Zorn is an amazing musician, and I couldn't care less if he's a prick, or a diva. I don't care if he has fifty birthday releases, since well, it is his label. The guy's pulled off so much in his career, it's insane.

steve wrote:Genuine talent as a talent-spotter. Can reduce anything to the backdrop for a duck call. I guess that if he's number one at anything, it would be turning genius-level collaborators into "John Zorn's new project."

Like a pigeon shitting on a statue. The shit doesn't obscure the statue very much, and, inarguably, it adds a little something.

Wow. Are you thinking of of Bjork?

The guy can compose better melodies than most if you check out the Masada book.

Yes, he overdoes it with the trying to sound like Eye through an alto sax, but the guy can play. He can get around the horn, play straight ahead stuff and in the past really had some extended techniques for the instrument. He wouldn't need any collaborators to be a monster on the horn...

There's also Naked City and Spy vs Spy. That stuff is great!
His classical stuff isn't so shabby either.

You haven't checked out the good stuff. Im sure of it.

A hero of mine.

I don't like all his records, but I like the fact that he put them out, you know?
Masada is great and, as he attests in Heuermann's movie, way more than just "Ornette meets Klezmer."

Bar Kokhba sextet is just an awesome lineup. Violin/Cello/Bass/Guitar/Drums/Cyro. On top of that, it's very accessible - one of the first things I'll play for friends whose musical tastes I (or they) don't know yet.

Heliogabalus is great - a step above Moonchild & Astronome. The extra musicians were just what they needed.

The Gift is great, as well as its sequel, the Dreamers.

And one that might get overlooked -

Do not overlook this. Saft/Cohen/Perowsky piano trio of new Masada tunes. Great sounding record as well. Played it 3 times back-to-back on first getting it.

Tzadik Records has brought out excellent artists as well (Rashanim, Talat, Daniel Zamir) They're the first thing I check out at the record store. Probably my favorite label.

As far as John Zorn as a person - I'm just in for the music. I try not to get into the cult of personality. I had my curiosities, yes, but the Heuermann film quelled those nicely. In a film format perfectly suited to its subject, I must say.

Far from crap.

At his best he puts out some stuff that is very, very good. He also puts out a lot stuff I do not care for at all. I think if you were to limit yourself to only the dozen records of his you like best you would still be left with a body of work worthy of a not crap.

Most of his stuff, I don't care for. He has his moments, however. I'd probably lean towards Crap with some waffles if it was just as a musician alone, but because he put out my favorite Melt-Banana record on his label, then it's Not Crap with some waffles.

givemenoughrope wrote:

steve wrote:Genuine talent as a talent-spotter. Can reduce anything to the backdrop for a duck call. I guess that if he's number one at anything, it would be turning genius-level collaborators into "John Zorn's new project."

Like a pigeon shitting on a statue. The shit doesn't obscure the statue very much, and, inarguably, it adds a little something.

Wow. Are you thinking of of Bjork?

The guy can compose better melodies than most if you check out the Masada book.

Yes, he overdoes it with the trying to sound like Eye through an alto sax, but the guy can play. He can get around the horn, play straight ahead stuff and in the past really had some extended techniques for the instrument. He wouldn't need any collaborators to be a monster on the horn...

There's also Naked City and Spy vs Spy. That stuff is great!
His classical stuff isn't so shabby either.

You haven't checked out the good stuff. Im sure of it.

Remember, steve hates jazz and things associated with jazz, so Zorn is not allowed in his book.

Steve is releasing a John Zorn tribute next month called 55th birthday celebrations, volume 13. Phonovectra have been asked to contribute a track from their latest album.

Boombats wrote:
Remember, steve hates jazz and things associated with jazz, so Zorn is not allowed in his book.

Well, John Zorn is as much Jazz as he is other kinds of music, kinda sorta...

How can someone hate Jazz? its silly to say. It's like saying I hate pizza. i mean, I love Monk and Rollins as much as I do Buzzo and Bartok. I dont trust anyone who dismisses music by genre. I mean, whats a genre? A section at the record store or the smell of the venue? It sucks that Jazz has come to mean boring, notey crap...some of the best music around...still...