, but was discharged from the army in 1938 on the grounds of mental imbalance and amorality.Between 1938 and 1942, his career consisted of a spate of petty thefts followed by short imprisonments.Whilst in Fresnes prison in 1942 he began to write poetry and the novel Our Lady of the Flowers followed in 1946.The support of such people eventually procured an amnesty for his criminal activities in 1944.This album documents the history of Jews in Europe and Israel in the middle of the 20th century.The song titles tell half the story: Shtetl, Never Again, Embers, Rectification, Looking Ahead, Iron Fist, The New Settlement.Kristallnacht, recorded November 1992.Zorn rightly makes the horror virtually unlistenable, and the album even comes with a warning from Zorn against "prolonged or repeated listenings."The pieces continue in this vein, alternating moments of pensive meditation with violent noise, performed by an ensemble including violinist Mark Feldman, guitarist Marc Ribot, and keyboardist Anthony Coleman.Zorn himself does not play on the album.In Zorn's massive catalogue of albums, a few stand out.YHVH I was able to find musicians like these to work with.This piece deals with the Jewish experience
before, during and after the Holocaust, taking us right up to today; here in NYC.It shifts to fear as German voices interrupt.Track 2: Never Again
The night of broken glass.Very quiet for 3 minutes, with voices on the radio at the end.Shifting between fast and slow.The sound of construction, frenzied building, and chaotic city life.Zorn begins his Music Romance series with a collection of unrelated songs.Performed with three wind machines and two acoustic feedback systems, the song sounds like a visit to a malfunctioning wind tunnel.Naked City songs (This Way Out, Bone Crusher, Bikini Atoll), and three songs of childlike exotica (Fils des Etoiles, Dreamer of Dreams, SooKi's Lullaby).The Naked City songs are the best part of the album, although they are over in less than two minutes.Zorn will record a whole album with these guys.This is one of Zorn's most diverse albums.It's like an audible jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing.Although it includes some atmospheric tiki music and a few string trios, the overall impression is one of pounding drums and heavy metal guitar.Exile is a guide to most of the musical styles he has worked in during the past decade.If you want to get into Zorn but you haven't heard a single album yet, start with this one.The guitarists and horn players skate over the thin ice of the rhythm section.It sounds like a tighter version of Leng Tch'e (by Naked City).Running the gamut of styles from moody exotica, hardcore punk, classical, jazz, surf, world music and more, this second volume of
the Music Romance Series features twelve new Zorn compositions.This is different from a hundred years ago.Now anything that's been performed is basically available to be heard, in some form or another, and a composer is usually voracious about hearing things.If it wasn't so pretty, it would be boring.He seems to be filtering world music through the Manhattan avant garde.Once you hear it, you'll say, "Oh yeah.I've heard that before."At the center of the album is Mao's Moon, featuring Dave Douglas on trumpet.La Flor del Bario sounds like Dreamer of Dreams on Music for Children.These links make the Music Romance albums feel like a single body of work.Gift is similar in many ways to John Zorn's past output, though it does not appear to be at a first listen.Normally, Zorn focuses on dynamic jazz, offbeat movie music, and chaotic fusions that are so unique as to be almost indescribable.It doesn't take long before the joke reveals itself, though.So, like all of the composer's past work, the album mixes humor and good intent with evil and an underlying darkness, making for classic Zorn material.The Clavicle of Solomon is the only challenging song