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{{Short description|American guitarist, composer, and producer}}
[[Image:David Torn.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo by Matt Brown]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
'''David Torn''' (born 26 May 1953) is an American [[composer]], [[guitarist]], and [[record producer|music producer]].
{{Infobox musical artist
He is known for the organic blending/manipulation of electronic and acoustic instruments and performance techniques that have an atmospheric or [[Texture (music)|textural]] quality and effect. He is particularly well known for his influence on the development of [[Music loop|looping]] effects.
| name = David Torn
| image = David Torn - 2015.jpg
| caption = Torn in 2015
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|05|26}}
| birth_place = [[Amityville, New York]], U.S.
| genre = [[Jazz rock]], [[experimental rock]]
| occupation = Musician, producer
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active =
| label = [[ECM Records|ECM]]
| associated_acts =
| website = {{url|davidtorn.net}}
}}


'''David M. Torn''' (born May 26, 1953)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2515}}</ref> is an American guitarist, composer, and producer. He is known for combining electronic and acoustic instruments and for his use of [[Loop (music)|looping]].
Torn has contributed to recordings by artists including [[David Bowie]], [[k.d. lang]], [[John Legend]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Tori Amos]], [[Bill Bruford]], [[Tony Levin]], [[Mick Karn]], [[David Sylvian]], [[Chocolate Genius]], [[Michael Shrieve]], [[Steve Roach (musician)|Steve Roach]], [[Patrick O'Hearn]], [[Andy Rinehart]], [[Matt Chamberlain]], [[Meshell Ndegeocello]] and [[Don Cherry (jazz)|Don Cherry]]. He has produced a [[Grammy]]-winning recording for [[Jeff Beck]], as well as recordings for [[Tim Berne]], Drew Gress, [[Dave Douglas (trumpeter)|Dave Douglas]], [[Douglas September]], and many others. In addition to his composition work, Torn's recording have been featured in a number of films, including ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]'', ''[[Velvet Goldmine]]'', ''[[Adaptation (film)|Adaptation]]'', ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'', ''[[The Departed]]'', ''[[Fur (film)|Fur]]'', ''[[The Hoax]]'', ''[[Kalifornia]]'', ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'', ''[[Reversal of Fortune]]'', ''Tibet'', and ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]].'' He studied with [[Leonard Bernstein]] (within the "Music for Young Composers" series), as well as with guitarists [[John Abercrombie (guitarist)|John Abercrombie]], [[Pat Martino]], Paul Weiss and Arthur Basile.<ref>http://davidtorn.net</ref> Torn works out of his personal studios, known as ''Cell Labs''; occasionally, he uses the pseudonym "splattercell."


==Biography==
== Background ==
Torn has contributed to recordings by artists as diverse as [[David Bowie]], [[k.d. lang]], [[John Legend]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Tori Amos]], [[Bill Bruford]], [[Tony Levin]], [[Mick Karn]], [[David Sylvian]], [[Chocolate Genius]], [[Michael Shrieve]], [[Steve Roach (musician)|Steve Roach]], [[Patrick O'Hearn]], [[Andy Rinehart]], [[Matt Chamberlain]], [[Meshell Ndegeocello]], and [[Don Cherry (jazz)|Don Cherry]].


In addition to his composition work, Torn's music has been featured in a wide variety of films, including ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]'', ''[[Velvet Goldmine]]'', ''[[Adaptation (film)|Adaptation]]'', ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'', ''[[The Departed]]'', ''[[Fur (film)|Fur]]'', ''[[The Hoax]]'', ''[[Kalifornia]]'', ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'', ''[[Reversal of Fortune]]'', ''Tibet'', and ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]].'' He studied with [[Leonard Bernstein]] (within the "Music for Young Composers" series), as well as with guitarists [[John Abercrombie (guitarist)|John Abercrombie]], [[Pat Martino]], Paul Weiss, and Arthur Basile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://davidtorn.net |title=david torn official site |website=Davidtorn.net |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref> Torn works out of his personal studios, known as ''Cell Labs''; occasionally, he uses the pseudonym "splattercell."
David Torn was born in [[Amityville, New York]]. He is married to L. Brecht{{who|date=November 2011}}, is the son of L.J. and R. Torn, the father of both [[Elijah B Torn]] and Cody Torn, the brother of M. Torn, and he is a cousin of [[Rip Torn]], [[Angelica Torn]], [[Geraldine Page]], [[Sissy Spacek]] and [[Ina Garten]], AKA The [[Barefoot Contessa]]. Torn began his career with the Ithaca-based jam band [[Zobo Funn Band]] in the 1970s, and rose to prominence as a member of The Everyman Band and [[Jan Garbarek]]'s quartet in the mid-1980s. He has recorded six albums as a leader for the [[ECM (record label)|ECM]], [[Windham Hill]], CMP, and 75 Ark record labels. He has also recorded a series of CD-ROMs with looping and other [[ambient music]] and "integrated noise" materials that can be used as [[Sampling (music)|samples]] by other artists.


