John Zorn
Printed From: JazzMusicArchives.com
Category: Jazz Music Lounges
Forum Name: Jazz Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific jazz artists/bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.JazzMusicArchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=784
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 7:46pm
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Topic: John Zorn
Posted By: Prog Geo
Subject: John Zorn
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 10:07am
| Let's appreciate this incredible composer. We'll discuss for every part of his career. As a supporter of the destruction of the world I like Leng Tch'e (Naked city) so much. But I like many of his albums. Like Magick, Mysterium, O'o, Gimel (Electric masada), Naked city (the first homonymous album) etc. |
Replies:
Posted By: idlero
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 10:24am
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I like too the ones you mentioned,( I'd add to the list The Goddess, In Search Of Miraculuos), these are among his most accessible ones, but the more interesting are the inaccessible ones So maybe we should talk about the ones we dislike I don't like his AG work(jazz or contemporary), I like his klezmer work but only in small portions ------------- I think the problem with a lot of the fusion music is that it's extremely predictable, it's a rock rhythm and the solos all play the same stuff and they play it over and over again ... Ken Burns |
Posted By: Prog Geo
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 10:48am
| I don't dislike something. But since June until now I have started to explore him more. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 12:34pm
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I have the original Naked City (the debut I guess??) It's a fun album. I like listening to it once in a while, though somewhere in the middle of the album, it gets too hardcore for my tastes, and I skip a couple of tracks; unless I'm with friends and we get a bit of a laugh out of it. I used to regret purchasing it, but now I'm glad I have it. The only other John Zorn related album I have is the Electric Masada: 50th Birthday album. This album is absolutely awesome. Honestly I think Ive only listened to it twice, but I remember it being some really cool avant-jazz-fusion. Not the most out there album, kinda tame compared to some stuff Ive heard. I don't have any context for it though, as I don't have any other Masada recordings, or any other Zorn albums in general, but this is a great addition to my fusion collection. I may actually throw this one on today! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm |
Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 12:41pm
I own around 50 Zorn/Zorn-related albums, and can agree Electric Masada is one between his best  .For newbies with interest to dig Zorn music deeper I would recommend just to read a bit about his different series and projects to understand better what could be attractive for you. His different projects could vary widely in musical sense - from free-jazz hard core to movie soundtracks (in 60s fashion) to klezmer-based fusion,etc.
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Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 12:43pm
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I've got this John Zorn documentary DVD, Bookshelf on Top of the Sky, and I was just thinking last night about re-watching it in the near future. http://www.amazon.ca/Bookshelf-Top-Sky-Joey-Baron/dp/B0001CGMRW/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1310578824&sr=1-2" rel="nofollow - http://www.amazon.ca/Bookshelf-Top-Sky-Joey-Baron/dp/B0001CGMRW/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1310578824&sr=1-2  I first heard of him when I bought Mr. Bungle's debut, which he produced. It took a while for me to get into what Zorn delivers musically, but I dig it now despite not being very familiar with a ton of his stuff. Always liked his name: Zorn
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Posted By: triceratopsoil
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 2:16pm
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Leng Tch'e and Zorn's grindcore stuff are my favourites of his, but that's pretty much not jazz related. I'm not a big fan of his elevator jazz. His classical music is pretty bitchen.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/TullDerGraff" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Prog Geo
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 2:17pm
You're right about this. I like some of his filmworks too. For example, I want to buy Filmworks xiii: Invitation to a suicide (it appeals me because I'm a happy person   ). |
snobb wrote:Posted By: idlero
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 2:39pm
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His filmworks is perhaps his most accesible music, but less interesting IMO
------------- I think the problem with a lot of the fusion music is that it's extremely predictable, it's a rock rhythm and the solos all play the same stuff and they play it over and over again ... Ken Burns |
Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 3:42am
All wrong: a lot of Zorn's hard core is free-jazz/hard core, Zorn never wrote or recorded new age ("elevator music"). His "serious" works are far not an easy listening and sure are not for everyone taste.
