444

"444" is the latest avant-garde jazz exploration from the prolific and innovative composer John Zorn, released in 2023 on the Tzadik label. This 46-minute journey through experimental soundscapes features Zorn's signature compositions, arrangements, and conducting, showcasing his enduring ability to push musical boundaries.

The album brings together a powerhouse quartet featuring Brian Marsella on electric piano, John Medeski on Hammond organ, Matt Hollenberg on electric guitar, and Kenny Grohowski on drums and percussion. Their remarkable rapport is evident throughout the eight tracks, each offering a unique blend of free jazz, experimental, and avant-garde elements.

"444" opens with "Splendor Solis," setting the tone for the album's alchemical exploration of sound. Tracks like "Retort," "In Sulphur and in Flame," and "Astral Projection" delve into the quartet's dynamic interplay, while "Civil Disobedience" and "With Blood I Summon Thee" highlight the group's ability to blend intensity with precision. The album concludes with "Salt and Mercury" and "Tayy al-Ard," leaving the listener with a sense of the profound and the provocative.

Zorn's "444" is a testament to his ongoing exploration of new musical worlds, challenging expectations and delivering a sonic experience that is as thought-provoking as it is exhilarating. Whether you're a longtime fan of John Zorn or new to his work, "444" offers a compelling introduction to his unique vision and the incredible talent of the musicians who bring his compositions to life.

John Zorn is a boundary-defying American composer, saxophonist, and producer renowned for his eclectic and experimental approach to music. Resisting easy categorization, Zorn's work spans an impressive range of genres, including jazz, rock, classical, metal, and world music, often blending them in unexpected and innovative ways. A prolific artist, he has released a vast discography, including the monumental 11-album box set "The Book Beriah," which features 92 compositions. Zorn is also the founder of the Tzadik record label, a platform for experimental and avant-garde music, and has collaborated with numerous influential musicians. His groundbreaking ensemble Naked City is often cited as a precursor to the jazz-metal fusion genre. Zorn's compositions often incorporate unique structures, such as his celebrated "game" pieces like "Cobra," which guide large, diverse groups of musicians through intricate musical strategies. With a career that has spanned decades, John Zorn continues to be a catalyst for innovation and a major influence in contemporary music.