''[[The New York Times]]'' described Torn's 2015 solo release, ''[[Only Sky]]'', as "[an abstract landscape that is] both immersive and deftly disorienting."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/events/jazz/david-torn-25573.html |title=David Torn, Jazz Events|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
In 1992, Torn was diagnosed with an [[acoustic neuroma]]; in his case, a life-threatening form of brain tumor. The surgery that followed left him deaf in the right ear, but didn't rob him of the ability to compose, record and play. Torn even mixes many widely available recordings himself, although according to him this requires sitting sideways to the studio speakers and "visualising the stereo aspects of sound" in his head rather than experimenting with them by ear.<ref>http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn2.html</ref>


== Biography ==
In 2006, Torn's film score for ''[[Believe in Me (2006 film)|Believe in Me]]'' won the Best Score-award at the [[Jackson Hole Film Festival]] and in 2003, his score for the film ''[[The Order (2003 film)|The Order]]'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]].
Torn was born in [[Amityville, New York]],<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He is married to Linda B. Brecht-Torn (b. 1952). David Torn is the son of Lawrence J. Torn (1926-2017) and Rhoda G. Torn (1927-2010); he is the father of electronic musician Elijah B. Torn (b. 1979) and Cody M. Torn (b. 1983). He is the brother of Marsha Torn and Linda Torn, and he was a cousin of actor [[Rip Torn]] (1931-2019). He is the cousin of [[Angelica Torn]] (b. 1964).


Torn began his career with the Ithaca-based jam band Zobo Funn Band in the 1970s, and rose to prominence as a member of The Everyman Band and [[Jan Garbarek]]'s quartet in the mid-1980s. He has recorded solo and group recordings for the [[ECM Records|ECM]], [[Windham Hill Records|Windham Hill]], CMP and 75 Ark labels.
In 2013, Kaivax, a community manager for [[Blizzard Entertainment]], announced that Torn worked on the [[StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm]] soundtrack, "adding burning leads and strange textures to the Zerg palette on several tracks."


In the 1990s, Torn was diagnosed with an [[acoustic neuroma]], in his case, a life-threatening form of brain tumor. The surgery that followed left him deaf in the right ear but he remains able to compose, record, and play. He mixes many widely available recordings himself, although according to him this requires sitting sideways to the studio speakers and "visualising the stereo aspects of sound" in his head rather than experimenting with them by ear.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn2.html |title=David Torn - Fate is not completely decided |publisher=Innerviews |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
In January 2013, Torn delivered a solo guitar performance and talk at [[TED (conference)#TEDx|TEDx]] Caltech 2013: The Brain. The presentation focused on his brain tumor diagnosis and subsequent recovery. A video of the event is available on the TEDx Caltech website.<ref>http://tedxcaltech.caltech.edu/content/david-torn</ref>


