Zach Brock is looking forward to a great year. After his January performance at The Sundance Film Festival 2012, he returned home to New York City where he recorded his first album for Criss Cross Jazz. The label’s first record with a violinist leading, ALMOST NEVER WENT, features a young, elite group of jazz musicians. Zach sings alongside jazz legends Aaron Goldberg and Matt Penman and also includes songs by Joe Henderson, Zbigniew, Leslie Feist and Jimi Hendrix. After Zach’s performance in Chicago last summer, Neil Tesser from the Chicago Examiner stated that Zach was “…the most prominent improvising violinist his generation.” Zach has been called the “great bright hope” for jazz violin by the Chicago Tribune and a Rising Star Pick by Downbeat Magazine in 2005-2011 in the violin category. He is also one of the most emotive and virtuosic leaders in contemporary jazz violin. His unique sound incorporates all aspects of jazz, folk and classical music, as well as rock, pop, world, and popular music. The MAGIC NUMBER is Zach’s touring band. It features original improvised music with a folk, rock, and jazz flair. This summer, they will tour the South Pacific as Musical Ambassadors for U.S State Department. In recent years, Zach has been on tour with Stanley Clarke, the bassist, and recorded with Snarky Puppy’s neo-funk band, Ground Up. Their latest CD, GROUND UPS, reached #3 on the iTunes Jazz Charts. Zach was born in Lexington, KY to a musical family. He began performing publicly at the age of six. After pursuing classical music in high school, he became interested in jazz and moved to Chicago to pursue his studies. He also wanted to be a part of the jazz scene in Chicago. Zach was a sophomore at college when he was involved in a car accident that left him permanently disabled for three years. He was already launching his professional career when he finished his degree. The first quartet of Zach, THE COFFEE ACHIEVERS made their Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 at the invitation Dave Douglas, a trumpeter and composer. Six months later, they performed at the Ouro Preto Jazz Festival. A few months later, Zach moved to New York and began the second chapter in his early career. The MAGIC NUMBER is Zach’s first album as a leader since 2007. It stands out immediately because of its unusual instrumentation. An acoustic trio counterbalances the absence chordal instruments with the additions of vocal harmonies, pitch percussion and extended instrumental techniques. This is Zach’s first recording to include his compositions alongside jazz standards. It was entirely funded by micro-funding website Kickstarter. The CD’s title was inspired by Zach’s recent sideman work with Bob Dorough, Miles Davis collaborator and Schoolhouse Rock! originator. The trio made their international debut at Toronto Jazz Festival 2010. From www.zachbrock.com
