John Zorn
Drawing on his experience in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, classical, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular and improvised music, John Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories. He learned alchemical synthesis from Harry Smith, structural ontology with Richard Foreman, how to make art out of garbage with Jack Smith, cathartic expression at Sluggs and hermetic intuition from Joseph Cornell. Early inspirations include American innovators Ives, Varese, Cage, Carter and Partch, the European tradition of Berg, Stravinsky, Boulez and Kagel, soundtrack composers Herrmann, Morricone and Stalling as well as avant-garde theater, film, art and literature.
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Drawing on his experience in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, classical, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular and improvised music, John Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories. He learned alchemical synthesis from Harry Smith, structural ontology with Richard Foreman, how to make art out of garbage with Jack Smith, cathartic expression at Sluggs and hermetic intuition from Joseph Cornell. Early inspirations include American innovators Ives, Varese, Cage, Carter and Partch, the European tradition of Berg, Stravinsky, Boulez and Kagel, soundtrack composers Herrmann, Morricone and Stalling as well as avant-garde theater, film, art and literature.
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The Hermetic Organ Vol. 11 - For Terry Riley
This newest edition of The Hermetic Organ is a beautiful and evocative tribute to one of John Zorn’s biggest mentors, the pioneer West Coast visionary, Terry Riley. Performed Mat San Francisco’s historic Grace Cathedral during the epic concert series presented by Fred Barnes at the Great American Music Hall in September 2023 for Zorn’s 70th birthday, this is one of the most touching and personal of all Zorn’s organ recitals.
Present in the audience were a large number of the composer’s closest a…
The Fourth Way
Zorn’s latest book of music for piano trio is inspired by the writings and thought of the elusive, mystical figure Georges Gurdjieff. The music is expansive, ranging from heartfelt lyricism to textural madness and is brilliantly performed by a tight trio of musical masters—treasured members of Zorn’s innermost circle. Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, and Ches Smith form a fiery, soulful unit capable of jumping from a whisper to a scream at the drop of a hat. Following up on their acclaimed debut “S…
Parrhesiastes
This fifth CD by the Chaos Magick band is one of Zorn’s greatest recent achievements. Three extended compositions that run the gamut from Funk, Metal, Contemporary Classical, and more blended into a dramatic narrative that is constantly surprising and yet deeply inevitable. Featuring four of the most accomplished performers in Zorn’s inner circle, this is a mind blowing document of Zorn’s kaleidoscopic compositional vision. Astonishing and utterly essential! John Medeski, Brian Marsella, Matt Ho…
Nothing Is As Real As Nothing
A new release by the all-star guitar trio of Frisell-Lage-Riley is always a cause for celebration and this sixth volume in their transcendent legacy completes Zorn’s second trilogy of CDs with a beautiful and intricate suite of music dedicated to one of the 20th century’s greatest literary visionaries — Samuel Beckett. Performing this gorgeous book of music with a soulful sensitivity, these three master musicians weave musical magic in this stunning collection of acoustic guitar music. Zorn’s mo…
Environment For Sextet
*2023 stock* "In 1978, thanks to Eugene Chadbourne, Davey Williams and John Zorn I was able to organize a memorable US tour. On this CD you’ll find the original New York recording session with a sextet of great musicians. The tape has been released in the past on Ictus LP in a reduced version and on CD in an unfortunate cut full of wrong edit. Now you can finally enjoy the music as it was conceived and performed. Environment for sextet LP was made possible by a generous loan from the unforgettab…
Environment For Sextet
*2023 repress* Out of print and hotly pursued on the secondary market, we’re thrilled to announce a much needed reissue initiative, dedicated to Ictus’ back catalog, beginning with four LPs, Steve Lacy and Andrea Centazzo’s Clangs, originally issued in 1976, Derek Bailey and Andrea Centazzo’s Drops, originally issued in 1977, Steve Lacy, Andrea Centazzo, and Kent Carter’s Trio Live, also from 1977, and John Zorn, Andrea Centazzo, Eugene Chadbourne, Tom Cora, Toshinori Kondo, and Polly Bradfield’…
John Zorn
In Italian Una ricca monografia dedicata da Maurizio Principato a uno dei maggiori protagonisti della nuova musica, tra jazz, colta e sperimentazione. John Zorn è uno dei musicisti di punta della scena newyorkese e questo libro esplora per la prima volta l'intero universo del'artista americano, rivelandone la storia, la formazione e l'esemplare filosofia di vita. Una guida alla labirintica discografia, alle numerose collaborazioni, alle molteplici ispirazioni.
USA Concerts East
The CD contains tracks originally released in the LP "Usa Concerts" issued right after the first American tour of Centazzo in 1978 and three new tracks: one recorded in New York, at Zoo Place with Kondo e Chadbourne; a second in Woodstock in duo with Tom Corra in 1980 and the third one in Bolgna (Italy) in 1985 with the Philadelphia sax player Jack Wright.
