John Zorn

Biography

2 September 1953, New York City, New York, USA. Zorn trained in classical composition, initial inspirations being the American composer-inventors Charles Ives, John Cage and Harry Partch. He developed an interest in jazz when he attended a concert given by trumpeter Jacques Coursil, who was teaching him French at the time. His later jazz idols have included Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Giuffre and Roscoe Mitchell. Since 1974 he has been active on New York’s Lower East Side, a leading representative of the ‘downtown’ avant garde, applying ‘game theory’ to structure-free improvisation, a parallel technique to Butch Morris’ ‘conduction’. Zorn’s keen study of bebop and his razor-sharp alto saxophone technique gained him respect from the jazz players: in 1977 he and guitarist Eugene Chadbourne were included in an 11-piece ensemble playing Frank Lowe’s compositions (Lowe & Behold). A record collector, Zorn...

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