In 2006, Torn's film score for ''[[Believe in Me (2006 film)|Believe in Me]]'' won the Best Score-award at the Jackson Hole Film Festival. In 2003, his score for the film ''[[The Order (2003 film)|The Order]]'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]].
Torn is listed as a guitarist on the 2013 David Bowie album, [[The Next Day]].<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/11/david-bowies-guitarist-the-next-day-album_n_2454626.html</ref>
[[File:David_Torn.jpg|alt=David_Torn|thumb|Torn in 2008]]
In 2007, Torn released ''[[Prezens]]'' with [[Tim Berne]]. ''[[Jazzwise]]'' called the album "a vibrating collage full of shimmering sonic shapes, a dark, urban electronic soundscape–a potent mix of jazz, free-form rock and technology that is both demanding and rewarding."<ref name="Ars Nova">{{cite web |url=http://www.arsnovaworkshop.com/events/david-torn-05-14-2015 |title=David Torn: ECM Records release celebration |access-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223203335/http://www.arsnovaworkshop.com/events/david-torn-05-14-2015 |archive-date=February 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In 2013, Torn performed as a guitarist on David Bowie's penultimate album, ''[[The Next Day]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/11/david-bowies-guitarist-the-next-day-album_n_2454626.html |title=David Bowie's Guitarist Talks 'The Next Day' Album: 'I've Been Under A Gag Order For Six Months' |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>—his third collaboration with the artist. In the same year, Torn had a solo guitar performance and talk at [[TEDx]] Caltech 2013: The Brain. The presentation examined his brain tumor diagnosis and recovery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tedxcaltech.caltech.edu/content/david-torn |title=David Torn &#124; tedxcaltech.com |publisher=Tedxcaltech.caltech.edu |date=2013-01-18 |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
==Discography==


== Instruments and effects ==
'''Solo Recordings'''
As a session artist, composer, and producer, David Torn has experimented with many effects boxes, amplifiers, and instruments, and he has spoken with amplifier designers and pedal builders about their craft. In an interview with ''[[Premier Guitar]]'' magazine following the release of his solo album ''Only Sky'', he shared an extensive list of the instruments and effects he uses. He plays a Ronin Mirari guitar with Foilbucker pickups and also lists a large number of amplifiers such as a [[Fryette Amplification|Fryette]] Aether amplifier, and many guitar effects pedals including the [[TC Electronic]] Classic TC XII [[Phaser (effect)|Phaser]], Catalinbread Antichthon, [[DigiTech Whammy]], and the Neunaber Stereo Wet [[Reverb effect|Reverb]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22606-david-torn-alone-at-last?page=2 |title=David Torn: Alone at Last |author=Jason Shadrick|website=Premierguitar.com|access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>


== Discography ==
* ''[[Chute EP]]'' (2010)
===As leader===
* ''[[Prezens]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Best Laid Plans (David Torn album)|Best Laid Plans]]'' with [[Geoffrey Gordon (composer)|Geoffrey Gordon]] ([[ECM Records|ECM]], 1985)
* ''[[splattercell: OAH]]'' (2001)
* ''[[splattercell: AH]]'' (2001)
* ''[[splattercell: Textures for Electronica and Film Music]]'' (2000)
* ''GTR OBLQ'' [[Vernon Reid]], [[Elliott Sharp]], David Torn (1998)
* ''[[What Means Solid, Traveller?]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Tripping Over God]]'' (1995)
* ''Earthbeat'' (1995) — with Bebo Baldan
* ''[[Polytown]]'' [[Mick Karn|Karn]], [[Terry Bozzio|Bozzio]], Torn (1994)
* ''[[Door X]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Cloud About Mercury]]'' (ECM, 1987)
* ''[[Cloud About Mercury]]'' (ECM, 1987)
* ''Door X'' ([[Windham Hill Records|Windham Hill]], 1990)
* ''[[Best Laid Plans (David Torn album)|Best Laid Plans]]'' (ECM, 1985)
* ''Polytown'' with [[Mick Karn]] & [[Terry Bozzio]] ({{ill|CMP Records|de}}, 1994)
* [[tonal textures]]
* ''Tripping: Over: God'' (CMP, 1995)
* [[pandora's toolbox]]
* ''[[What Means Solid, Traveller?]]'' (CMP, 1996)
* ''[[GTR OBLQ|Gtr Oblq]]'' with [[Vernon Reid]] & [[Elliott Sharp]] ([[Knitting Factory Records|Knitting Factory]], 1998)
* ''Ah - Remikses'' as Splattercell (CellDivision, 2000)
* ''Oah'' as Splattercell (CellDivision, 2000)
* ''[[Prezens]]'' (ECM, 2007)
* ''Levin Torn White'' with [[Tony Levin]] & [[Alan White (Yes drummer)|Alan White]] (Lazy Bones, 2011)
* ''[[Only Sky]]'' (ECM, 2015)
* ''Sun of Goldfinger'' with [[Tim Berne]] & Ches Smith (ECM, 2019)
* ''Fur/Torn'' (Screwgun, 2020)


