Yesterday Saeeda and I performed at TedX Concordia U in Portland. We closed out the day’s festivities. Saeeda gave a wonderful talk about the importance and practice of love, and gave a goosebump-inspiring performance of an original tune entitled ‘what happened to love?’. The crowd of over 700 gave a standing ovation. It was awesome! Host Mark Powers joined us on percussion.
Zack Poelwijk, Keyboardist & Choir Director
A versatile musician, Zack is one of the Northwest’s top keyboardists. Playing everything from gospel, neo-soul, funk, R&B, classical, soul, and pop, Zack has made an impact in the Northwest. After attending Barlow High School in Gresham, he studied gospel music with the University of Oregon Gospel Singers who won multiple national championships with Zack at the keyboard. He’s performed with Grammy-winning artists Tiger Roberts (Gladys Knight), Thara Memory, Joe Lovano, Dr. Charles Floyd (Natalie Cole, Boston Pops), and Tee Wanz (Macklemore), Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductees Andy Stokes, LaRhonda Steele and Brian Foxworth, renowned saxophonists Mike Phillips (Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson), Patrick Lamb (Bobby Caldwell, Geno Vanelli), and Hailey Niswanger, and powerhouse vocalist Saeeda Wright (Prince).
Zack is currently a keyboardist with smooth/groove jazz saxophonist Eldon ‘T’ Jones and his band N’Touch. In addition to N’Touch, Zack is a member of the R&B/Funk group Alonzo Chadwick & Zoulful Muzic, pianist for Gospel Christmas with the Oregon Symphony, and organist at Emmanuel Church of God in Christ United.
Recent Posts
Zack Poelwijk to perform at TedX Portland with singer Saeeda Wright May 3rd
This Saturday, May 3rd, I have the incredible honor of performing at the noted TedX forum with a good friend of mine & a featured TedX Portland speaker, Saeeda Wright.
I’ve performed with Saeeda several times over the years, and am so proud of her success. Of course, her career has skyrocketed as a member of ‘Blackbird’, the mostly-Portland based band of Prince protege’ and R&B/soul singer, Liv Warfield. Recently, Saeeda has performed with Liv, Blackbird, and the NPG Hornz on David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, and most-notably with Prince on the Arsenio Hall show.
After Liv’s performance on David Letterman, David rushed to the stage and exclaimed: “That’s all you want. Honestly. Nothing else, right? That’s it! Cancel show business, it’s over! This is it! This is all you want! No more show business! We have it, it’s right here”
Posted on April 28th, 2014
Zack Poelwijk performs two shows with Brand Jordan sax player Mike Phillips
Last month I once again had the pleasure of playing keys with Brand Jordan endorser & sax star Mike Phillips. Mike has been busy in early 2014, most notably playing at the 2014 NBA all-star game festivities.
I was joined on stage by some of the best musicians on the planet, and they all happen to be from Portland! N’Touch bandmate & Liv Warfield keyboardist Chris Turner joined us. So did Drummer Tyrone Hendrix (NPG, Prince, Liv Warfield, Stevie Wonder, The Motet). Liv Warfield bassist Marquay Seamster & his lovely wife (stone cold vocalist & Liv Warfield background singer) Ashley Seamster rounded out the band. It’s a continual honor to perform with these men & women. I learn so much from them.
We played at the annual SEI fundraising Gala as well as a private event in Portland’s Pearl District.
Posted on March 16th, 2014
Studio session with Tiger Roberts & Aaron Mills
Last night I had an amazing & inspiring experience in the studio. I recorded keys & auxiliary tracks for funk/rock artist Julian Stefoni, front man of J-Ride. You might also know Julian as “Erotic City”, the country’s hottest Prince tribute band. Julian brought in two friends to help create the record: Grammy-winning Producer Tiger Roberts, and Aaron Mills; long-time bass player for R&B super-group Cameo, as well as Outkast.
Posted on January 8th, 2014