John Zorn

Born: September 2, 1953

Drawing upon his experience in classical, jazz, rock, hardcore punk, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular, world and improvised music, John Zorn has created a controversial and influential body of work that often defies academic categories. He has earned great respect within his own community and beyond by going his own way without compromise, developing a large network of supporters world wide, often in unexpected places.

Born in 1953 and raised in New York City, Zorn has been a central figure in the Downtown Scene since 1975, incorporating a wide variety of creative musicians into various compositional formats. He is an indefatigable worker and highly prolific: he has composed over 120 works for classical ensembles including 8 string quartets, vocal music, chamber music, concerti, operas, symphonic and dance works, improvisational game pieces, studio based compositions, and has released over 150 cds under his own name, 99% of which are on his own Tzadik label.

Tatsuya Yoshida / Mart��n Escalante: The Sound of Raspberry

by Mark Corroto
September 4, 2025

This LP may be the revelation of 2025--or a sonic ordeal, depending on your tolerance for noise and your grasp of history. Japanese drummer Tatsuya Yoshida and Mexican saxophonist Martín Escalante met at the perfect moment in December 2023 to record 14 tracks at Tokyo's Bar Aja. The result, The Sound of Raspberry, is the love ...

Sheila Jordan (RIP), Phil Haynes, Jason Kao Hwang, and Sarah Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
September 4, 2025

This episode pays tribute to the recently deceased Sheila Jordan by playing music from the early and later parts of her long career. It also features music from Sarah Wilson, Jason Kao Hwang, and Phillip Haynes among others. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & ...

Ches Smith: Clone Row

by Glenn Astarita
August 30, 2025

Ches Smith, the San Diego-born Sacramento-raised drummer who studied philosophy at the University of Oregon before diving headfirst into the Bay Area's experimental music scene, has long been one of modern jazz's most restless spirits. His deep resume includes work with Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Mary Halvorson and Nels Cline, cementing his reputation as ...

Jazz em Agosto 2025

by Stefano Merighi
August 15, 2025

Jazz em Agosto Gulbenkian Foundation Lisbon, Portugal August 1-10, 2025 Despite the “onda de calor" which hit it, Lisbon remains as peaceful as ever in its saturnine routine--even though invasive tourism in the Baixa neighborhood has already changed its appearance, and not for the better. August, however, is also ...

Jazz em Agosto 2025

by Stefano Merighi
August 13, 2025

Jazz em Agosto Fondazione Gulbenkian Lisbona, Portogallo 1-10 agosto 2025 Malgrado la “onda de calor" portoghese stia sfiorando la capitale, Lisbona �� al solito pacifica nel suo tran tran saturnino, anche se il turismo invadente della Baixa ha gi�� trasformato certo non in meglio la sua fisionomia. Ma ...

Ornette Coleman's and Horace Silver's "Lonely Woman" �� A Disambiguation

by Artur Moral
July 27, 2025

Reality is filled with confusion and misunderstandings; some are suggestive or creative, while others are disappointing or, worse, malicious. The jazz world is no stranger to the first type: specific compositions are often confused or misidentified as if they were the same. Usually, this happens because of similar melodies or titles that are sometimes identical. This ...

Ches Smith: Clone Row

by Vic Albani
June 16, 2025

Gi�� il cappello ancora una volta. Ches Smith �� davvero un meraviglioso esempio di intelligenza e--dopo il bellissimo capolavoro dedicato al Voodoo (Path of Seven Colors) pubblicato con Pyroclastic nel 2021, ma anche Laugh Ash del 2024--tira fuori dal cappello un'altra meraviglia affrontando un'autentica destrutturazione di un super quartetto con tanto di due chitarre (Mary Halvorson, ...

Guy Klucevsek - Tales of a Well-Tempered Accordionist

by Ludovico Granvassu
June 14, 2025

A heartfelt tribute to Guy Klucevsek, the gentle giant who unleashed his accordion onto Downtown, and beyond. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Guy Klucevsek “Stolen Memories" Stolen Memories (Tzadik) 0:16 Host talks 5:49 Accordion Tribe “Chalk Dust" Live in Nijmegen 2002 ([Unreleased]) ...

Art Pepper: An Afternoon in Norway: The Kongsberg Concert

by Jack Kenny
June 1, 2025

This album is not just music; it is a glimpse into one of the most compelling stories in Art Pepper's musical history from the impossibly handsome alto saxophonist with Stan Kenton's orchestra to a drug-fueled inmate in San Quentin, culminating in a glorious renaissance. The sheer logistics surrounding this album are impressive. Consider this ...