Maybe it was totally overlooked, composer and musician John Zorn was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant last week. $500,000, no strings. For being a genius. He is an icon of experimental music and composition, and one of these responsible for the Jewish music rennaissance.
Zorn’s Tzadik Records has been one of the most prolific producers of cutting edge Jewish music for a decade now, giving dozens of artists a platform for exciting and fresh new compositions and new takes on old ones, ranging from klezmer to sephardic to piyyutim to tisch zmirot. Zorn’s own Masada is well known for a blend of improvisation prowess combined with Jewish and Middle Eastern melodies and modalities.
It is worth noting that this is the second year in a row that a major American artist exploring their Jewish heritage through their craft has won the prize. Last year choreographer Liz Lerman won. Its a bit embarrassing that our own Jewish institutional community was once again beeat to the punch and so few means for supporting/recognizing artistic genius in our midst.
Hopefully the 6 Points Fellowship marks the start of a change in that regard, but more substantial support for Jewish artistry from our communities is needed. The $1MM allocated towards the fellowship by UJA-Fed NY is a big chunk of change, but compared to the amount of money thrown at other causes and the impact the participating artists will have on American Jewish life, and specifically young people, it is really only a nice start. After all, from whence comes the next John Zorn?
