John Zorn Sacred Visions

The sixth installment in John Zorn's Moonchild series centers around the mysterious, monastic cult of warriors known as the Knights Templar, who were established and recognized by the Catholic Church somewhere near 1128 and were excommunicated by Pope Clement V in 1312 for heresy (allegedly for overtly worshipping Baphomet, i.e. Satan). While the Moonchild trio has been a constant - vocalist Mike Patton, drummer Joey Baron, and bassist Trevor Dunn - they have been augmented from time to time. Here, John Medeski's organ makes them a quartet and it's a nice touch; Zorn's music for this cycle, while full of dynamic bursts of rock, jazz, and avant power, also evokes Roman Catholic liturgical music to great effect…

John Zorn - In Lambeth. Visions From The Walled Garden Of William Blake (2013) {Tzadik}
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© 2013 Tzadik | TZ 8309
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz

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 and vibraphone. Subtitled “Visions from the Walled Garden of William Blake,” I“n Lambeth” celebrates the remarkable work of this legendary Romantic poet, artist and philosopher, presenting nine gorgeous compositions capturing the innocence, open heart, transcendent wisdom and subtle melancholy of one of the world’s most beloved visionaries.

John Zorn - The Alchemist (2014) {Tzadik Mystic Series}
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© 2014 Tzadik | Mystic Series | TZ 8314
Classical / Avant-Garde / Moderm Creative

Zorn’s string quartets are some of the most important modern contributions to the canon and a new Zorn quartet is truly a cause for celebration. His sixth quartet is inspired by the hermetic Angelic actions of John Dee and is replete with the procedures of distillation, calcination, crystallization, sublimation, purification, rotation as well numerology, prayers, canons, contrapuntal complexity and the ghost of a familiar fugue. Also included is Zorn’s mystical response to the ancient Newgrange sacred site in Ireland, a beautiful and evocative setting of Amergin, one of the oldest Celtic sacred texts, written for three female voices.

John Zorn - Inferno (2015) {Tzadik TZ 8336}
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© 2015 Tzadik | TZ 8336 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Fusion / Experimental / Metal / Atonality / Ambient

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 the mind of downtown NY’s eternally youthful hell-raiser performed by a virtuoso trio forged from the worlds of jazz and metal.

John Zorn - The Last Judgment (2014) {Tzadik TZ 8325}
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© 2014 Tzadik | TZ 7181 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Experimental

Featuring the same magical Templar quartet from “In Sacred Blood”, “The Last Judgment” is the final CD in the remarkable Moonchild septology. This project has explored many different worlds in the past 8 years, and this CD takes a moody and lyrical approach with Medeski’s organ fully integrated into the band. Once again inspired by the legend of the powerful Knights Templar and their tragic demise under accusations of heresy in 1307, Zorn has composed a suite of pieces with a strong sense of continuity and emotional impact. Mike Patton draws on every vocal technique in his huge arsenal and the rhythm section of Dunn and Baron are tighter than ever. The last piece of the Moonchild puzzle—essential!

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 compositional vision, Nostradamus is Zorn at his very best.