Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.
Tough question: How do you document John Zorn’s prolific creativity? In vain, given his work, it resists categorization, if not the limit of description. Still, a fleeting glimpse into Zorn’s sonic world can still be richly insightful and no small amount of fun—an irresistible opportunity to appear at the Big Ears Festival in 2022, where he will play in eight His uncompromising vision is shared in different musical settings.
“It’s not entertainment,” Zorn declared in an on-stage interview at the festival, emphasizing, as always, his artistic intent. But make no mistake: Big Ears audiences are captivated and challenged by the array of sounds he makes. They range from solo piano recitals with classical virtuoso Stephen Gosling, to mixed chamber improv ensemble Heaven and Earth Magic (with Gosling stirring in the mix).
Zorn is an electric presence even on the flanks—during a concert at Simulacrum (a death metal organ band); the Brian Marcella Trio, with grooved piano; Lahaden’s vocals and Jesse Harris’ lyrics and acoustic guitar. Elsewhere, the composer takes on an obvious role, conducting jump-cut cues for Chaos Magick, or swinging his alto saxophone in the New Masada Quartet, which, in a thrilling finale, the new electric Masada .
Surprisingly, we’ll be hearing all of the aforementioned music in this episode American Jazz Night, along with recommendations from guitarists Julian Lage and Bill Frisell, Big Ears founder Ashley Capps — and of course Zorn himself, who, at 70, is a veritable icon with an unquenchable iconoclast fire. This spring, he’ll return to Big Ears for a 70th birthday celebration featuring many of the same fearless musicians and others.
“All of my work is a platform for creativity,” says Zorn. “That’s the bottom line.” jazz night Proud to capture some creative energy and fully aware that this mission, like Zorn’s larger mission, will never be completed.
musician:
New Masada Quartet
John Zorn, alto saxophone; Julian Lage, guitar; Jorge Rod, bass; Kenny Walson, drums
song of petra
Petra Harden, vocals; Jesse Harris, acoustic guitar; Julian Lage, electric guitar; Jorge Rod, bass; Kenny Walson, drums
Brian Marseille Trio
Brian Marcella, piano; Trevor Dunn, bassist; Kenny Walson, drums
simulacra
Matt Holenberg, guitar; John Medeschi, organ; Kenny Grokhovsky, drums
Stephen Gosling
Stephen Gosling, piano
chaos magic
Matt Holenberg, guitar; Brian Marsella, Fender Rhodes; John Medeschi, organ; Kenny Grokhovsky, drums
Heaven and earth supernatural powers
Sae Hashimoto, vibraphone; Stephen Gosling, piano; Jorge Rod, bass; Chase Smith, drums
Electric Masada
John Zorn, alto saxophone; Bill Frisell, guitar; Julian Lage, guitar; John Medeschi, organ; Brian Marcella, piano; Trevor, bassist Dunne; Kenny Grohowski, drums; Chase Smith, drums
List of settings:
(All music by John Zorn unless noted)
credit:
Writer: Nate Chinen; Producers: Alex Ariff, Nate Chinen, Trevor Smith; Editor: Trevor Smith; Mix; Ron Scalzo, Katie Simon; Host : Christian McBride; Project Manager: Suraya Mohamed; Vice President of Vision and Strategy, NPR Music: Keith Jenkins; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann and Gabrielle Armand.
Live Music Recording: Matt Cowen, Matt Honkonen; Live Music Mixing and Final Music Mixing: Marc Urselli.
Many thanks to the Big Ears team: Executive and Art Director Ashley Capps and Executive Producer Mary Ho.
Shout out to the Bijou Theater crew in Knoxville – production manager Mischa Goldman and executive director Courtney Bergmeier.
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