David Torn
Biography
Self-described "textural guitarist" David Torn showcases a sophisticated, innovative playing style that employs his self-developed digital looping system while blurring the lines between rock, jazz, and avant music. Torn's '80s ECM recordings with the Everyman Band, foundational documents in his transition from fusion to avant and abstract jazz-rock, led to his album Cloud About Mercury (1987). After two decades with other labels -- a period that included the Mick Karn collaborations Door X (1992) and Polytown (1994), Torn returned to ECM with 2007's Prezens. He continued with the completely solo Only Sky (2015), and with a power trio on Sun of Goldfinger (2019). A prolific sideman -- David Bowie, Madonna, Meshell Ndegéocello, and dozens more -- Torn has also composed and contributed to numerous film scores. In 2024 he appeared on Candid as a member of Sunny Five alongside Tim Berne, Ches Smith, Marc Ducret, and Devin Hoff.