Naked John Zorn

The violent cover photo (which shows a man after he was shot dead) sets the stage for the rather passionate music on this John Zorn set. With guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, bassist Fred Frith, drummer Joey Baron, and guest vocalist Yamatsuka Eye making intense contributions, altoist Zorn performs his unpredictable originals, abstract versions of some movie themes (including "A Shot in the Dark," "I Want to Live," "Chinatown," and "The James Bond Theme"), plus Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman." The stimulating music rewards repeated listenings by more open-minded listeners.

The violent cover photo (which shows a man after he was shot dead) sets the stage for the rather passionate music on this John Zorn set. With guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, bassist Fred Frith, drummer Joey Baron, and guest vocalist Yamatsuka Eye making intense contributions, altoist Zorn performs his unpredictable originals, abstract versions of some movie themes (including "A Shot in the Dark," "I Want to Live," "Chinatown," and "The James Bond Theme"), plus Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman." The stimulating music rewards repeated listenings by more open-minded listeners.

John Zorn & Secret Chiefs 3 - Xaphan: Book of Angels, Vol. 9 (2008) {Tzadik TZ 7364}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 382 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 130 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 6 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2008 Tzadik | TZ 7364 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Rock / Funk / Klezmer / Classical / Folk / Avant-Garde / Experimental

Spectacular arrangements of Masada compositions by mad alchemist Trey Spruance, mastermind of Secret Chiefs 3 and one of the most brilliant musicians around. Drawing upon an astonishing array of musical styles from Exotica and Surf to Ethiopian Funk and Gypsy Swing, Trey ’s colorful orchestral arrangements perfectly compliment the lyricism and dynamic rhythmic complexity of Zorn ’s evocative Book of Angels. Featuring some of the best musicians from the Bay Area, LA and Seattle scenes, this is one of the most compelling installments in the entire Masada series.

John Zorn - Nova Express (2011) {Tzadik TZ 7389}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 306 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 112 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 2011 Tzadik | TZ 7389 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Modern Jazz / Chamber Jazz

Following up on seeds first planted in the depths of the Interzone conspiracy, Nova Express combines the quirky atonal lyricism of Zorn's classical music with the cut up techniques of Naked City and the intimate virtuosity of the Masada songbook. Scored for a modern jazz quartet of vibes, piano, bass and drums, these episodic, dynamic and moody compositions feature some of Zorn's strongest writing. Performed by an all-star group of four downtown masters, this is an exciting new sound from the world of John Zorn. Modern chamber music filled with beautiful details and dramatic passions composed and conducted by our East Village musical alchemist.

John Zorn - Interzone (2010) {Tzadik TZ 7387}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 349 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 130 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 17 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2010 Tzadik | TZ 7387 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Electronic / Avant-Garde Jazz / Experimental

To call John Zorn a saxophonist and composer really limits the scope of his music His vision derives from many sources, from art to film, to in this case the literature of William S. Burroughs. The author became famous in the early to mid 1960's for his technique of “cut up" storytelling; a process that Zorn borrowed for his own technique of card based musical improvisation. For this album, Zorn appropriates musical representations of several of Burroughs' themes and develops an aural montage.

John Zorn - Dreamachines (2013) {Tzadik TZ 8308}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 290 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 110 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 209 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2013 Tzadik | TZ 8308 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Modern Creative / Avant-Garde Jazz

Zorn’s work has been deeply influenced by the work of Gysin and Burroughs, beginning in the late ’60s when he first became aware of their art, writing and revolutionary techniques of third mind collaboration. Dreamachines celebrates this connection with nine compositions combining the quirky atonality of Zorn’s classical music, the cut-up techniques of Naked City and the soulful lyricism of the Masada songbook. A companion piece to Nova Express (2011), the music is incredibly varied and jumps from tonality to atonality with dramatic surprise. Another complex and intense program of modern chamber music performed by an all-star quartet of virtuosos from Zorn’s inner circle.

John Zorn & Masada - Hei (1995) {DIW Records Japan DIW-899} (Volume 5of10)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 323 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 137 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1995 DIW Records Japan | DIW-899
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Klezmer / Post Bop / World Fusion / Ethnic Jazz

Hei, the fifth release from John Zorn's Masada Quartet, shows the band at their tightest and most agile. In sound and design, it is much like the other nine releases from the Quartet, but it is rivaled only by Masada, Vol 3: Gimmel and Masada, Vol. 6: Vav for the musical acumen and togetherness of the players. A Jewish version of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Zorn here continues to explore issues of Jewish heritage and identity in the assimilated and diaspora Jewish world.