John Zorn

[Britalian]

Are there any other fans of this genius out there?

I love his jazz and improv principally. I find his game pieces more challenging but nevertheless interesting.

I saw him perform the premiere of The Gift at the Barbican a few years ago, and more recently here at the Teatro Pavarotti performing his Masada and Bar Kokhba material: incredible .

I wish I could have seen him at Tonic in NYC before it closed. I would dearly love to catch a live improv piece, something like he performed at Cargo in London (after a great performance by one of his prodigÃ

s and his band, Satlah, also coming out of the Jewish musical tradition, and signed to his independent label, Tzadik).
If you want some great, wild **** look to his recent 50th birthday concert releases, particularly the duets with Milford Graves (drums) or Yamakata Eye (voice and computer).
For some great covers look to Voodoo; for movie soundtrack inspiration, Spillane or The Big Gundown.
I am currently listening to Ne'eman, from the live concert in Seville, 2000. Brilliant.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Zorn

 

[Histrion]

I have his Live in Sevilla album which is amazing to say the least. I should listen to more of his stuff...

 

[hipcathobbes]

I'm a big fan of Masada & Electric Masada. You said it--some of the more 'out there' pieces, especially his compositions for duet sax and duck call, etc., are challenging to sit through. But he's a fine composer and a very talented improvisationalist. There are a few illicit bootlegs out there of him, John Medeski, Marc Ribot, and Kenny Wollesen (I think their ad hoc group is called Emergency! in reference to Tony Williams Lifetime) at Tonic and elsewhere that are really otherworldly.

 

[antirabbit]

I love Zorn, and I really like his album cover art.

 

[dopey]

He received a Macarthur grant and used the funds to open a small music club. I see him fairly often as he does a lot of private events. He is a great musician, though a bit odd.