'''With [[Everyman Band]]'''
'''Film and Television'''<ref>http://movies.nytimes.com/person/280798/David-Torn/filmography</ref>
* ''Everyman Band'' (ECM, 1982)
* ''[[Admission (2013 film)|Admission]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2013)
* ''Without Warning'' (ECM, 1985)
* ''[[StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm]]'' - (composer) soundtrack (2013)
* ''[[The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2|The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2012)
* ''[[The Lincoln Lawyer (film)|The Lincoln Lawyer]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2011)
* ''[[Jesus Henry Christ]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2011)
* ''[[Glee (TV series)]]'' — The Power of Madonna (2010) (writer: "What It Feels Like for a Girl" - uncredited)
* ''[[Teenage Paparazzo]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2010)
* ''[[Howl (film)|Howl]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2010)
* ''[[Saint John of Las Vegas]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2009)
* ''[[The Wackness]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2008)
* ''[[Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2008)
* ''[[Lars and the Real Girl]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2007)
* ''[[No Country for Old Men (film)]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2007)<ref>http://www.carterburwell.com/projects/NCFOM.html</ref>
* ''[[Anvil! The Story of Anvil]]'' — (composer: additional music) soundtrack (2007)
* ''[[Believe in Me (2006 film)|Believe In Me]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2006)
* ''[[Fur (film)]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2006)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2004)
* ''[[The Order (2003 film)|The Order]]'' — (composer) soundtrack (2003)
* ''[[S1m0ne|S1M0NE]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2003)
* ''[[Adaptation (film)|Adaptation]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2002)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''[[A Knight's Tale]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2001)
* ''[[Traffic (2000 film)]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (2000)
* ''[[Velvet Goldmine]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (1998)<ref>http://www.carterburwell.com/projects/Velvet_Goldmine.shtml</ref>
* ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' — (musician) soundtrack (1998)<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/combined</ref>


===As sideman===
'''Other Recordings'''
'''With [[Bruford Levin Upper Extremities]]'''
* ''[[Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (album)|Bruford Levin Upper Extremities]]'' (Papa Bear, 1998)
* ''[[B.L.U.E. Nights]]'' (Papa Bear, 2000)


*''[[The Next Day]]'', [[David Bowie]] (Iso, 2013)
'''With [[David Bowie]]'''
* ''[[Heathen (David Bowie album)|Heathen]]'' (Columbia/ISO, 2002)
*''[[Tony Levin|Levin]] / Torn / [[Alan White|White]]'', Levin Torn White (2011)
* ''[[Reality (David Bowie album)|Reality]]'' (Columbia/ISO, 2003)
*''[[In the Pink (album)]]'', [[Donna Lewis]] (2008)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''[[The Next Day]]'' (Columbia/ISO, 2013)
*''Playground'', [[Manu Katché]] (2007)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>

*''[[Once Again (John Legend album)]]'', [[John Legend]] (Epic, 2006)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
'''With [[Mark Isham]]'''
*''[[Legs to Make Us Longer]]'', [[Kaki King]] (Epic, 2004)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''[[Castalia (album)|Castalia]]'' (Virgin, 1988)
*''Souls Saved Hear'', [[Big Satan]] (2004)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''Tibet'' (Windham Hill, 1989)
*''[[Jeff (album)|Jeff]]'', [[Jeff Beck]] (Epic, 2003)
* ''[[Mark Isham (album)|Mark Isham]]'' (Virgin, 1990)
*''[[Reality (David Bowie album)|Reality]]'', [[David Bowie]] (Iso, 2003)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''Reversal of Fortune'' (Milan, 1991)
*''[[Scarlet's Walk]]'', [[Tori Amos]] (2002)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''Blue Sun'' (Columbia, 1995)
*''Science Friction'', [[Tim Berne]] (2002)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>

*''The Sevens'', [[Tim Berne]] (2002)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
'''With [[Patrick O'Hearn]]'''
*''[[Heathen (David Bowie album)|Heathen]]'', [[David Bowie]] (Iso, 2002)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>
* ''Trust'' (Deep Cave, 1995)
*''[[Oil Tan Bow]]'', [[Douglas September]] (2001)
* ''Metaphor'' (Deep Cave, 1996)
*''[[Life on a String (album)|Life on a String]]'', [[Laurie Anderson]] (Nonesuch, 2001)
* ''So Flows the Current'' (Patrickohearn.com, 2001)
* ''[[Music (Madonna album)]]'', [[Madonna (entertainer)]] (2000)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits</ref>

