Tommi Zender with Phil Angotti, Michael Franzen & Don Cooper. IPO Phoenix 2015 (photo by CowGirlZen)
Finally! A recap of some of what’s been up, and a preview of what’s to come.
January included a Paul McCartney tribute show at Martyrs in Chicago, played with Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough, Jim Barclay, Alton Smith (and the horns of Rebecca Abel & Wally Rozak). There’s a video up on Youtube for “Call Me Back Again”. I also accompanied my friend Karen Stocker at a packed-house show at Uncommon Ground on Clark St. which was special as it was her first real big show. Congratulations Karen! The new school year at Old Town School started up with a bang as our Art Rock Ensemble & Beatles Acoustic classes keep rolling along.
Tz, Casey McDonough, & Phil Angotti at Martyrs for a Paul McCartney tribute show (photo by Elizabeth Pratt)
March included a trip with Phil Angotti out to my other home-town of Phoenix Arizona to play a couple shows, visit family & friends, see some baseball & soak up the warmth. I was honored to get to play (for the first time in 2 decades) with my childhood bandmates Don Cooper & Michael Franzen. They were also kind enough to be the rhythm section for Phil & I in our electric sets at IPO. I also had the pleasure of drumming for my friend Steven Wilson/Plasticsoul from LA during his set. Rounding out March I performed with Lara Filip/Birdie Wing (album release forthcoming this year). I also did some studio work at Kingsize, & also played a fantastic kirtan concert with Saul David Raye at Moksha Yoga.
Phil Angotti & Tommi Zender & Don Cooper on drums at IPO Phoenix (photo by CowGirlZen)
Tz drumming for Plasticsoul (Steven Wilson’s group from LA) at IPO Phoenix 2015 (photo by CowGirlZen)
Kirtan at Moksha with Saul David Raye (pano foto by Tz)
Tz performing with Lara Filip and Shannon Green-Robb (Birdie Wing) at Uncommon Ground Clark St, Chicago
April highlights included a Laurie’s Planet of Sound (Record Store Day) performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme” album in it’s entirety by Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough & myself. We hope to present the LP again in a listening room later this year. I played my second ever ‘marriage proposal’. Not your typical gig. She said yes! My monthly gigs at Hyatt lounge continue to go well–it’s a great chance to sing/play a wide variety of songs in a comfortable space. The end of April included great end of session performances by the Beatles Acoustic & Art Rock classes.
Phil Angotti, Tommi Zender & Casey McDonough play Simon & Garfunkel for Record Store Day 2015 (photo by Matt Greenberger)
May started off with a bang as I did a Tommi Zender & Friends variety show at one of our favorite Chicago places Simon’s Tavern. Multi-percussionist Tim Mulvenna was my featured accompanist and we had very special guests join us including Dave Sills, Christie Miller (heading a clarinet trio!) Lara Filip, and 3 of my students Elizabeth Silk, Ken Jones, and Rachel Swanson. It was a great night of music and everyone agreed… the clarinets were a major highlight. I stopped by to hear Phil Angotti at Hideout playing a tribute to The Kinks and ended up sitting in for a couple songs.
Tz at Simon’s (photo by Jill Leahy)
Tz at Simon’s Tavern (photo by David Sameshima)
Phil Angotti’s Kinks tribute at Hideout, Chicago
The rest of the month includes hosting The “Springtime Beatles” Social at Old Town School (the Fretboard Geography workshop Sunday 5/17 however is postponed) I’ll also be at Hyatt a couple times this month (contact me if you are interested in dates/times). Cheers!
Tommi Zender 