David Torn releases and guest appearances: 8/13/93 rev. Independently released EPs/albums (All late 1970s, details unknown): Special Interest Group The Blankos The Zobo Funn Band - Zobo Independent, Recorded April to May 1977 at Minot Sound Studios in White Plains, New York. It appears to have been self-released (they never got a record contract) under the imprint of Bregtorn music. The songs are: Sunlight Ballet, Can't Do Both, One Minute Up, Song to Icarus, Rag Tag Prince The personel are: Jeremy Werbin - Vocals, Guitar; Micheal Wellen - Drums and Vibraphone; James Campagnola - Sax and Vocals; David Torn - Lead Guitar, Vocals; Dave Arnay - Piano and Triangle; James Twomey - Bass and vocals; Tom Owen (?) is credited with "Additional Vocals" Zobo had a relatively large repetoire; these five songs are not great Torn showcases - songs like Asshole of the Goddess and Endless Gypsy Night, available on many bootleg tapes, were the tunes that drove us into a frenzy live. That said, Song to Icarus is a beautiful ballad built on a haunting vibraphone base and Sunlight Ballet is a very pretty song. Jeremy's voice is a bit whiny/reedy and an acquired taste, but once you pass that hurdle... Zobo broke up in early 1980. They played one reuion gig in September of 1981. {Zobo notes by bruce higgins (lbh2@cornell.edu)} Everyman Band - Everyman Band 1982 ECM (LP only?) Torn, Marty Fogel, Michael Suchorsky, Bruce Yaw Mark Nauseef - Sura 1983 CMP (LP only) Torn, Mark Nauseef, Detlef Baler, Trilok Gurtu, Joachim Kuhn, Kamalesh Maitra, Laura Patchen, Marcus Stockhausen, Herbert Forsch Jan Garbarek - It's OK to listen to the gray voice 1983 ECM Torn, Jan Garbarek, Eberhard Weber, Michael di Pasqua David Torn - Best Laid Plans 1985 ECM Torn, Geoffrey Gordon David Borden - Anatidae 1985 Cuneiform Torn, David Borden Everyman Band - Without Warning 1985 ECM Torn, Marty Fogel, Michael Suchorsky, Bruce Yaw David Torn - Cloud About Mercury 1987 ECM Torn, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, Mark Isham David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive 1987 Virgin Torn, David Sylvian, R. Sakamoto, D. Cummings, D. Thompson Dark - Tamna Voda 1988 CMP Torn, Mark Nauseef, L. Shankar, Miroslav Tadic, Leonice Shinneman, Mark London Sims Michael Shrieve & Steve Roach - The Leaving Time 1988 BMG/RCA Torn, Michael Shrieve, Steve Roach, Jonas Hellborg Mark Isham - Castalia 1988 Virgin Torn, Mark Isham, Mick Karn, Kurt Wortman, Bill Douglass, Paul McCandless, Patrick O'Hearn, Pater Maunu, Mark Adler, Gayle Moran, John Isham Mark Isham - soundtrack to The Beast 1988 A&M Torn, Kurt Wortman, Tom McVeety, Shahla Sarsharlesinger, Mohamed Heydar Michael Shrieve - Stilleto 1989 BMG/Novus Torn, Michael Shrieve, Andy Summers, Mark Isham, Terje Gewelt Marty Fogel - Many Bobbing Heads, At Last... 1989 CMP Torn, Marty Fogel, Michael Shrieve, Dean Johnson Mark Isham - Tibet 1989 Windham Hill Torn, Mark Isham, Bill Douglass, Ken Kugler, Doug Lunn, Peter Maunu, Jean Roth, Tom Sassa, Kim Schamberg, Kurt Wortman Lonely Universe - Lonely Universe 1990 CMP Torn, Mick Karn, Michael White, Michel Lambert David Torn - Door X 1990 Windham Hill Torn, Mick Karn, Doug Lunn, Chris Botti, Gary Burke, Geoffrey Gordon, Vida Vierra, Kurt Wortman, Antony Widoff, Bill Bruford. Mark Isham - Mark Isham 1990 Virgin Torn, Mark Isham, Terry Bozzio, Doug Lunn, Ed Mann, John Novello, Tanita Tikaram, John Patitucci, Alex Acuna, Peter van Hooke, Chick Corea Love At Large - Original Soundtrack by Mark Isham 1990 Virgin Torn, Isham, Peter Maunu, Kurt Wortman, Dorothy Remsen, Nathalie Archangel, Warren Zevon