on the album.Zorn has taken his computer experiments from Songs from the Hermetic Theater and refined them.But it's actually the best song on the album.It's a seductive and threatening song.Actually, it's two or three heavy metal songs on top of each other.Multiple guitars grind over reversed drums, with a guy howling in the background.The final track, Mysteries, returns to the pace of the first track.Although it covers a number of styles, I.Is this part of the Music Romance series?They are covered with occult designs in black, white, and gold.The credits are buried in the designs, along with alchemical symbolism, incantations, and Crowley quotes.On the back of the CD case, you'll see Satan's Golden Seal of Approval."Are you sure you want to block this user?John Zorn : Masada Anniversary Edition Vol.John Zorn : Masada Anniversary Edition Vol.John Zorn : Masada Anniversary Edition Vol.John Zorn : Masada Anniversary Edition Vol.Koby Israelite : Orobas: Book Of Angels Vol.Drawing on his experience in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, classical, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular and improvised music, John Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories.New York City, he has been a central figure in the downtown scene since 1975, incorporating a wide range of musicians in various compositional formats.He learned alchemical synthesis from Harry Smith, structural ontology with Richard Foreman, how to make art out of garbage with Jack Smith, cathartic expression at Sluggs and hermetic intuition from Joseph Cornell.More and more Tzadik bootlegs (mostly made in Russia and Eastern Europe) are appearing on Ebay and finding their way into CD shops.Please do not support these criminals by puchasing inferior Tzadik bootlegs.John Zorn is NOT personally associated with this profile.Great concert tonight in Rome!Thanks for adding me : you are a great musician, well done for your work and career.Hello,
Nice to make your aquantaince.I've seen some interesting acts at the Stone.Looking forward to more nuts and wild berries..Very nice to be friends!And remember Zorn fans,feed the wiorld with Jesus Burgers!PLEASURE AND RESPECT FROM ITALY!!!Fans of Naked City might like this...I've been listen to 'string quartets' heaps recently.Zorn is the reason I want to play music for a living.Thank you, John Zorn.Lots of respect from Lisbon.Thanks a lot for the adding.John Zorn's artistic statements amaze and challenge your senses, crushing musical barriers and feeble minds along the way."Urgent Security Alert","Warning: You are submitting information to an outside site.This could be an attempt to steal your username and password.Do you wish to continue your form submission?"Id + " Text: " + targetLink.DISCOGRAPHY OF JOHN ZORN
This is the 13th version of the discography of John Zorn.Following items are:
discography,
records (co)produced by John Zorn,
records with liner notes by John Zorn,
records with samples of Zorn's music,
articles on John Zorn,
videos featuring John Zorn,
movies featuring John Zorn,
Avant catalogue,
Tzadik catalogue,
miscellaneous.Again, I would really appreciate any comments, corrections and extra
information which could improve the quality of this discography.SUGAR in their vitamins?Brian Morgan
Danilo Campanella
Bruce Carnevale Itta.Shimmy has some very interesting ones !Peter Kuhn: clarinet and bass clarinet.John Zorn: alto,
soprano, Bb clarinet.Henry Kaiser: electric
guitar; Bruce Ackley: soprano, Bb clarinet; John Zorn: ???LaDonna Smith: violin,
viola.John Zorn: alto, soprano, Bb clarinet.John Zorn: alto, soprano, Bb clarinet.TRIO: John Zorn, Polly Bradfield, Eugene Chadbourne
No information on this record.SOLO IMPROVISATIONS: John Zorn
John Zorn: alto, soprano, Bb clarinet.Metalanguage (USA), ML 115 (LP)
Note: this record was never released.Miller: percussion, contact microphones,