* ''[[B.L.U.E. Nights]]'', Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (2000)
'''With [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]]'''
*''[[Waters of Eden]]'', [[Tony Levin]] (Narada, 2000)
* ''Discord'' (Gut for Life, 1997)
* ''[[Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (album)|Bruford Levin Upper Extremities]]'' (Discipline Global Mobile, 1998)
* ''Cinemage'' (Sony, 1999)
*''[[Seven Veils]]'', [[Robert Rich (musician)|Robert Rich]] (Hearts of Space, 1998)
* ''Moto.tronic'' (Sony, 2003)
*''[[Drag (k.d. lang album)]]'', [[k.d. lang]] (1997)<ref>http://www.splattercell.com/gaalore/dtorn/dtdisc.nsf/d2cd726461bae127802567b40060b949/42872a439bcf1d2c802568b1003be255!OpenDocument</ref>

*''Jason's Chord'', Andy Rinehart (1995)<ref>http://www.innerviews.org/inner/rinehart.html</ref>
'''With others'''
*''[[3 Pound Universe]]'', [[Wes Martin]] (1995)<ref>http://www.splattercell.com/gaalore/dtorn/dtdisc.nsf/d2cd726461bae127802567b40060b949/52280ef8b6cc1f7580256a0c00453673!OpenDocument</ref>
*''[[Building the Colossus]]'', [[Happy Rhodes]] (Aural Gratification, 1994)
* [[Tori Amos]], ''[[Scarlet's Walk]]'' (Epic, 2002)
*''[[Mark Isham (album)|Mark Isham]]'', [[Mark Isham]] (Gold Rush, 1990)
* [[Laurie Anderson]], ''[[Life on a String (album)|Life on a String]]'' (Nonesuch, 2001)
* [[David Baerwald]], ''David Baerwald Presents Hurlyburly'' (Lakeshore, 1999)
*''[[Mark Isham (album)|Castalia]]'', [[Mark Isham]] (virgin record america 1988)
* [[Cheryl Bentyne]], ''Something Cool'' (Columbia, 1992)
*''[[Secrets of the Beehive]]'', [[David Sylvian]] (Virgin, 1987)
* [[Tim Berne]], ''[[Incidentals]]'' (ECM, 2017)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/24/tim-bernes-snakeoil-incidentals-review-creative-and-visceral-live-set |title=Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Incidentals review – creative and visceral live set |last=Fordham |first=John |date=2017-08-24 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2017-08-27 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*''[[Without Warning (Everyman Band album)|Without Warning, Everyman Band]]'', Everyman Band (ECM, 1985)
* Tim Berne, ''The Sevens'' (New World/CounterCurrents, 2002)
*''[[It's OK to Listen to the Gray Voice]]'', [[Jan Garbarek]] (ECM, 1985)
* [[Jack Bruce]], ''[[Somethin Els]]'' (Esoteri, 2014)
*''[[Everyman Band (album)|Everyman Band]]'', Everyman Band (1982)
* [[Chocolate Genius]], ''[[Black Music (album)|Black Music]]'' (V2, 1998)
* [[Jan Garbarek]], ''[[It's OK to Listen to the Gray Voice]]'' (ECM, 1985)
* [[Gongzilla]], ''Thrive'' (Lolo, 1996)
* [[Happy Rhodes]], ''[[Building the Colossus]]'' (Aural Gratification, 1994)
* [[Steve Jansen|Jansen]] / [[Richard Barbieri|Barbieri]] / [[Mick Karn|Karn]], ''Beginning to Melt: Medium Series Volume 1'' (Medium, 1993)
* Steve Jansen & Richard Barbieri, ''Stone to Flesh'' (Medium, 1995)
* [[Jarboe]], ''[[The Men Album]]'' (Atavistic, 2005)
* [[Mick Karn]], ''Bestial Cluster'' (CMP, 1993)
* Mick Karn, ''The Tooth Mother'' (CMP, 1995)
* [[Manu Katché]], ''[[Playground (Manu Katché album)|Playground]]'', (ECM, 2007)
* [[Kaki King]], ''[[Legs to Make Us Longer]]'' (Red Ink, 2004)
* [[k.d. lang]], ''[[Drag (k.d. lang album)|Drag]]'' (Warner Bros., 1997)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww5.splattercell.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212011757/http://www.splattercell.com/gaalore/dtorn/dtdisc.nsf/d2cd726461bae127802567b40060b949/42872a439bcf1d2c802568b1003be255%21OpenDocument|url-status=dead|title=Splattercell.com|archive-date=December 12, 2006|website=5.plattercell.com}}</ref>
* [[John Legend]], ''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]'' (Columbia/Sony, 2006)
* [[Tony Levin]], ''[[Waters of Eden]]'' (Narada/Virgin, 2000)
* Tony Levin, "Bungie Bass" on ''Bringing It Down to the Bass'' (Flatiron, 2024)
* [[Donna Lewis]], ''Brand New Day'' (Palmetto, 2015)
* [[Mark Nauseef]], ''Sura'' (CMP, 1983)
* Mark Nauseef & [[Miroslav Tadic]], ''The Snake Music'' (CMP, 1994)
* [[Meshell Ndegeocello]], ''[[Bitter (Meshell Ndegeocello album)|Bitter]]'' (Maverick, 1999)
* [[The Pineapple Thief]], ''[[Dissolution (The Pineapple Thief album)|Dissolution]]'' (Kscope, 2018)
* [[Robert Rich (musician)|Robert Rich]], ''[[Seven Veils (Robert Rich album)|Seven Veils]]'' (Hearts of Space, 1998)
* [[Andy Rinehart]], ''Jason's Chord'' (CMP, 1993)
* [[Douglas September]], ''Ten Bulls'' (Gold Circle, 1998)
* [[Michael Shrieve]], ''The Leaving Time'' (Novus/RCA 1988)
* Michael Shrieve, ''Stiletto'' (Novus/RCA/BMG 1989)
* [[David Sylvian]], ''[[Secrets of the Beehive]]'' (Virgin, 1987), with prev. unreleased track on compilation ''[[Everything and Nothing]]'' (Virgin, 2000)
* [[Michael Whalen (composer)|Michael Whalen]], ''Mysterious Ways'' (Koch, 2001)
* [[David Wilcox (American musician)|David Wilcox]], ''Blaze'' (What Are? 2014)