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Posted By: The Truth
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 2:24pm
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Naked City was one hell of a project, just listened to Grand Guignol yesterday and man... Such greatness.
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Posted By: triceratopsoil
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 5:49pm
I'm not talking about his free-jazz/hardcore tracks, I'm talking about the songs he did that were straight grindcore (which by the way isn't the same thing as hardcore), and the comment about "not jazz related" mostly referred to Leng Tch'e. He did write and record what I think of as elevator jazz, I have at least 2 albums of it. None of his works are an overwhelmingly difficult listen, a lot of them are boring squawking wank though. Before you dismiss my post as "all wrong" at least make sure we are on the same page, wouldn't you? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/TullDerGraff" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Jazz Pianist
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 6:54pm
| This man Zorn be crazy. |
Posted By: Polo
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 1:54pm
This. I'm a big fan of his Masada work. -------------  That's Kenny G with Miles Davis on my avatar, by the way. |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 2:31pm
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Really made my entrance into a whole new kind of music with him. Of couse, that means I'll go with his obnoxious, crass, hardcore stuff. But Masada (the original) is also fantastic. He's really mellow lately; it's nice, but... Given the amount of composing he's capable of, the light jazz albums give me the impression of having been written in an hour - and on top of that, he took on far too substantial concepts (like the Burroughs series) for such lackluster recordings. Highest works rated, according to my RYM **** 1/2 - Spillane **** 1/2 - Leng T'che **** 1/2 - Alef (Masada) **** - First Recordings 1973 **** - Redbird **** - Magick **** - Filmworks XVI: Workingman's Death **** - 50th Birthday Celebration Vol.4 (Electric Masada) **** - more Masada (Sevilla, Middleheim Concerts, Beit, Het) -------------  
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Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 5:12pm
Maybe you fellas can help. I know John Zorn has done more albums that the USA and Europe debt in number but I have only heard one of his albums and have never returned. The mentioned album was "Spy vs Spy" and I did not like at all. Lucky I had borrowed it  Anyway what is real good?------------- Matt |
Posted By: js
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 5:20pm
| I'm not a huge fan Matt, but you may like Zorn's "Naked City" a great poutpourri of New York City music from hard bop to spy movie music, some punk and all kinds of stuff, very fun non-serious type album to me, but good smart musicianship from a great back-up band, and I agree Spy vs Spy is pretty bad. |
Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 5:22pm
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Zorn's different projects/series contain very different music, so if you don't like one it doesn't mean you will hate others as rule. Possibly you could check any original Masada you will find - acoustic mixture of klezmer (Jewish Eastern European folk music, similar to Balkan) and some free-jazz over it. Melodic,easy accessible and catchy. There are some albums from initial series,no big difference which one you will try, they generally are quite similar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJkmTdoYQYE" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJkmTdoYQYE
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Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 5:44pm
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Thanks Slava. that was my Paul on the road to Damascus experience for me today. Talk about chalk and cheese. What an improvement. Loved it. Does Zorn keep it tight. I wonder if he is like what Frank Zappa was with the band ? Tough and a bastard with the rehearsals. Saw him conducting on the video. Anyway say it again loved it  ------------- Matt |
Rocks that one. (full on just as I like them) Posted By: Abraxas
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 5:49pm
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Check this: I've just discovered it due to this thread, and I love it! Thanks guys.
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Posted By: Polo
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 6:01pm
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There are quite a few pro-shot Zorn concerts on BibiAudiofil's youtube channel. This one's my favorite: ------------- That's Kenny G with Miles Davis on my avatar, by the way. |
Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 6:10pm
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Pablo that was great, thanks.
