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). In 2023, Tzadik issued the third volume in The Bagatelles, a box set, showcasing four ensembles premiering compositions from the book. In 2024, he issued a dozen albums including the Shakespeare-inspired Her Melodious Lay, Ballades, and Lamentations and Bagatelles, Vol. 4. 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.