John Zorn

Born: 1953-09-02

John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist with hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, and producer across a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore, classical, surf, metal, soundtrack, ambient, and improvised music. He incorporates diverse styles in his compositions, which he identifies as avant-garde or experimental. Zorn was described by Down Beat as "one of our most important composers". Zorn established himself within the New York City downtown music movement in the mid-1970s, performing with musicians across the sonic spectrum and developing experimental methods of composing new music. After releasing albums on several independent US and European labels, Zorn signed with Elektra Nonesuch and received wide acclaim with the release of The Big Gundown, an album reworking the compositions of Ennio Morricone. He attracted further attention worldwide with the release of Spillane in 1987 and Naked City in 1990. After spending almost a decade travelling between Japan and the US, he made New York his permanent base and established his own record label, Tzadik, in the mid-1990s. Tzadik enabled Zorn to maintain independence from the mainstream music industry and ensured the continued availability of his growing catalog of recordings, allowing him to prolifically record and release new material, issuing several new albums each year, as well as promoting the work of many other musicians. Zorn has led the hardcore bands Naked City and Painkiller, the Jewish music-inspired jazz quartet Masada, composed 613 pieces as part of the three Masada songbooks that have been performed by an array of groups, composed concert music for classical ensembles and orchestras, and produced music for opera, sound installations, film and documentary. Zorn has undertaken many tours of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, often performing at festivals with many other musicians and ensembles that perform his diverse output.


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Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis

as Self
Released: 2007-04-11

In this entrancing documentary on performance artist, photographer and underground filmmaker...

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John Zorn: The Hermetic Organ Volume 10 - Bozar, Brussels

as Himself
Released: 2022-12-02

Part of a CD+DVD set released by Tzadik. Recorded at the powerful organ at Henry LeBoeuf Hall,...

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365 Day Project

as uncredited
Released: 2007-12-31

This exhibition focuses on Jonas Mekas’ 365 Day Project, a succession of films and videos in...

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The Revenge of the Dead Indians

as Himself
Released: 1993-01-01

This is a full-length documentary honoring the life and work of American composer and artist...

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A Bookshelf on Top of the Sky: 12 Stories About John Zorn

as Self
Released: 2002-06-29

A rare peek into the working methods of John Zorn. Filmed over a ten year period, this...

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Step Across the Border

as Self
Released: 1990-09-08

An avant-garde documentary film on English guitarist, composer and improviser Fred Frith.

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Masada: Live at Tonic 1999

as Himself - Alto Saxophone
Released: 2004-11-09

Filmed with an intimate three camera shoot by Antonio Ferrera, a close friend of John Zorn and a...

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Zorn III (2018 – 2022)

as Himself
Released: 2022-03-11

For 12 years now, Mathieu Amalric has been filming the stupendous New York saxophonist and...

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Kikoe

as uncredited
Released: 2009-01-25

Experimental documentary about Japanese experimental musician Otomo Yoshihide. Includes...

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Zorn II (2016 – 2018)

as Himself
Released: 2018-02-04

For 12 years now, Mathieu Amalric has been filming the stupendous New York saxophonist and...

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Rising Tones Cross

as Himself
Released: 1985-09-30

This film is a documentary composition of new jazz, New York as the city that generates it, and...

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Zorn I (2010 – 2016)

as Himself
Released: 2017-10-13

Mathieu Amalric’s film with John Zorn began as a European TV commission that was quickly...

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Sabbath in Paradise

as Himself
Released: 2000-07-07

Documentary examining contemporary Jewish musical culture in New York's avant garde Jazz scene...

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