Looks like I have a bit more to hear from Polo  Loved both so far.......awesome------------- Matt |
Posted By: Polo
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 6:20pm
It's impossible not to like Masada. Zorn's Naked City is hard to get into (music for the clinically insane, according to my mother) but they're my favorite Zorn project overall. If you want to listen to the Naked City debut, you can hear the entire thing for free on this page: http://grooveshark.com/#/album/Naked+City/358739" rel="nofollow - http://grooveshark.com/#/album/Naked+City/358739 . No registration required. ------------- That's Kenny G with Miles Davis on my avatar, by the way. |
Posted By: Prog Geo
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 6:27pm
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Matt, you must listen to Leng Tch'e ep of Naked city. This ep (and depressive black metal, doom metal (of course mostly extreme) and grindcore etc) describes my hate and my repulsion (also a grindcore band) for life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MUIqYHzgk4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MUIqYHzgk4 Listen to the 3rd part! And to be more specific, Yamataka Eye's screaming (it's more than this) describes my disgust for life. |
Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 7:03pm
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That was great did not get a chance to hear them all but tomorrow will continue.
Off to the footy to see my beloved Collingwood play..........Go Pies ------------- Matt |
Posted By: triceratopsoil
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2011 at 2:44am
I don't think that is his style, really  . ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/TullDerGraff" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Prog Geo
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2011 at 5:46am
| Yes, but he must listen to how the darkness and misery of this world sound in music. |
Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2011 at 10:11am
| For those searching for most radical Zorn's experiments Hemophiliac project could be a target (with Yamataka Eye) |
Posted By: Prog Geo
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2011 at 6:43pm
| I like it. Very experimental and electronic. |
Posted By: idlero
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2011 at 11:42am
IMHO this one is among his bests I------------- I think the problem with a lot of the fusion music is that it's extremely predictable, it's a rock rhythm and the solos all play the same stuff and they play it over and over again ... Ken Burns |
Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2011 at 12:00pm
| I like Bar Kokhba project also even if it is far not typical Zorn's music (if there exists "typical Zorn's music" at all ) - Bar Kokhba is Zorn's turn on world fusion with minimum free jazz flavor (if at all). |
Posted By: ilistentomusic
Date Posted: 16 May 2012 at 8:23pm
Been exploring his more recent stuff lately. Was really impressed with In Search Of The Miraculous. And Nova Express from last year was brilliant. I love the use of Vibraphone that he's brought into a lot of recent efforts. It works really well and not an instrument i've heard much in avant jazz.
Late, but see my sig for my response to this  ------------- 
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Posted By: ilistentomusic
Date Posted: 16 May 2012 at 8:25pm
I really like Bar Kokhba. I still need to hear all of the Masada songbooks. Electric Masada is definitely my favourite interpretation. 50th Anniversary Celebration and Mountains of Madness are amazing performances. -------------
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Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 17 May 2012 at 1:11am
| Agree - Bar Kokhba and Masadas (especially Electric) are between Zorn's most accessible and attractive releases, only Dreamers series (even if quite different) can be compared . What doesn't mean his other works are not so good - just for other taste |
Posted By: Cannonball With Hat
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 5:47pm
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Bumping this hibernating bear as well. I apparently never posted here, but I'm a big JZ fan. I'm 95% sure the first Zorn I heard was Naked City's debut, which I found excellent. So many exciting music styles blended together into a viscous stew. I'll be honest, no idea where I went after that. But today my favorite projects of his are: Naked City Painkiller (who only get better with repeated listenings IMO) Moonchild Trio (who are rarely a trio anymore) Been salivating over Masada and The Dreamers as of late (two projects I found long ago but only started fully enjoying as of late). Electric Masada included in Masada. His Masada Book Two is a very interesting project/theory that has produced some gems (my favorites being Metheny's and Secret Chief 3's). And can't forget to mention his label Tzadik which is a blessed beacon to the world of experimental/forward looking/weird sh*t music. ------------- Hit it on Five. Saxophone Scatterbrain Blitzberg Stab them in the ears. |