It was an homogeneous musical view the one that Centazzo found on the arrival in New York in 1978, rich of collaboration between musicians co…
Parables
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* This newest CD of Zorn compositions performed by the remarkable all-star guitar trio of Bill Frisell, Julian Lage and Gyan Riley is inspired by the ancient tradition of story telling as spiritual lesson. Drawing upon Sufic, Hebrew and secular traditions, “Parables” is a unique collection of compositional miniatures blending folk, classical, jazz, bluegrass, world music and more. Featuring seductive moods, driving rhythms and thought provoking twists and turn…
Nostradamus (The Death Of Satan)
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* Yes there is life after Baphomet! "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, b…
Meditations On The Tarot
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* Brian Marsella’s dynamic trio steps out for another exciting outing performing a new collection of Zorn compositions inspired by the mysterious and occult cards of the Tarot. This beautiful and varied followup to the popular and critically acclaimed 2019 CD The Hierophant features the remaining thirteen Tarot cards in tight arrangements, highlighting the incredible versatility and virtuosity of this powerhouse all-star jazz trio. A classic reading of occult …
New Masada Quartet
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* The long awaited first recording by John Zorn’s newest and most exciting ensemble, the New Masada Quartet. Performing eight classic compositions from the Masada songbooks, NMQ is a tight unit of like-minded virtuosi and one of the best groups Zorn has ever had. Bristling hot guitar master Julian Lage, bass wizard Jorge Roeder and 30-year Zorn veteran Kenny Wollesen perform with a crackling live energy that brings the Masada music to life like never before! L…
The Ninth Circle (Orpheus In The Underworld)
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* The latest recording by Zorn’s newest ensemble Chaos Magick is a suite inspired by the ancient Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. Combining contemporary classical with jazz, funk, rock, blues, film soundtrack, noise improvisation and so much more this is a wild and evocative trip thru Hell and back. Tight conductions, complex melodies, burning solos, telepathic group interaction and all the wit, humor, joy and mystery that one has come to expect from Zorn…
A Garden Of Forking Paths
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* This is the fifth CD of new music written expressly for the all-star guitar trio of Bill Frisell, Julian Lage and Gyan Riley. Here Zorn draws inspiration from the enigmatic tales of Argentine philosopher/ writer Jorge Luis Borges. Like a collection of short stories, each composition is a miniature world in itself and touches on philosophy and mysticism as well as music. Blending folk, classical, jazz, bluegrass, world music and more, this is truly music of t…
Perchance To Dream
*In process of stocking.* A beautiful suite of music for late night listening, spiritual and evocative, performed by an all-star unit of four members of Zorn’s inner circle. Structured like a religious mass, these seven lovely nocturnes take you to an otherworldly space of beauty and tenderness, unlike any other Zorn compositions you have ever heard. Gorgeous and restful music from a compositional seeker who continues to defy categorization, “Perchance to Dream…” is one of the most unusual and h…
Fencing 1978 (John Zorn's Olympiad Volume 2)
*In process of stocking.* Two extremely rare live recordings of the classic Zorn composition “Fencing” from the early days of the Downtown scene. Featuring two realizations: one with Eugene Chadbourne, Duck Baker, and Randy Hutton and the other with Chadbourne, Polly Bradfield, and John Zorn, the music is astonishing—filled with strange sounds, odd juxtapositions, stark silences, sudden explosions, and all held together by a bizarre overarching compositional logic. Featuring a 16-page booklet re…
Spinoza
*In process of stocking.* Spinoza is Zorn’s latest creation for the searing jazz-metal trio Simulacrum—perhaps the most extreme organ trio ever. Inspired by the life and thought of one of the world’s greatest philosophers he has composed two extended concerti: one for guitar genius Bill Frisell, and another featuring himself on saxophone. The musical mosaic flows seamlessly from one world to another, touching upon heavy metal, jazz, minimalism, atonality, noise, ambient moods, funk, and so much …
The Cleansing
*In process of stocking.* Zorn and Laswell have been friends and musical compatriots since they first met in 1978, and have been responsible for some of the most intense and memorable music in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Recorded in early 2021, near the end of the year’s pandemic lockdown, it marks the first time Zorn had touched the saxophone in over fifteen months. Laswell had spent most of the year locked in his apartment. Something special was happening that day—and after the ses…
Hive Mind
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* A power trio of contemporary masters unlike any other! Miles Okazaki, Trevor Dunn and Dan Weiss are among the very best of a new generation of musicians working in the nexus of jazz, rock, noise, composition, improvisation and more. All dedicated students of the esoteric, they come together here as Hive Mind, a collective trio, to perform some of the wildest freewheeling improvisations around. Three compositional minds weaving bizarre soundscapes through tel…
Songs For Petra: Petra Haden Sings The Zorn / Harris Songbook
Singer Petra Haden excels in this beautiful and unique program of songs penned by the songwriting team of Zorn and Harris. Friends for many years, they began working together on “The Song Project” in 2012, and eight years later this LP presents the full fruits of their collaboration: thirteen Zorn compositions with original lyrics by Jesse Harris. Including selections from a wide variety of Zorn projects (and one original that has never appeared before), the melodies are catchy, the lyrics heart…