===Film and television===
'''As musician'''
* ''[[A Dangerous Woman (1993 film)|A Dangerous Woman]]'' (1998)
* ''[[A Knight's Tale]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Adaptation (film)|Adaptation]]'' (2002)<ref name="Allmusic" />
* ''[[Admission (2013 film)|Admission]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Airheads]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Blood Omen 2]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Fear (1996 film)|Fear]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Fur (film)|Fur]]'' (2006)<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-torn-mn0000226228/credits |title=David Torn: Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>
* ''[[Heist (2001 film)|Heist]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Howl (2010 film)|Howl]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Kalifornia]]'' (1993)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/280798/David-Torn/filmography |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411135929/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/280798/David-Torn/filmography |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-11 |title=David Torn - Filmography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com |date=2007-01-18 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
* ''[[March of the Penguins]]'' (2005)
* ''[[No Country for Old Men (film)|No Country for Old Men]]'' (2007)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carterburwell.com/projects/NCFOM.html |title=No Country For Old Men |publisher=Carter Burwell |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
* ''[[Rosewater (film)|Rosewater]]'' (2015)
* ''[[S1m0ne|S1M0NE]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Smoke Signals (film)|Smoke Signals]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Snake Eyes (1998 film)|Snake Eyes]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Storyville (film)|Storyville]]'' (1992)
* ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' (1998)
* ''[[The Craft (film)]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Departed]]'' (2006)
* ''[[The Fifth Estate (film)]]'' (2013)
* ''[[The Lincoln Lawyer (film)|The Lincoln Lawyer]]'' (2011)
* ''[[The Order (2003 film)|The Order]]'' (2003)
* ''[[The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2|The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Velvet Goldmine]]'' (1998)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carterburwell.com/projects/Velvet_Goldmine.shtml |title=Velvet Goldmine |publisher=Carter Burwell |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref>
* Wonderstruck (2017)<ref name="ProgDay Sonar Page">{{Cite web |url=http://www.progday.net/Bands-Sonar.html |title=ProgDay Sonar Page |website=Progday.net |access-date=2017-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828062124/http://www.progday.net/Bands-Sonar.html |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''As composer'''
* ''[[Anvil! The Story of Anvil]]'' (2007), additional music
* ''[[Believe in Me (2006 film)|Believe in Me]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Drumline: A New Beat]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Everything Must Go (film)|Everything Must Go]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'' – The Power of Madonna (2010), "What It Feels Like for a Girl", uncredited
* ''[[Jesus Henry Christ]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Lars and the Real Girl]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Love Monkey]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Saint John of Las Vegas]]'' (2009)
* ''[[StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Teenage Paparazzo]]'' (2010)
* ''[[That Awkward Moment]]'' (2014)
* ''[[The Beatles: Eight Days a Week]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Wackness]]'' (2008)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine |title=David Torn |magazine=Music Technology |page=84 |date=July 1987 |volume=1 |issue=9 |issn=0957-6606 |oclc=24835173}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|David Torn}}
* [http://davidtorn.net/ Official David Torn site]
* [http://www.splattercell.com/ Official splattercell site]
* [http://davidtorn.net/ Official site]
* {{IMDb name|0868128}}
* [https://vimeo.com/376362280 short film portrait on David Torn and his work with ECM Records (2020), shot in his Bearsville studio in 2019]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn1.html David Torn interview with Anil Prasad of Innerviews (1990)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn1.html David Torn interview with Anil Prasad of Innerviews (1990)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn2.html David Torn interview Anil Prasad of Innerviews (1995)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn2.html David Torn interview Anil Prasad of Innerviews (1995)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn3.html David Torn interview Anil Prasad of Innerviews (2001)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn3.html David Torn interview Anil Prasad of Innerviews (2001)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn4.html David Torn interview Anil Prasad of Innerviews (2012)]
* [http://www.innerviews.org/inner/torn4.html David Torn interview Anil Prasad of Innerviews (2012)]
* [http://emusician.com/artists/emusic_cellular_electronica/ ''Electronic Musician'' profile (2001)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050730084136/http://emusician.com/artists/emusic_cellular_electronica/ ''Electronic Musician'' profile (2001)]
* [http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/davtorn.html Review of prezens at JazzChicago.net]
* [http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/davtorn.html Review of ''prezens'' at JazzChicago.net]
* [http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chute-ep/id370100489 Chute EP on iTunes]


