John Zorn

Composer John Zorn has released hundreds of albums that reveal staggering compositional diversity including improvised "game pieces" (Cobra), hardcore punk, and avant-jazz fusion (Spy vs. Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman, with Naked City), and classical (Bar Kokhba). His composition books reflect the influences of his Jewish heritage, mysticism, art, the occult, and philosophy. He's composed dozens of soundtracks, chamber pieces, avant-rock, jazz exotica (The Gift), and sacred vocal works (Alhambra Love Songs). Zorn began releasing his Bagatelles series in 2021, first as four-CD box sets, then as individual volumes. In 2024, he issued a dozen albums including the Shakespeare-inspired Her Melodious Lay. Through the Looking Glass, performed by a quartet that included John Medeski and Matt Hollenberg, appeared in 2025, and was followed by Impromptus, a set of freewheeling jazz piano trio compositions. He continued issuing efforts such as the 2026 concerto Alea Iacta Est.