Just landed at John Wayne airport in Orange County, and am getting ready to go experience NAMM 2013! Cannot wait to meet new friends, network, try out new instruments & technologies, and play at some jam sessions!
Pictures and stories to come!
-Z
2010 Disney Night of Joy
In September 2010, the University of Oregon Gospel Singers competed in, and won their first national title: The 2010 Disney National Gospel Choir Fest, in Orlando Florida. I was honored to be a part of the band that performed with the choir.
The choir, about 30 singers, was accompanied by a 9-piece band. It was an amazing weekend with a group of some of my best friends.
As our prize for winning, we got to perform at the Disney Night of Joy; one of the largest Christian music festivals in the world. Gospel superstar Smokie Norful opened for us, and we sang in front of several thousand people. Check out the pics below!
Rehearsing in Eugene:
Dress Rehearsal in Orlando before we stepped on the competition stage:
Doing our set on the competition stage:
Doing our thing on the competition stage!
The Gospel family showing off our trophy in Disney World!
Here we are performing at the Night of Joy:
Posted on August 21st, 2012
Mike Phillips- A true artist
Last week I had the honor of playing a show in Portland with sax player and mega-star, Mike Phillips. Before I tell you this story, I have to tell you another story…
In 2007, when I was in business school at the University of Oregon, I took a sports marketing course that spent a week talking about the power of branding. We spent a couple days talking about this young urban cat named Mike Phillips, and how he was the only non-athlete who was signed to Nike’s Brand Jordan as an endorser of their brand. Being a musician, I thought it was really interesting that Nike’s brand philosophy (Nike is NOT a shoe company, btw. They’re a branding company. Nike does not sell shoes. They sell an image) aligned with a musician (instead of an athlete).
Fast-forward five years, and I get a call from Mike, who was looking for a keyboard player for a quick gig in Portland before he takes off again for the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour. I’m really excited. I’ve been blessed to play with some of the best musicians on the planet, but it’s been a goal of mine to play with Mike.
Posted on August 13th, 2012