{{David Torn}}
==References==
{{Authority control}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Torn, David
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American guitarist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 26 May 1953
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torn, David}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torn, David}}
[[Category:Avant-garde jazz musicians]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American guitarists]]
[[Category:American male composers]]
[[Category:American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:People from Suffolk County, New York]]
[[Category:Avant-garde jazz musicians]]
[[Category:ECM Records artists]]
[[Category:Windham Hill Records artists]]
[[Category:People from Amityville, New York]]
[[Category:Guitarists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American people of Austrian descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Moravian-German descent]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Bruford Levin Upper Extremities members]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]

Latest revision as of 19:47, 21 December 2024

David Torn
Torn in 2015
Torn in 2015
Background information
Born (1953-05-26) May 26, 1953 (age 71)
Amityville, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz rock, experimental rock
Occupation(s)Musician, producer
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsECM
Websitedavidtorn.net

David M. Torn (born May 26, 1953)[1] is an American guitarist, composer, and producer. He is known for combining electronic and acoustic instruments and for his use of looping.

Background

[edit]

Torn has contributed to recordings by artists as diverse as David Bowie, k.d. lang, John Legend, Madonna, Tori Amos, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, Mick Karn, David Sylvian, Chocolate Genius, Michael Shrieve, Steve Roach, Patrick O'Hearn, Andy Rinehart, Matt Chamberlain, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Don Cherry.

In addition to his composition work, Torn's music has been featured in a wide variety of films, including Friday Night Lights, Velvet Goldmine, Adaptation, The Big Lebowski, The Departed, Fur, The Hoax, Kalifornia, Traffic, Reversal of Fortune, Tibet, and Three Kings. He studied with Leonard Bernstein (within the "Music for Young Composers" series), as well as with guitarists John Abercrombie, Pat Martino, Paul Weiss, and Arthur Basile.[2] Torn works out of his personal studios, known as Cell Labs; occasionally, he uses the pseudonym "splattercell."