vibraphone; Charles K.Recorded at Sorcerer Sound Studio, New York City on March 1, 1980
Polly Bradfield: violin; Mark E.John Zorn: goose, duck
and crow calls, clarinet mouthpiece.David Licht (1,3,12):
percussion, drums.John Zorn (3,9): alto,
game calls; Dana Vlcek (3,4): tenor.THE WORLD AND THE RAW PEOPLE: Charles K.Noyes with Henry Kaiser and Elliott Sharp
Charles K.Henry Kaiser (7,8,10): guitar.John Zorn: alto,
soprano, clarinets, game calls; Anthony G.Moss: drums, voice, percussion; Mark Smith: prompter.Linh Le (4): vocals; Roger Trilling (5): records.OAO Record (UK), OAO 001 (LP)
1987 (?OAO, CELCD 5002 (CD)
1987 (?Charly (Germany), CPCD 8198 (CD)
1997 (?John Zorn: alto, soprano, clarinets, game calls.John Zorn: alto, soprano,
clarinets, game calls.You Only Live Twice, Mr.Zorn: alto, soprano, clarinets, game calls, whistling.Evva (Japan), evva 33003 (CD)
Note: (16,18,20,22) are extra tracks not available on the vinyl edition.Note: the fourth trio was initially planned to be with Vic Albertine and
Steve Beresford (instead of Whiz Kid and M.John Zorn: alto, soprano,
clarinets, game calls.John Zorn: game calls).What Is This Dance, Anyway?Note: (6) is not available on the 1994 CD reissue (meaning no John Zorn on
it).Recorded at the OAO Studio in Brooklyn, New York on February 27, 1983
John Zorn: alto, soprano, clarinets, game calls.Note: according to an interview, John Zorn had plans to release a total of
five volumes of THE CLASSIC GUIDE TO STRATEGY.THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL NOW: A Tribute To Thelonious Monk
This record features covers of Monk's songs by Bruce Fowler, Steve Khan, Dr.Shockabilly, Joe Jackson, Bobby McFerrin, Chris Spedding, Steve Slagle, Gil
Evans, etc.Records (UK), AMLM 66600 (2xLP)
Note: there is a CD version, but without "Shuffle Boil" on it (...Produced by Jim Staley and Roma Baran
Jim Staley: trombone; John Zorn (6): alto, clarinets, game calls.John Zorn (alto, game calls), John Tanner (clarinet).Slash, SLAP 1 (LP)
????All Live Kovs
Recorded in 1977 (?Note: this record is also included in TRILOGY (1985), a three record set.Recorded live at Moers Festival, Germany in May 1985
John Zorn: alto; Tenko: vocals.This three record set includes the compilations NEW AFRICA 2, HARD CELL and
BEAT FREAKS.The Last Poets, Shango, Jalaluddin
M.Johnny Adams, Aaron Neville, Todd Rundgren, Gary Windo, Charlie Haden,
Sharon Freeman.Jimmy Bralower (2): drum machine programming; D.Jimmy Bralower: drum machine programming; D.John Zorn: game calls; The Uptown Horns.Recorded in New York City on November 23, 1984
Michihiro Sato: shamisen; John Zorn: reeds.John Zorn: alto, clarinet, game calls.Butterfield, John Zorn, Sharon Cook, Bruce Davis, Alcides Lanza, Gordon
Monahan, Rick Sacks, Rodney Sharman, Linda C.Note: this improvisation is one in a series of miniatures performed in late
1984.John Zorn: alto, clarinet, game calls.BLUE WINDOW: Guy Klucevsek
Klucevsek interprets compositions by John Zorn, Pauline Oliveros, Lois V.Produced by Elliott Sharp (1,3,4,5), and John Zorn (2)
Guy Klucevsek: accordion; Marshall Taylor: alto (1).Note: John Zorn does not play on this tape.Recorded September 19, 1985 at Radio City Studios, New York City
John Zorn: alto, clarinet, game calls.No Man's Land (Germany), nml 8604cd (CD)
Note: the CD includes 30 minutes of extra material, but without Zorn.Ned Rothenberg: bass clarinet, alto; John Zorn (6): alto.This tribute features The Amati Ensemble, John Zorn, Arto Lindsay, Daniel
Deshays, Caroline Gautier and Olivier Foy.Ailack Hall, Tokyo on May 23, 1986
Masayuki Takayanagi: guitar; John Zorn (1,2): alto, etc.Sitting in the Park (B.Nato (France), DK 018 53021.Nato (France), 112110 (CD)
199?Giu La Testa (Duck, You Sucker!Note: this record was supposed to be called A FIST FULL OF JOHN ZORN.Christian Marclay, Bill Horvitz, David Weinstein, Denman Maroney, Samm
Bennett, Jim Staley, Ikue Mori, John Zorn.Fred Frith: electric guitar, etc.Though John Zorn does not play on this record, his music (from GODARD, Nato