Various Artists - Guitar Sampler Volume II 1991 Windham Hill Torn, Michael Hedges, Alex de Grassi, Michael Manring, Tuck Andress Presumably includes track(s) from Door X. Bill Bruford's Earthworks - All Heaven Broke Loose 1991 EG co-produced by Torn and Bruford. With Torn, Bill Bruford, Django Bates, Iain Ballamy, Tim Harries VARIOUS ARTISTS - A DOOR IN TIME 1991 - Echodiscs track 7 David Torn - "Sending Religion To Bed Without Supper" - A track recorded in Torn's home for public radio There is also a cassette-only release of Torn on guitar on Clear Productions, a small place operating out of Ithaca, NY. No Borders: Guitar Player Soundsheet (198?) Torn did a Soundsheet for guitar player magazine a few years ago. It's a piece done in his home studio with sampled guitar bass lines, looping, synth (Linda McCartney) finger-style drums (actually quite cool the repeating line that he plays), and an outrageous, terrific solo. I believe the piece was called No Borders. rumors: (This is in reference to one track on Usfret with an uncredited guitar solo which is believed by some to not be the other guitarist credited on that release.) >from Dave Lechtenberg: >> who is the Mystery guitarist on Trilok Gurtu's _Usfret_ ? >I could be wrong, but I believe it's David Torn. Notes: Born in Amityville, New York in 1953 Studied with John Abercrombie and Pat Martino. Torn with his band Everyman Band were Lou Reed's backing band on the Coney Island Baby and Street Hassle tours. In addition, Everyman Band backed Don Cherry on one tour. Torn was in David Sylvian's touring band for the "In Praise of Shamans" Tour Steve Jansen-drums Ian Maidman-bass Mark Isham-trumpet keys Robby Aceto-kybds, guitar,bvox Richard Barbieri-keyboards DS - vocals, guitar, keys Mick Karn played bass on the 1988 Cloud About Mercury suppport tour. I've read that Torn wanted Karn for the studio recording, but he had other commitments at that time and couldn't make it to the studio. So he played on the live tour, giving a slightly different feel to the basswork by adding that fretless sound he's known for. Mark Isham wasn't on the Cloud About Mercury tour show I saw (but may have been with them for other gigs) but the following year Torn and Karn were in Isham's live band for the Castalia tour. Electronic Musician interviewed David Torn in the July 1987 issue. Contact info: David Torn P.O. Box 465 Bearsville, NY 12409 USA Many thanks to Anil Prasad, Larry Spence, Gregory Taylor, Bruce Higgins, Elliot Freedman, Kingsley Durant Jr, and Pete Cole for their help in compiling the above information. ---- Rev. 8/13/93. Additions, corrections, updates, dates? email to malcolm@wrs.com TORN, LOOSE ENDS: There is a recently released Mick Karn lp featuring David Torn. >From: Kingsley Durant Jr Elliott Freedman mentioned in #50 that he wondered how David Torn is doing... My brother works for Lexicon and has become pals with Mr. Torn of late. Although this is getting somewhat afield of Holdsworthiana, here is some news. David has just finished producing the new New Bohemians disc, as well as the new Jack Bruce. (Jon didn't know who plays on the Bruce -- Allan H has guested in the past) He is working on a soundtrack with Patrick O'Hearn for Patrick Swayze's new movie, and he did a soundtrack for another movie, "California," about which Jon couldn't remember much. Next month he is due to start recording a new disc himself with Mick Karn and Terry Bozzio, and other possible recruits to be named later; this group is intended for touring as well, presuming of course that David's health continues to improve as it has so far.