The New York Times described Torn's 2015 solo release, Only Sky, as "[an abstract landscape that is] both immersive and deftly disorienting."[3]

Biography

[edit]

Torn was born in Amityville, New York,[1] He is married to Linda B. Brecht-Torn (b. 1952). David Torn is the son of Lawrence J. Torn (1926-2017) and Rhoda G. Torn (1927-2010); he is the father of electronic musician Elijah B. Torn (b. 1979) and Cody M. Torn (b. 1983). He is the brother of Marsha Torn and Linda Torn, and he was a cousin of actor Rip Torn (1931-2019). He is the cousin of Angelica Torn (b. 1964).

Torn began his career with the Ithaca-based jam band Zobo Funn Band in the 1970s, and rose to prominence as a member of The Everyman Band and Jan Garbarek's quartet in the mid-1980s. He has recorded solo and group recordings for the ECM, Windham Hill, CMP and 75 Ark labels.

In the 1990s, Torn was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, in his case, a life-threatening form of brain tumor. The surgery that followed left him deaf in the right ear but he remains able to compose, record, and play. He mixes many widely available recordings himself, although according to him this requires sitting sideways to the studio speakers and "visualising the stereo aspects of sound" in his head rather than experimenting with them by ear.[4]

In 2006, Torn's film score for Believe in Me won the Best Score-award at the Jackson Hole Film Festival. In 2003, his score for the film The Order was nominated for a Grammy Award.

David_Torn
Torn in 2008

In 2007, Torn released Prezens with Tim Berne. Jazzwise called the album "a vibrating collage full of shimmering sonic shapes, a dark, urban electronic soundscape–a potent mix of jazz, free-form rock and technology that is both demanding and rewarding."[5]

In 2013, Torn performed as a guitarist on David Bowie's penultimate album, The Next Day[6]—his third collaboration with the artist. In the same year, Torn had a solo guitar performance and talk at TEDx Caltech 2013: The Brain. The presentation examined his brain tumor diagnosis and recovery.[7]

Instruments and effects

[edit]

As a session artist, composer, and producer, David Torn has experimented with many effects boxes, amplifiers, and instruments, and he has spoken with amplifier designers and pedal builders about their craft. In an interview with Premier Guitar magazine following the release of his solo album Only Sky, he shared an extensive list of the instruments and effects he uses. He plays a Ronin Mirari guitar with Foilbucker pickups and also lists a large number of amplifiers such as a Fryette Aether amplifier, and many guitar effects pedals including the TC Electronic Classic TC XII Phaser, Catalinbread Antichthon, DigiTech Whammy, and the Neunaber Stereo Wet Reverb.[8]

Discography

[edit]

As leader

[edit]

With Everyman Band

  • Everyman Band (ECM, 1982)
  • Without Warning (ECM, 1985)

As sideman

[edit]

With Bruford Levin Upper Extremities

With David Bowie

With Mark Isham

  • Castalia (Virgin, 1988)
  • Tibet (Windham Hill, 1989)
  • Mark Isham (Virgin, 1990)
  • Reversal of Fortune (Milan, 1991)
  • Blue Sun (Columbia, 1995)

With Patrick O'Hearn

  • Trust (Deep Cave, 1995)
  • Metaphor (Deep Cave, 1996)
  • So Flows the Current (Patrickohearn.com, 2001)

With Ryuichi Sakamoto

  • Discord (Gut for Life, 1997)
  • Cinemage (Sony, 1999)
  • Moto.tronic (Sony, 2003)

With others

Film and television

[edit]

As musician

As composer

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2515. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "david torn official site". Davidtorn.net. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "David Torn, Jazz Events". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "David Torn - Fate is not completely decided". Innerviews. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  5. ^ "David Torn: ECM Records release celebration". Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "David Bowie's Guitarist Talks 'The Next Day' Album: 'I've Been Under A Gag Order For Six Months'". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "David Torn | tedxcaltech.com". Tedxcaltech.caltech.edu. January 18, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  8. ^ Jason Shadrick. "David Torn: Alone at Last". Premierguitar.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  9. ^ Fordham, John (August 24, 2017). "Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Incidentals review – creative and visceral live set". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  10. ^ "Splattercell.com". 5.plattercell.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006.
  11. ^ a b "David Torn: Credits". AllMusic.
  12. ^ "David Torn - Filmography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. January 18, 2007. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  13. ^ "No Country For Old Men". Carter Burwell. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Velvet Goldmine". Carter Burwell. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "ProgDay Sonar Page". Progday.net. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Torn.
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