634) is extensively sampled by Harth.Review Records (Germany), rere 95cd (CD)
Note: (5) has a newly recorded vocal track on the CD reissue.Jenny Holzer, Annie Grosshans, Jessica Hagedorn, David Mahler, Karen Finley,
Norman Durkee.Recorded by Michael Beinhorn at Demolition Sound Studio, NYC in 1986
John Zorn: alto, game calls.Center on Contemporary Art (Seattle, USA), ???Note: titles by Martin Bisi, The President, The Ordinaires and Toy Killers
are not available on the CD.COBRA: John Zorn
This record contains two versions of Cobra, a studio one and a live one.Recorded live at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on October 21, 1985
J.Bobby Previte: drum machine; John Zorn: prompter.Spongehead Experience, Steve Taylor and Allen Ginsberg, George Cartwright,
Scott Williams, Otto Kentrol, Laraaji.Shadowline Records (Netherland), SR6787 (LP)
????Produced by Jim Staley and Fred Frith
Bill Frisell: guitar; Ikue Mori: drums, drum machine; Jim Staley: trombone.Recorded live in Frankfurt, June 1986
Alfred 23 Harth: tenor; John Zorn: alto.In A Sentimental Mood (Pt.Nobody Loves Me But My Mother (B.Note: the CD version of this 2xLP does not contain the tracks featuring
John Zorn or Tom Cora.Bound To Ride (P.Evans, British Summer Time Ends, Tabley Bellows, Norma Winstone, Tony Coe,
Lol Coxhill.Arvo Part, Anton Webern, John Zorn, John Lurie, Astor Piazzolla, Alfred
Schnittke, Samuel Barber.Recorded live at Jazzfestival Willisau on August 30, 1987
John Zorn: alto; George Lewis: trombone; Bill Frisell: guitar.This record features Franz Koglmann, News For Lulu, and George Gruntz
Concert Band.Shimmy Disc Europe (Netherland), SDE 8802 (LP)
????Recorded live at Vandoeuvre (France) on May 22nd, 1987
John Zorn: alto.John Zorn: alto
(11).John Zorn (4,9): alto.Efa 15097 (LP)
See REPLICANT WALK (1988) for further references on (1).City, PIL, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Les Rita Mitsouko, Iggy Pop,
Maxi Priest.See GREED (1988) for further references.Bach, Philip Glass, Carlos Paredes, Igor Stravinsky, Arvo Part, Wayne
Horvitz, MFSB, Ornette Coleman, Akiko Yano, Bill Frisell, Gipsy King.See SPY VS SPY (1989) for further references.Constance Towers, Fred Frith, Syzygys, Lost Gringos, Laemonz, Der Plan,
Tipographica, Pyrolator, Jumbo, Exp, John Zorn, Bun Itakura.Recorded and mixed February 20, 1989 at B.Studio, Brooklyn, New York
John Zorn: alto; Andy Hawkins: guitar; Gabe Katz: bass; Ted Epstein: drums.Though John Zorn does not play on this record, The Bill Frisell Band plays a
composition arranged by him (Hard Plains Drifter).Cyro Baptista (7): shaker.Zeena Parkins, Robert Poss, Ned Rothenberg, Elliott Sharp, Davey Williams,
John Zorn, Peter Zummo.Jad Fair: vocals, guitar, harmonica; Don Fleming: guitar, vocal; Mr.DAMES, Paris in September 1987
(8) recorded at V.On The Sunny Side Of The Street (J.Haruo Togashi (13): piano, keyboard; Tatsuo Kondoh (13): accordion.Note: recording directed and produced by John Zorn (John Zorn does not play
on this record).Each piece is composed entirely of records by the artist after whom it is
titled."John Cage" is a recording of a collage made by cutting slices from
several records and gluing them back into a single disc.ReR Megacorp (UK), ReR CMV1 (10")
Note: the CD is a limited edition of 1000 copies.CYNICAL HYSTERIE HOUR: John Zorn
Music for a Japanese children's cartoon show.Ikue Mori: drum machine.Francois Pauvros, Yves Robert,
David Weinstein, John Zorn.Note: (23,24,25) are not available on the LP pressings.Recorded at the Knitting Factory, New York City on January 16, 1990
John Zorn: alto; Elliott Sharp: doubleneck guitarbass; Ted Epstein: drums.Note: two tracks are missing on the LP pressings (which ones?Note: the 5xCD box contains the five volumes LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY.Hayashi, Tim Hodgkinson, Lars Hollmer, Bill Laswell, Rene Lussier, Fred
