Z

"There has never been a Zorn CD like this one! One of the most exciting bands to come out of the wild late night Nublu scene in the East VIllage, Forro in the Dark combines the driving dance rhythms of forro from Northeastern Brazil with rock, jazz...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397833420

"Four of Zorn’s compositions for large ensembles performed by Arcana, a special hand-picked orchestra of New York virtuosos under the baton of Maestro David Fulmer. Including “Orchestra Variations,” the monumental masterwork “Suppots et Suppliciations...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397831525

"Three distinctive instrumental works touching upon themes of magic and mysticism. Goetia are spells and incantations for summoning demonic spirits and this colorful set of variations for solo violin draws upon the ancient alliance between the violin...
Label  Tzadik

Brian Marsella: Piano
Ches Smith: Drums, Haitian Tanbou
Julian Lage: Guitar
Jorge Roeder: Bass

“The newest CD by Zorn’s most recent quartet “Incerto” is a beautiful and moody suite of nocturnes inspired by the night imagery of Shakespeare. Heart wrenchingly beautiful, the music carries you to a lush romantic world of modern lyricism, blending elements of jazz balladry with classical atonality and minimalism into a vibrant new sound world. Featuring four of the most accomplished...
Label  Tzadik

“A sublime and transcendent memorial to one of Zorn’s earliest mentors—Ennio Morricone. Featuring the soulful guitar of Bill Frisell set within the magical sonorities of vibraphone, harp and bells the music takes on an epic orchestral sweep with the added presence of special guest keyboard wizard John Medeski on organ and piano. Filled with beautiful harmonies, a driving rhythmic pulse and stunning lyricism, this is some of the most lush and spiritual music Zorn has ever written. Truly music of the...
Label  Tzadik

“Heaven and Earth Magick showcases Zorn’s fabulous and compelling blending of classical virtuosic instrumental writing with the improvisational world of Jazz. Completely notated works for piano and vibraphone brilliantly performed by Steve Gosling and Sae Hashimoto are set against a dynamic improvisational rhythm section of Jorge Roeder and Ches Smith. An exciting new musical world filled with an exhilarating sense of drama and a mischievous wit. Zorn’s unique mastery of instrumental writing and wild...
Label  Tzadik

"Focusing on the brilliant cellist Jay Campbell, soon to be a new music superstar, along with the equally masterful Michael Nicolas, Chris Otto and Stephen Gosling, these three powerful compositions take chamber music to a whole new level of intensity...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397832928

"The imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself." — William Blake.

“The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is a place of prayer, peace, spiritual renewal, and a temple to all who love the organ—and Zorn responds in kind with a remarkably soothing and peaceful exploration of lyricism and sonic variation. Interrupted only occasionally by a few trademark Phantom of the Opera explosions, the music is meditative, devotional, and at times achingly beautiful. Inspired by the mystical...
Label  Tzadik

Original recordings from 1980. In a catalog of bizarre oddities, this CD could be the weirdest yet. Written in 1978 the composition Hockey has produced some of the strangest music ever conceived. By limiting each improvisers personal language to five s...

“Featuring four of the most accomplished musicians in the rich firmament of modern jazz, Incerto is one of Zorn’s newest and most exciting projects—a chamber ensemble of striking virtuosity that is capable of covering the full range of Zorn’s deepest passions and wildest fantasies. Their fourth CD is a wild and touching tribute to the magical surrealist painter Remedios Varo. Filled with exotic juxtapositions, lush harmonies, lyrical explorations, and fiery solos, this music is a soulful and quirky...
Label  Tzadik

"In a Convex Mirror features Zorn’s unique saxophone playing and keyboard stylings in an extended foray into the nexus of voudun and downtown improvisation.
An intense student of Haitian drumming and a regular at ceremonies from NYC to Port-au-Prince Haiti, Ches Smith weaves a hypnotic tapestry of polyrhythms that are constantly in flux. The result is an exciting new context for Zorn the performer.
With special guest Ikue Mori creating moody electronic soundscapes, the music is as hypnotic...
Label  Tzadik

"The third CD by Zorn’s most intimate 21st century ensemble The Gnostic Trio features these three master musicians tighter than ever. Lush and lyrical, Frisell really opens up adding a level of subtle nuance and beauty to the shimmering tones of harp...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397830924

