Written in the 1970s, Zorn’s earliest game pieces are legendary (often discussed and workshopped in secret but rarely performed in public) and “Curling” from 1978 is one of the most elusive and hermetic. Focusing exclusively on long tones, it is quite unusual in Zorn’s canon—meditative, minimalist, and hypnotic. Performing here are two ensembles from the Bay Area that have had close ties with Zorn for over forty years and are perfectly suited to execute this challenging and beautiful work. The Rova Sax Quartet and the William Winant Percussion Group are both masters of composition and improvisation and here they take this seductive score to aston-ishing new heights.

From March to May 2015, John Zorn composed 300 new tunes that were eventually collected into a book of music he called “The Bagatelles.” After five years of performances around the world in venues large and small, the choicest ensembles have gone into the studio and the results are some of the most exciting and varied music Zorn has ever presented. Volume 5 features Kris Davis, one of the greatest new voices in piano jazz. Joining her in this dynamic quartet is Mary Halvorson, one of the leaders of contemporary jazz guitar along with the brilliant rhythm section of Drew Gress and Kenny Wollesen. Beautiful arrangements, delicate and thoughtful solos and a stunning lyricism distinguish this fabulous new installment of John Zorn’s “Bagatelles.”

Presented in a lush CD book including dozens of Zorn’s original erotic drawings printed in gold ink on distinctive art paper, this is the definitive presentation of one of Zorn’s most poignant and lush creations—an all-vocal setting of the Bible’s sensual poetry “The Song of Solomon.” Scored for five female voices plus male and female narrators, the ensemble here includes narration by classical superstar Barbara Hannigan and renown French actor/director Mathieu Amalric. Featuring a newly commissioned translation of the Hebrew text by musician/scholar/philosopher/ poet Jeremy Fogel, this unique limited edition CD book is an absolute delight.

Jim Staley
Ikue Mori
John Zorn

Friends and musical cohorts since the early 1980s, these three master improvisers come together to perform a freewheeling set of outrageous and mind-blowing improvisations. Recorded at Roulette, founded in 1978 and one of New York’s most adventurous venues, the music is full of surprising twists and jumps from one mood to another with mercurial synchronicity. Dedicated to the memory of Downtown theatrical genius Richard Foreman, “Alchemical Theatre” presents nine pieces of tele-pathic, counter-intuitive New York improvisation by three legendary figures of the Downtown scene.

Ikue Mori, PHEW and YoshimiO are three legends of the Japanese Avant Garde music scene: Ikue was an original member of DNA and is a vital member of the NYC Downtown Scene, Phew founded Aunt Sally in 1978 and has performed in countless folk/rock solo projects and collaborations and YoshimiO is a core member of the Boredoms, Saicobab and OOIOO. Here they come together for their first ever trio project. Recorded at Club U.F.O. in Tokyo, the music was edited and mixed during the shelter-in-place months of early 2020. Surprising and powerful, this is a fabulous and essential meeting of three new music superstars!

Vadim is one of the most accomplished pianists of his generation, a musician of astonishing range and passion. His newest work tells a story of compassion, empathy, willpower, resistance, sincerity, falsehood, freedom, and the arduous path to it. As a Ukrainian, he is deeply connected to the current events, however the music is not only about the devastating war, it speaks to us all, reflecting on timeless human challenges and the best aspects of our nature. Placing exhilarating piano improvisations in the context of gorgeous compositions for classical string trio, “Perseverantia” is Vadim’s greatest work to date.