Maher, Kevin Norton, Bob Ostertag, Zeena Parkins, John Zorn.New York City in August 1983
(19) recorded at Paosostr.Eitetsu Hayashi (20): drums; Tina Curran (25): bass.School, Shirley Murdock, John Eddie, The Beautiful South, Michael Feinstein,
John Zorn.Note: the 1xCD is a sampler (promotion only) with the same song.Though John Zorn does not play on this record, his music is extensively
sampled by Ostertag.Catherine Jauniaux, Azalia Snail, King Missile, Mr.Volts, The Tinklers, Fred Lane, The Hat Brothers, Rebby Sharp,
False Prophets, Tamela Glenn, Daved Hild, Lida Husik, Kramer, John Zorn.Shimmy Disc, SDE 9021 (CD)
199?Shimmy Disc (USA), SHM5034 (CD)
Note: (23) is only available on the CD pressings.Note: all the songs except (2,6,7,18,24,26,36,37,39) are also available on
GRAND GUIGNOL (1992).Orthotonics, Fred Frith and John Zorn, Harmonia Viva, Appel A Tous,
Maximalist.Recorded at Sound Fabrik in Munich
Walter Sterr: guitars; Georg S.Fred Frith: guitar (1,2,5,9); John Zorn: sax (5).September 1990) of
the magazine The Catalogue.John Zorn, spinning discs by his favorite
artists and Naked City."Ramamurthi), Funkadelic, Beach Boys, Ennio Morricone, John Zorn, Lenny
Tristano.See THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS (1983) for further references.Sakata, Yamatsuka Eye and John Zorn, Ruins, Michihiro Satoh, Merzbow,
Haruna Miyake, Ikue Mori, Toru Takemitsu.Tokyo Noisefest at the Knitting Factory in 1990
Yamatsuka Eye: vocals; John Zorn: alto.Note: this record contains also two tracks produced by Zorn, one with the
Ruins, and one with Michihiro Satoh (material available on other records).Hiroki Miyano: Ovation guitar; Tomohiro Yahiro: percussion.Cyro Baptista: brazilian percussion; Robert Previte: drums, marimba.Previte: drums, percussion, vocal.Elektra pressing has a
sleeve with the front in black and white and the back in color.World Pacific, CDP 7 96104 2 (CD)
Note: Prince Vasconcelos De Bois and Nana Vasconcelos are the same person.Recorded at Greenpoint, Brooklyn in April 1991
John Zorn: alto, vocals; Bill Laswell: bass; Mick Harris: drums, vocals.Earache (UK), MOSH 198 (CD)
Note: the Japanese pressing has the original cover which was banned in UK.Recorded and mixed at Different Fur, San Francisco in 1991
Produced by John Zorn and Mr.Note: John Zorn plays alto on (9), although his name is not cited among the
musicians.Vladimir Chekasin, Bill Laswell, Vladimir Tarasov, Kazutoki Umezu, Haruna
Miyake, Yuji Takahashi, Ayuo Takahashi, John Zorn.Recorded in April 1989
Valentina Ponomareva: vocals; John Zorn: alto.John Zorn: turbo sax.This record features three compositions by John Zorn, Haruna Miyake, and
Jose Maceda.Fontec (Japan), FOCD3151 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.John Zorn (9), Terry Riley interpreted by the Kronos Quartet (11),
Christian Marclay (12).Arcana Editions (Italy), ARC A1 (Book + CD)
See NAKED CITY (1990) for further references on (1,5).See BEFORE WE WERE BORN (1989) for further references on (3).See THIS NEW GENERATION (1987) for further references on (4).See SPILLANE (1987) for further references on (9).See IMAGINARY LANDSCAPES (1989) for further references on (12).Bronwyn Rucker, Toshiharu Ito, Keiichi
Irie, Toshio Iwai, Haruhiko Shono, Yuji Takahashi.John Zorn plays on one track with Naked City:
?This record contains most of the songs available on the first and second
Golden Palominos.Mau Mau Records, MAUCD 625 (CD)
See THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS (1983) for further references.January 18, 1989
John Zorn: alto; George Lewis: trombone; Bill Frisell: guitar.Note: (7,8,9,10) were written as part of POLKA FROM THE FRINGE, a collection
of over 30 polkas commissioned by Klucevsek.Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.CONFEDERACY OF DANCES VOL.Christian Marclay, Ikue Mori, Zeena Parkins, David Shea, Luli Shioi, Leo