"Inspired by esoteric spiritual practices, white magic, ritual, traditional myths and ancient legends, Zorn brings together a life long interest in mysticism with powerful lyricism to fashion this dynamic and evocative series of Odes for the New...
Label  Tzadik

"A fabulous CD of music for piano trio featuring the incredible Stephen Gosling performing an exactly notated virtuosic piano part that pushes the envelope of what is possible with a piano, and the dynamic rhythm section of longtime Zorn associate...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397831723

Brian Marsella: Piano
Ches Smith: Drums, Tango
Julian Lage: Guitar
Jorge Roeder: Bass

“Incerto” is the birth of an exciting new modern jazz ensemble featuring the remarkable trio from “Suite for Piano” (Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, Ches Smith) joined by the brilliant guitarist Julian Lage.
A quartet capable of anything, this is the perfect group to realize Zorn’s quirky compositional twists and turns. The music is wildly varied—maddeningly complex, powerfully driving..
Label  Tzadik

"The third CD from Zorn’s most dangerous new instrumental ensemble is inspired by the work and thought of Swedish playwright, poet, painter, philosopher, novelist, alchemist and occultist August Strindberg, whose dark brooding visions were a precursor to expressionism, surrealism and more.

Featuring the long form composition “Inferno,” named after one of Srindberg’s most startling texts, the music touches upon metal, jazz, minimalism, atonality, ambient and more. White hot burning intensity from...
Label  Tzadik

"“Insurrection” is an intense new instrumental project featuring guitar wizards Julian Lage and Matt Hollenberg with the incredible rhythm section of Trevor Dunn and Kenny Grohowski. Inspired by some of the greatest experimental novels of the 20th century the music is incredibly varied, combining rock, funk, blues, jazz, classical and more—often in the same song! Gnarly atonal melodies, bizarre harmonies, astonishing guitar fireworks and telepathic group interaction make this one of Zorn’s most...
Label  Tzadik

"ZORN'S LONG AWAITED TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM BURROUGHS! Femina, Dictée and Liber Novus were a triumphant return to the file card techniques Zorn developed in the early '80s, and mark a new renaissance of the form. Acclaimed as among Zorn’s greatest recent...
Label  Tzadik

"Weaving sonic dramas around the legacies of Magick and Alchemy, Moonchild is one of Zorn’s most intense and powerful projects. Active since 2006, Moonchild has released four CDs speaking directly to young, open minded and curious music lovers around...
Label  Tzadik

"Composed 1976–8 and now studied by guitarists the world over, The Book of Heads is one of Zorn’s most popular and oft-performed compositions. Utilizing an hermetic language of meticulously notated sounds inspired by contemporary classical extended techniques, the idiosyncratic guitar languages of free improvisation, cartoons, film noir, world music, philosophy and more, they receive a virtuosic reading by James Moore, founding member of the Dither guitar quartet. This special edition contains both a CD...
Format Type  NTSC
Region Coding  All Region
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397833727

Polly Bradfield: Violin
Eugene Chadbourne: Guitar
John Zorn: Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Bb Clarinet
Duck Baker: Guitar
Randy Hutton: Guitar

An amazing archival recording of one of JZ’s ‘game series’ pieces from early in his career.

“Two extremely rare live recordings of the classic Zorn composition “Fencing” from the early days of the Downtown scene. Featuring two realizations: one with Eugene Chadbourne, Duck Baker, and Randy Hutton and the other with Chadbourne, Poll
Label  Tzadik

Eugene Chadboure: Acoustic And Electric Guitars

“Composed in 1976 and studied by guitarists the world over, The Book of Heads is one of Zorn’s most popular and oft-performed compositions. Concentrated into 35 "heads" that can be used as jumping off points for improvisation, the score uses an hermetic language of meticulously notated sounds inspired by contemporary classical extended techniques, cartoons, film noir, Zen philosophy, and the idiosyncratic guitar languages of free improvisation via...
Label  Tzadik

''Zorn's most powerful and unforgettable composition. The premiere work of Radical Jewish Culture features a virtuoso ensemble of creative Jewish musicians: Mark Feldman, Marc Ribot, Anthony Coleman, Mark Dresser, William Winant, David Krakauer &Frank ...
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'Dating from 1977, Lacrosse contains the first recordings of Zorn's infamous game pieces. Featuring two all star groups, including guitarists Eugene Chadbourne, Henry Kaiser, and Davey Williams, the music here sets the tone for much of what was to come...

