John Zorn

The legendary avant-garde composer/performer gives a rare solo saxophone performance. An experimental jazz icon for almost 40 years, his playing pushes extended techniques to their limits in a whirlwind of virtuosity.

An experimental jazz icon for almost 40 years, Zorn’s playing pushes extended techniques to their limits in a whirlwind of virtuosity. Drawing upon his experience in classical, jazz, rock, hardcore punk, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular, world, and improvised music, he has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories. He is a central figure in the downtown scene, incorporating a wide variety of creative musicians into various compositional formats. His work is remarkably diverse and eclectic, drawing inspiration from art, literature, film, theater, philosophy, alchemy, and mysticism, as well as music. Zorn founded the Tzadik label in 1995, runs the East Village performance space The Stone, and has edited and published five volumes of musician’s writings under the title Arcana. He was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2006.