Smith, Jim Staley, David Weinstein, John Zorn.Lindsay: voice and guitar; Christian Marclay: turntables; M.Ben Neill, John Cage, David Behrman, Pauline Oliveros, Steve Lacy, John
Zorn and Andrea Centazzo.New Tone, NT 6707 (CD)
See ENVIRONMENT FOR SEXTET (1979) for further references.Broadrick (5,10): guitar, drum machine, vocals; G.Sentrax Productions, SET 1 CD (CD)
See BURIED SECRETS (1992) for further references.TORTURE GARDEN is available on this record.Evva (Japan), 33004 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Note: contrary to a rumour, The Melvins and Mike Patton do not play on this
record (although they have certainly inspired this piece, hence the thanks).Note: the Tzadik reissue is called BLACKBOX and also includes TORTURE GARDEN
(1990).Miguel Frasconi, Pierre Dorge, Robert Marsanyi, Mike Hovancsek, Krystyna
Bodrowski, Keith Rowe, Anything Goes Orchestra.MODIFIERS and the special instrumentation (although it has
been done with six drummers) helps give the piece a distinctive identity."John Zorn (10,14,16): sax.Note: (13) is a bonus CD track not available on the vinyl edition.John Zorn (9,14): sax.Daryl Kahane (5): vocals.This record features two sets of musicians, one from 1982 was available on
a LP, and one from 1992 only available on this CD.Bill Obrecht, Pulsallama, Bartok Lieberman, Michael Boom, Squat Theatre,
A.Linh Le, Christian Marclay, Adele
Bertei, Ivan Kupala, Charles K.Sarah Boyd Blair,
A Thousand Tiny Fingers, Leslie Ross, Hal Willner, Shelley Hirsch.Recorded live at the Knitting Factory
John Zorn: alto; Yamatsuka Eye: vocals.Atavistic (USA), ALP69CD (2xCD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on the 1982 vinyl edition.This record features Fudge Tunnel, Scorn, OLD, Pitch Shifter, Pain Killer,
Clutch, Sleep.Doyle: French horn, mandolin; Dakota Joe Dunn: harmonica.Delta Recording Company (?DRCD 1 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Celluloid, CELD 8082 (CD)
See THE GOLDEN PALOMINOS (1983) for further references.David Krakauer: clarinet, bass
clarinet (1,5); Frank London: trumpet (1,5).Evva (Japan, Europe), EVVA 33005 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Francois Pauvros, John Zorn, David
Toop, Alan Hacker, etc.See DEADLY WEAPONS (1986) for further references.The Kronos Quartet: David Harrington: violin, John Sherba: violin, Hank
Dutt: viola, Joan Jeanrenaud: cello.Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.GM 54047 (CD)
Note: we listed the appearances for the guests (YE, JZ, TB, TK, SK) only.Kerr Records (USA), TK92CD047 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Tokyo No Yane No Shita (Takao, Ryoichi, arr.Hoppy Kamiyama (11): killer.Cramps (Italy), CRSCD 097 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Note: this record was initially planned to be given away with a magazine,
and not available for retail in record stores; but Cramps put it out...Note: the Evidence pressing is called THE COLOSSAL SAXOPHONE SESSIONS, and
contains both SAX LEGENDS VOLUME 1 and SAX LEGENDS VOLUME 2.Poets Orchestra, Klezmer 1993, Ken Valitsky, Carmaig de Forest.See JOHN ZORN'S COBRA (1995) for further references.Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.See HALLOWED GROUND (1984) for further references.Brothers, Eddie van Halen, Toshinoro Kondo, John Zorn, Tom Cora, Kramer,
David Licht, Becky Jordan.Stars, Alollo Trehorn (with Klezmatics).No recording information
John Zorn: alto; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Greg Cohen: bass; Joey Baron: drums.Haino Keiji (9,10,15,16,17): guitar, vocals.Avant (Japan), Avan 005 (CD)
Note: not released; in fact it has never been recorded.Note: the 1996 Subharmonic reissue is seriously flawed (poor quality, and
one long track which ends with Lightnin' Rod's "Hustler's Convention").Mia Zabelka: violin, voice; John Zorn: alto.Eckarard Koltermann, Bernd Konrad, Werner Luedi, Burhan Oecal, Roland