"Zorn’s virtuosic string music is legendary and this CD focuses on his compositions for violin. Two major new works for solo violin—Passagen (based on the legendary B-A-C-H motif) and Ceremonial Magic (which appeared on Rimbaud in a duo realization with
Label  Tzadik

“Les Maudits presents three dynamic chamber pieces inspired by heroic "cursed" artists of French culture. Demolishing all boundaries and pushing the artistic envelope beyond all expectations Ubu is a triumphant return to the file-card studio technique that produced such masterpieces as Spillane, Elegy, Kristallnacht and Femina. A bizarre musical portrait of the subversive writer Alfred Jarry, Ubu is one of Zorn's greatest and most outrageous creations.
Also included are two pieces performed by the...
Label  Tzadik

This reissues a double 12'' EP, originally issued on Fred Frith's Rift label, in 1983.It features Christian Marclay, Peter Blegvad,Arto Lindsay, Anton Fier, Wayne Horvitz, Ikue Mori and M.E. Miller. [Tzadik]
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"Zorn’s compositions for acappella voice are some of his most sensual and sublime creations. This CD presents his two books of “Madrigals” scored for six female voices. Beautifully performed by his long time ensemble the “Sapphites” the music is even more varied and challenging than his previous masterpieces “The Holy Visions” and “Shir Hashirim,” touching upon minimalism, tonal and atonal counterpoint, textural experiments and more. Inspired by the visionary poetry of 19th century British Romantic Percy...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397833925

Astonishing! 'Magick' features two extraordinary works from our main man, composer, musician and label head, John Zorn: Necrononomicon" (2003) performed by the Crowley String Quartet and "Sortilege" (2001) performed by Mike Lowenstern and Tim Smith on ...
Label  

This is a goodie; JZ's Masada is for me, the best overall thing he's ever done, and the tunes shine. Here are three truly great guitarists performing those tunes!

"In 1993 John Zorn began composing and performing his 208 tunes that now comprise...
Label  Tzadik

Virtuosic fireworks and heartfelt lyricism from two of the most amazing musicians in new music. Performing a dozen compositions from the vast Masada repertory, including the world premiere of a piece never before performed, Masada Recital is another ne...
Label  

Well, this definitely was not what I was expecting and I really, really enjoyed this! This is some of Zorn's least known works from the Masada songbook, as performed by a rock band called Rashanim: Jon Madof-guitar, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz-electric bas...
Label  

Two TRULY great guitarists meet here; don't miss this one!

"For millennia the moon has been a subject of deep fascination— a symbol of love, lust, madness and dreams. More than a passive observer, it is a powerful force whose brilliant luminosity exerts an intoxicating effect upon the winds, the tides, our emotions and more. This dark and moody CD of music inspired by Shakespearian Lunar imagery features ten lyrical compositions evoking the magic of Sister Moon. Stunningly performedby two of the...
Label  Tzadik

"Drawing inspiration from the life and work of the towering spiritual figure Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, Mount Analogue is one of Zorn’s greatest creations. Taking the form of a mystical journey, the music jumps from one world to another weaving a...
Label  Tzadik

Brian Marsella: Fender Rhodes Piano
Julian Lage: Guitar
Jorge Roeder: Bass
Ches Smith: Drums

“Written in December of 2020, Multiplicities: A Repository of Non-Existent Objects is a collection of twenty musical aphorisms inspired by the writings and thought of Gilles Deleuze.
Volume One, released in 2022, featured the first set of ten compositions performed by the powerful electric ensemble Chaos Magick. This second set is played here by Zorn’s newest acoustic jazz ensemble...
Label  Tzadik

Brian Marsella: Fender Rhodes Piano
John Medeski: Hammond Organ
Kenny Grohowski: Drums
Matt Hollenberg: Guitar

“Multiplicities: A Repository of Non-Existent Objects is a book of twenty new Zorn compositions in the form of musical aphorisms. Inspired by the writings and thought of French philosopher Gilles Deleuze, the music is wildly imaginative and meticulously structured, filled with unexpected twists and turns jumping from rock, jazz, and classical, to funk, metal, and more...
Label  Tzadik

"Three powerful dramatic works from Zorn’s remarkable concert music catalog! Zorn’s unique cello concerto is a colorful virtuoso showpiece for cellist Fred Sherry and three instrumental trios. Ceremonial Magic is a dynamic piece for solo violin....
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397809227

