Last call for lessons
I am thrilled to be teaching again this summer at the Mike Block String Camp in Vero Beach, FL! As some of you may know it’s the only string-oriented camp that I have frequented over the years and it’s always a super-fun and inspiring week.
Curtains for ‘23, APAP ‘24, House Concert, & West Coast Tour
This weekend I will be playing my last concert of the year at the famed Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be playing with three great musicians: Jim Ridl on piano, Dean Johnson on bass, and Alon Benjamini on drums.
TONIGHT 11/16 at The Purple Fiddle!
Due to circumstances beyond our control Bob and I will not be playing in Roanoke, VA tonight. However, as luck would have it The Purple Fiddle was available so tonight Bob and I will be playing there instead. We’re splitting the set with my good friend Rebecca Wudarski and I’ve heard that some other local legends might be joining us! If you can make it then expect a joyous and raucous night of friendship and music. Lemonade from lemons. 🍋
Drawing Songs (Pre) Release Tomorrow Night 11/9 at Carrol Place, NYC
The tour is finally upon us! Tomorrow night Bob Lanzetti, Keita Ogawa, and I will be kicking it off at Carrol Place in NYC. Drawing Songs will be officially released by GroundUP Music at midnight on 11/10 and you will be able to stream it in all of its sonic glory at Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, YouTube, and all of the other usual suspects.
Weekend Classes, Armando’s Rhumba, and a new video single
It’s getting cold up here in the Northeast. Soon I’ll be breaking out the humidifiers and resuming my quest for never-ending distilled water. This is my favorite season because it corresponds with the start of a new school year and a fresh season of learning.
Stablemates Class + Private Lessons this Saturday, October 7
I’m back in town and inspired to practice (WITH YOU)!
Join me in my practice room at noon on Saturdays as I tackle various and sundry topics that will help you (and me) develop greater freedom, fluidity, and ease, expand our repertoire, and have fun. These are play-along classes so bring your axe or your voice. They are not necessarily string-specific though I will cover tons of string-related minutiae.
Drawing Songs Pre-Release
Drawing Songs, the debut album by “Brock, Lanzetti, Ogawa” contains six original compositions of which each member contributed two. The music moves through a variety of styles and influences, from folk to modern jazz, ambient to groove, and experimental to pop, while emphasizing compositions that feature improvisation. The end result is an eclectic musical statement colored by each band member’s personal approach yet unified by an uncanny simpatico forged during their many years together on the road with Snarky Puppy.
Blue Note NYC 1.5.22
A couple of years ago I went into Dreamland Recording Studios in Hurley, NY (near Woodstock) with Eric Harland, Mark Lettieri, Justin Stanton, Jonathan Maron, and Nic Hard to record some new quintet music that I’d been writing while on tour with Snarky Puppy.
I’m thrilled to finally release this album in 2022 with some new tracks and a video, and I’ll share some tidbits with you as they become available.
As luck would have it we will be playing two shows at Blue Note NYC on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
Sets are at 8PM and 10:30PM. 8PM is SOLD OUT! Tickets are going fast so grab your now at the link above.
I’m going to need some help getting this record over the finish line. I’ll let you know about some ways that you could help us next week and I’ll have some VIP offers that will include tickets to the 1.5.22 show at Blue Note as well as a chance to attend our live video shoot at Sony Hall on 1.4.22!
Zach Brock & Gyan Riley 11.17.21
I’m excited to be playing with the incredible Gyan Riley this evening in Brooklyn at Soapbox Gallery! As with all of the Soapbox performances, tickets to attend in person as well as tickets to purchase a pass for the livestream are available at the link to the right. The stream will be live and available on-demand for three days. Thanks for tuning in or stopping by. ❤️
Brock, Kikoski, Penman, and Harland on 10.26.21
As with all of the current concerts at Soapbox Gallery, you can purchase tickets to either be a part of the live audience or to stream the concert live and on-demand.
Class + 55 Bar
Open masterclasses continue every Friday in October! If you plan on attending more than one then please register individually for each class so that I can send you the dedicated private link. All players and non-players are welcome and opportunities to play for the class are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis (usually 3-4 max). You will also receive the class recording plus any extra materials we may use.
Polyphony
“There's a party in my mind, and I hope it never stops.” – David Byrne, Talking Heads
Over the past twelve months I've been subjected to an incessant conversationalist. No, not my wife. Not my kids either. Me. From somewhere inside my consciousness. The only respite I find while not asleep is when I'm playing music, practicing meditation, or engaging in some other activity that demands (or produces) a state of concentration. And even then my constant companion can sometimes still find me.
I Am An Amplifier
In 2019, while talking to my friend Tricia Park for her podcast Is It Recess Yet, she made an observation that I found instantly and deeply meaningful. We were riffing on the shared experience of how truly great performing artists can elevate the consciousness of an entire audience
The Bulletproof To-Do List
Will slogging through a daily brain dump unlock the secret to being more focused and to getting more done? Nope. Not if you have kids, or a job, or make daily decisions, or own a pet, or have emotions. The next time you gear up to take on the world try this instead.
What were you thinking?
There is a certain mystique that surrounds improvising musicians, especially for non-improvisors who are aspiring to make “the leap.” I’m often asked “What were you thinking about while you were soloing on that song?”
Livestream Concert 11.5.20
I’m so excited to be playing a real-life (outdoor/socially-distanced) show with my friend and fellow “Snarky Puppy” Bob Lanzetti tonight, 6PM, at 118 North! The show is going to be live-streamed on the venue’s FB Page as well as on our respective Pages. However, if you live in/near #philadelphia then come on out for the real thing! We’ll turn up for ya.
Let’s Go Out Strong
I’m designing a new masterclass for October and I’d love to get your feedback before I finalize the curriculum. What are you most excited to learn about before the end of the year?
kNOw Justice! kNOw Peace!
"kNOw Justice! kNOw Peace!" acknowledges systemic racism as a disease in American culture and upholds education through performing arts as the remedy.
Mea Maxima Culpa
What follows is a self-critique that I recently posted on my personal Facebook page and it’s about following “best practices” on social media at a time when our society finds itself being pulled apart, both internally and externally.
Violin Vigil for Elijah McClain
This Saturday, July 4, we honor the life of Elijah McClain at Maplewood Memorial Park from 11 AM - Noon with a “Violin Vigil” that is open to all music-makers.