Philipp, Peter Schaerli, John Zorn.Note: this version is different from the one on PLAN EDEN (1987), even
though the liner notes claim that it is the same."The Knitting Factory has twice presented the Radical New Jewish Culture
Festival, curated by John Zorn.Jewish musicians explore their roots, ask
questions, and have a rollicking good time ..."Note: not released because some of the artists did not want to participate.NY NOIZE FEST: various artists
This record features John Zorn, ???Note: never released (unknown reason).This record features Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Penn Jillette, The Residents,
Foetis Inc.John Zorn, Crispin Glover, Yo La Tango, Gibby Haynes, Half
Japanese, etc.COMPANY 91 VOLUME 1
Volume 1 is taken from the first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday).John Zorn (6,7): alto.John Zorn (3,5): alto.COMPANY 91 VOLUME 3
Volume 3 is selected from the final two days (Friday and Saturday).John Zorn (1,2,5,6,7,8): alto.Pig Pen, Piotr Wojtasik
Quintet, Christian Escoude Trio.Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Cavity Search (USA), CSR 22 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Phaidia, Malinconia, YBO2, Dissections Table, High Rise, Zoa, Ruins,
Vasilisk, Zeni Geva, Torture Garden.Pilot, Massengil, Furniture Huschle,
Party Of One, Jack Knife, Extra Glenns.Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Recorded in November 1994 by Oz Fritz
Regular Pain Killer lineup plus Yamatsuka Eye on (4,5).The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet (4,9): Marjorie
De Muynck, Amy Denio, Jessica Lurie, Barbara Marino.Kerr Records (USA), tk93cd069 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Recorded at RPM, New York City on February 20, 1994
John Zorn: alto; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Greg Cohen: bass; Joey Baron: drums.Recorded in 1994
John Zorn: vocals; etc.Dr Jim's Records (Australia), DR JIM 11 (CD)
Note: John Zorn is not credited on the record.Produced by John Zorn and Kazunori Sugiyama
John Zorn: alto; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Greg Cohen: bass; Joey Baron: drums.Recorded by Fred Frith + John Zorn for Incus Records
John Zorn: alto; Fred Frith: guitar.Incus (UK), CD 20 (CD)
Note: all music improvised live by John Zorn and Fred Frith.John Zorn (1,3): alto.Produced by John Zorn and Kazunori Sugiyama
John Zorn: alto; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Greg Cohen: bass; Joey Baron: drums.Note: this record is also known under the name MASADA 3.Alex Tobias: harmonica, tin
whistle, celtic drum; Rebecca Wilson: screaming; John Zorn: alto.Produced by John Zorn and Kazunori Sugiyama
John Zorn: alto; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Greg Cohen: bass; Joey Baron: drums.Hirotaka Izumi (9): piano; Norma H.Jay Rodrigues (3): alto; E.Jeff Buckley (4,5): voice
(tenor); M.John Zorn plays on one track with No Safety:
?Tzadik (USA), TZ 7101 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Evva (Japan), 33002 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Rav Yechida (Yamatsuka Eye): voice; Rav Tzizit (John Zorn): harmonium.Tzadik (USA), TZ 7106 (CD single)
Note: originally, this was supposed to be released as a set of 78RPM.Bob Ostertag, John Zorn, Fred Frith, Phil Minton, John
Oswald, Quartetto P.Polka Band, Rohan de Saram, Mark Dresser, Gerry Hemingway, Stefano
Scodanibbio, Banda Roncati, Banda Bird.Colossus of the Fall, Strife, Wishplants, Pain Killer, Synaestheia, Love
Spirals Downward.See EXECUTION GROUND (1994) for further references.Recorded between 1973 and 1974
John Zorn: all instruments.Erik Friedlander (2): cello; John Zorn: conductor.Produced by John Zorn
Marc Ribot: solo guitar.Tzadik (USA), TZ 7009 (CD)
Note: John Zorn does not play on this record.Note: according to Stefan Negele, the recording information given on the
record is wrong (it was not recorded in New York City in 1994).M |