"There has never been a CD quite like Music For Children. The first installment of Zorn’s challenging and controversial Music Romance trilogy (that includes Taboo and Exile and The Gift) it is easily one of the most eclectic CDs ever made. The music inclu
Label  Tzadik

''Not since the early days of Naked City has there been a CD as remarkably varied and at the same time as enjoyable as Taboo and Exile. Running the gamut of styles from moody exotica, hardcore punk, classical, jazz, surf, world music and more, this sec...
Label  Tzadik

"Get ready for a whole new approach to Masada music! Expressive and passionate, Basya Schecter, Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, Malika Zarra and Sofia Rei Koutsovitis are four of the most creative vocalists around. Each the leader of a dynamic band of their own...
Label  Tzadik

Three new miniature masterpieces from the alchemical crucible of John Zorn. Orphe is a lush romantic work in the French tradition of Debussy, Boulez and Jean Cocteau. Drawing inspiration from both the ancient Greek legend of Orpheus, who ventured to th...

"This is a fabulous collection of five of Zorn’s most exciting and dynamic recent compositions performed by a variety of new music superstars. Pandora’s Box features the acclaimed Arditti Quartet and the brilliant soprano Sarah Sun in one of Zorn’s...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397831822

"The controversial and influential Naked City Black Box couples two of Zorn's most extreme and violent creations. Torture Garden (1991) presents Naked City's intense and groundbreaking music combining free jazz, bebop, r&b, country, funk, rockabilly...
Label  Tzadik

Kenny Wollesen: Drums
John Zorn: Alto Sax
Julian Lage: Guitar
Jorge Roeder: Bass

“The first release by John Zorn's newest and most exciting ensemble, New Masada Quartet, was one of Tzadik's best selling and most popular recent releases. Here the quartet returns to perform seven more classic compositions from the Masada songbooks. One of the best ensembles Zorn has ever had, they are tighter than ever, and the performances are filled with burning solos, telepathic group interaction
Label  Tzadik

''From the lyrical sensuality of 'Hu-Die' (for 2 guitars), the aggressive fireworks of 'Hwang Chin-Ee' (for 2 drummers) and the mystical ambiance of 'Que Tran' (for 2 keyboards), this album shows yet another side of Zorn's genius for the dramatic and u...
Label  

"Created for a modern Polish stage production of Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale, Zorn has created a music filled with nostalgia, tenderness, violent power and a great sense of mystery. Featuring the dark ambient bass tones of Bill Laswell, the....
Label  Tzadik

“YES THERE IS LIFE AFTER BAPHOMET! Nostradamus: The Death of Satan, the ninth release by Zorn’s most intense 21st century ensemble, is a triumph. In this wildly varied program ranging from the softest sacred whisper to the most heretical hysteria, Zorn brings his unique compositional blending of classical, jazz and rock to new heights. The Simulacrum band is tighter than ever and the recording is richer and more powerful. With a stunning clarity of sound, brilliance of performance and towering...
Label  Tzadik

Bill Frisell: Guitar
Gyan Riley: Guitar
Julian Lage: Guitar

“A new release by the all-star guitar trio of Frisell-Lage-Riley is always a cause for celebration and this sixth volume in their transcendent legacy completes Zorn’s second trilogy of CDs with a beautiful and intricate suite of music dedicated to one of the 20th century’s greatest literary visionaries—Samuel Beckett. Performing this gorgeous book of music with a soulful sensitivity, these three master musicians weave...
Label  Tzadik

Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Gyan Riley-guitars

“Composed for a museum residency at the Frick in New York City, Nove Cantici is a beautiful suite of music inspired by the life and thought of the beloved spiritual figure Saint Francis of Assisi. A fitting follow-up to the beautiful and moody acoustic guitar CD Midsummer Moons from 2017, here the astounding guitar duo of Julian Lage and Gyan Riley is expanded to a trio with the addition of legendary guitarist Bill Frisell.
Ten lovely, spiritual..
Label  Tzadik

"Following up on the success of 2013’s “Dreamachines”, the third release by the brilliant quartet Nova Express is inspired by and dedicated to American poetic genius and father of free verse Walt Whitman. Combining the hypnotic swirls of minimalism...
Label  Tzadik
UPC  702397832027