Person
John Zorn
Manhattan, New York, USA
John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist with hundreds of album credits as performer, composer…
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John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist with hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, and producer across a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore, classical, surf, metal, soundtrack, ambient, and improvised music. He incorporates diverse styles in his compositions, which he identifies as avant-garde or experimental. Zorn was described by Down Beat as "one of our most important composers". Zorn established himself within the New York City downtown music movement in the mid-1970s, performing with musicians across the sonic spectrum and developing experimental methods of composing new music. After releasing albums on several independent US and European labels, Zorn signed with Elektra Nonesuch and received wide acclaim with the release of The Big Gundown, an album reworking the compositions of Ennio Morricone. He attracted further attention worldwide with the release of Spillane in 1987 and Naked City in 1990. After spending almost a decade travelling between Japan and the US, he made New York his permanent base and established his own record label, Tzadik, in the mid-1990s. Tzadik enabled Zorn to maintain independence from the mainstream music industry and ensured the continued availability of his growing catalog of recordings, allowing him to prolifically record and release new material, issuing several new albums each year, as well as promoting the work of many other musicians. Zorn has led the hardcore bands Naked City and Painkiller, the Jewish music-inspired jazz quartet Masada, composed 613 pieces as part of the three Masada songbooks that have been performed by an array of groups, composed concert music for classical ensembles and orchestras, and produced music for opera, sound installations, film and documentary. Zorn has undertaken many tours of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, often performing at festivals with many other musicians and ensembles that perform his diverse output.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2024
Zorn III (2018 – 2022)
Movie Self
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2023
Zorn I (2010 – 2016)
Movie Himself
- 2022
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2020
Generació Kibbutz
Movie Music
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2018
Zorn II (2016 – 2018)
Movie Himself
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2015
The Viking of Sixth Avenue
Movie Self
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2014
La ronde
Movie Music
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2013
Astros em Rotação
Movie Music
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2011
Well Then There Now
Movie Writer
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2011
Bare Room
Movie Writer
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2011
KiyaKiya
Movie Music
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2011
15 Scenes: 254 Shots
Movie Writer
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2010
Arcana
Movie Music
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2009
Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags
Movie Music
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2009
Ray Bandar: A Life With Skulls
Movie Music
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2009
Kikoe
Movie
More credits
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2009
Belle de Nature
Movie Music
- 2009
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2009
The Last Supper
Movie Music
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2008
Boy
Movie Music
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2007
365 Day Project
Movie Self
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2007
Bhima Swarga: The Journey of the Soul from Hell to Heaven
Movie Executive Producer
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2007
The Treatment
Movie Original Music Composer
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2007
Friday May 4, 2007: John Zorn – Cobra Part Two
Movie Self (prompter)
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2007
Monday April 16, 2007
Movie Self (prompter)
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2007
Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis
Movie Self
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2006
Notes on Marie Menken
Movie Music
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2005
Workingman's Death
Movie Original Music Composer
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2005
Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise
Movie Music
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2005
Invitation to a Suicide
Movie Original Music Composer
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2004
Masada: Live at Tonic 1999
Movie Himself - Alto Saxophone
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2004
Between Science and Garbage
Movie Executive Producer
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2003
Shaolin Ulysses: Kung Fu Monks in America
Movie Music
- 2002
- 2002
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2002
Despite Treblinka
Movie Music
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2002
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
Movie Music
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2001
Nightwindows
Movie Music
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1999
The eye
Movie Music
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1998
Sabbath in Paradise
Movie Himself
