Zappa.com

This is a fascinating interactive conversation with composer John Zorn. It's about 80 minutes but he talks about his creative process and his music in general. VERY interesting...at least to me.

http://www.archive.org/details/IMP_2007_11_15

Oh I thought you were going to talk about the coach of the Redskins.

Seriously, thanks for posting. Zorn's a guy I'm starting to get interested in. When I have more time I will definitely check that out.

Helio mytho grother graffta.

Ylegio mustgra grunna gont.

Praglegmiogranna ganna goonsta.

Kranola granne zvezda graff

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Lesser-evilism IS war.

I'm not sure what Baddy just wrote but I just got a copy of 'Lucifer - book 10 of the Book of Angels' by Zorn with Marc Ribot last week and have played it pretty much every day since. Very impressive. The only other Zorn I've heard is Naked City but I've been a fan of Ribot for quite a while.

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When the going gets weird the weird turn pro - HST

Miasma!

Thank you so much for posting this link.

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Good writing is clear writing.

I've been a massive fan of Zorn for many years. We have discussed him elsewhere on this board too.

I've been into Zorn awhile as well. Some faves:
-any Naked City
-any of the original Masada quartets (incl. live stuff)
-The Big Gundown (anniversary edition)
-Music for Children
-Elegy (probably my fave)
-and Filmworks VIII (half percussion duets, half strings)

I also really reccomend the documentary on him: "A Bookshelf at the Top of the Sky" (I think that's the title.) Released on Tzadik (shocker!).

Zorn just has too many albums to listen to them all unless you're really dedicated. I've always wanted to hear Redbird--can anyone here reccomend it or any other releases that are above par (for Zorn, that is)?

If Elegy is your favourite, I can recommend Filmworks IV, IAO, Rituals and Aporias.

Electric Masada's output is phenomenal, if you like the quartet, you will love EM.

As for Redbird, it isn't up there with his best IMO, but is still a good, ambient listen. One has to be in the mood though, but that can be said for most of Zorn's music!

Thanks!!

Thank you so much for posting that. It was fascinating. Made my night.

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Zorn's a great composer, I especially like Naked City, Masada (incl. EM) and Painkiller.

Apparently he was channeling Elijah while composing the Masada pieces. You into the old testament Crudblud? hahhahah
I saw him perform Electric Masada last year, it was one of the best sets of music I've ever seen.

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For my clinically insane music
http://routenote.com/album/FOWL
http://www.myspace.com/fowlmusic
http://www.last.fm/music/fowl
http://www.deezer.com/en/#music/fowl
Your mental health requires buying my cd

Yes, Electric Masada is off the scale.

Torture Garden too, still amazing after all these years.

I like his Ennio Morricone versions....

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The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true Art and Science. - Albert Einstein

Torture Garden is probably my favourite of all his work, wonderfully chaotic and harsh, and Eye really is on top form with the vocals.

As for his Ennio Morricone arrangements, I do like them, I don't think I'm really familiar enough with Morricone's original work to really 'get' what Zorn did with them though.

Torture Garden blew my world apart as a teenager, and is still in my top five albums of all time.

Zorn is responsible for introducing me to so much music.

Been on a massive Zorn kick lately. Was hoping people might want to rekindle some discussion here. I find his Magick EP to be absolutely fabulous. Better than much of Zappa's classical work in my opinion. Not that I don't love Zappa the composer, but this piece for string quartet is even better. Hemophilliac is high on my list for free improv as well. I like ZOrn and Patten together more with Ikue Mori as electronic percussion than their work with Dave Lombardo on an actual drum kit. Electric Massada is still one of my favourite things as the fusion feel of it really connects with me.
Was looking for more recomendations, including something I recall reading on here a while back about a piece which was described as having one soloist complete the others lines, and was a lot of jump cuts, or so I remember it being described. Any help?

_________________
For my clinically insane music
http://routenote.com/album/FOWL
http://www.myspace.com/fowlmusic
http://www.last.fm/music/fowl
http://www.deezer.com/en/#music/fowl
Your mental health requires buying my cd

I've been on a major Zorn kick lately too. In fact, I just saw him with the Masada Sextet two weeks ago at the Cleveland Museum of Art -- fantastic show.

I haven't heard Hemophiliac yet, but I really dig the CDs by the Moonchild Trio (Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn, and Joey Baron). The Crucible also features Zorn on sax with them -- it's brutal in the best way.

I really enjoy Zorn's string quartets too. Back around '90 or '91 I saw the Kronos Quartet perform in Oberlin, and they did Zorn's Cat O' Nine Tails. That piece is what hooked me and made me start checking out more of his material.

Thanks for bumping this topic -- I'd like to hear what other people think about Zorn too.

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Good writing is clear writing.

OH MY GOD I JUST HEARD ONE TRACK OF MOONCHILD TODAY AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD!!!!!!!!

Do not go into Hemophilliac thinking it will be anything like that!!! I can't wait to hear the rest of that cd! And their followup too. What a journey Zorn is!!!!

_________________
For my clinically insane music
http://routenote.com/album/FOWL
http://www.myspace.com/fowlmusic
http://www.last.fm/music/fowl
http://www.deezer.com/en/#music/fowl
Your mental health requires buying my cd

Absolutely! All the Moonchild albums are good! ( Moonchild, Astronome, Six Litanies Of Heliogablus, and The Crucible. Another due later this year apparently too! )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqkWnELD_fM

Thanks for posting that link, Pappa. Damn, I would give my left nut to see those guys in concert.

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..without none of those legendary stalkers one then simply circles ..in a rut, ya sorry. Lol

..instead egg to the zoo. ... available at an unearthly burger.

It's really stressy to post all with wonderful pictures..........................

Without wishing to rub it in at all, I saw the Moonchild premiere in London.

It wasn't as exciting as that clip though, they performed the debut in its entireity, followed by a Zorn chamber composition with full choir.

I recently picked up the 3-CD Bar Kokhba Sextet live release (from the month of various shows celebrating Zorn's 50th birthday). If you like Masada or any of Zorn's Jewish music releases, you will love this collection. Marc Ribot is especially awesome in this setting.

Bar Kokhba live, 2007 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9T5eClyeeI

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Good writing is clear writing.