Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.
Trick question: How do you chronologically chronicle John Zorn’s creativity? Still, there’s a lot of insight and no small amount of joy to be gained from being instantly immersed in Zorn’s sonic world. This is a fascinating opportunity to surface at his Big Ears Festival in 2022, where he shared his uncompromising vision in eight different musical settings.
“This is not entertainment,” Zorn declared in an interview on stage at the festival, emphasizing his artistic intentions. Big Ears’ packed crowd was mesmerized and challenged by the array of sounds he produced. They ranged from solo piano recitals performed by classical maestro Stephen Gosling to hybrid chamber improv ensembles Heaven and Earth Magic (Gosling stirs in the mix).
Zorn was a galvanic presence on the wing. A sort of death metal organ during a concert with his group Simulacrum. Brian Marcela Trio with grooved piano. and Songs for Petra featuring Petra Hayden’s vocals and Jesse Harris’ lyrics and acoustic guitar. Elsewhere, the composer plays a visible role, directing Chaos Magick’s jump cut cues, brandishing alto his saxophone in his New Masada quartet, or using it in the thrilling finale, New Electric Masada. Did.
Amazingly, in this episode, we hear music from all of the above. american jazz night, with testimony from guitarists Julian Lage and Bill Frisell, Big Years founder Ashley Capps and, of course, Zone himself, who turns 70 this year, a true icon with an iconoclastic enduring fire. He’ll be back at Big Ears this spring. His 70th birthday celebration will be attended by many of the same fearless musicians, along with a handful of others.
“All my work is an enabling platform for creativity,” says Zorn. “That’s the conclusion.” jazz night Like Zorn’s larger mission, we are fully aware that tasks are always unfinished and we are proud to capture some of that creative energy.
Musicians:
New Masada Quartet
John Zorn, alto sax; Julian Lage, guitar.Jorge Lauder, bass; Kenny Wallesen, drums
Song of Petra
Petra Hayden, vocals. Jesse Harris, acoustic guitar. Julian Large, electric guitar.Jorge Lauder, bass; Kenny Wallesen, drums
Brian Marcella Trio
Brian Marcella, piano; Trevor Dunn, bass.Kenny Wallacen, drums
Simulacrum
Matt Hollenberg on guitar. John Medeski on organ.Kenny Growski, drums
Stephen Gosling
Stephen Gosling, piano
chaos magic
Matt Hollenberg on guitar. Brian Marcella, Fender Rhodes. John Medeski on organ.Kenny Growski, drums
heaven and earth magic
Sae Hashimoto, vibraphone. Stephen Gosling, piano.Jorge Lauder, bass; Chess Smith, drums
Electric Masada
John Zorn, alto sax; Bill Frisell, guitar. Julian Lage, guitar. John Medeski on organ. Brian Marcella, piano; Trevor Dunn, bass.Kenny Growski, drums; Chess Smith, drums
set list:
(All music was composed by John Zorn unless otherwise noted)
credit:
Writer: Nate Chinen. Producers: Alex Arif, Nate Chinen, Trevor Smith. Editors: Trevor Smith; Mixed; Ron Scalzo, Katie Simon. Host: Christian McBride; Project Manager: Suraya Mohammed; Vice President of Visual and Strategy at NPR Music: Keith Jenkins; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann and Gabriel Armand.
Live music recording: Matt Cowen, Matt Honkonen; live music mixing and final music mix: Marc Urselli.
A big thank you to the Big Ears team, Executive and Artistic Director Ashley Capps and Managing Producer Mary Ho.
Say hello to Knoxville’s Bijou Theater crew, Production Manager Misha Goldman and Executive Director Courtney Bergmeier.
Copyright 2023 WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center. For more information, visit WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
