John Lurie

The Profile

John Lurie is an American musician, composer, actor, and painter. He co-founded The Lounge Lizards, scored films including Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, and Mystery Train, and created the TV series Fishing with John and Painting with John.

Co-founder of The Lounge Lizards; composer of film and TV scores; longtime collaborator with Jim Jarmusch (Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, Mystery Train); creator/host of Fishing with John and Painting with John; released the alter-ego project The Legendary Marvin Pontiac.

Three DeBaser reviews track John Lurie’s jump from no-wave jazz atmospheres to idiosyncratic film and TV scores. Stranger Than Paradise & The Resurrection of Albert Ayler is described as disorienting and intimate. Fishing With John is eclectic, witty, and vividly scenic. African Swim & Manny & Lo leans into blues, rock, and ethnic colors with marimba textures.