The saxophonist and composer John Zorn is known for merging Jewish music traditions with avant-garde jazz. And death metal. And easy listening, and just about everything else under the sun. His music comprises a prolific canon that he characterizes as “Radical Jewish Culture.”
He’s also known for rarely straying from his home base of New York. But when does leave New York, he brings half of New York with him.
That’s what it might seem like, at least, when Zorn settles in this week for a massive, career-spanning residency at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Across 15 shows over five days, Zorn collaborates with daring Manhattan musicians like Laurie Anderson and Ikue Mori, and jazz luminaries like Bill Frisell and John Medeski.
Some West Coast artists join him on these dates as well. In one Sunday matinee show, Zorn presents his “game” piece of genre and improvisation, Cobra, utilizing hand signals, signs and other cues. That ensemble alone utilizes 14 participants, including Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, experimental guitarist Fred Frith, Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton and most of the other members of experimental thrash-funk ensemble Mr. Bungle.
Sitting in with several other groups, including the stunning Electric Masada band, is the Santa Rosa-raised guitarist Julian Lage.
