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Musician-singer Franco Z is a New Jersey native who grew up loving West Coast jazz. Influenced by Gerry Mulligan, Lester Young and Ben Webster, Z started playing professionally at 15.
"Zigarelli was too tough a name for my first band leader to pronouce, especially toward the end of the last set, after he'd had a few drinks -- so only the first letter came out.
"But the experience of being in a house band, where regulars know you and you know their favorite songs, motivated me to try to duplicate that experience in the autumn of my years. I now work with some of the finest young talents you'll find anywhere.
"Bringing the music of legends like Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra and Stan Getz to new generations of fans is about as good as it gets."
Franco Z plays soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet, flute and a wind sythesizer that creates the virtual tones of a variety of instruments (muted trumpet, trombone, bass clarinet, etc.). He sings in two languages (English and Italian).
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Current band members rotating through Z-BOP! gigs include CHAZ CHILCOTE (bass), CHRIS RIOS (keyboard), STEVE PICANZA (guitar), DON WISEMAN (vocals/drums), KASEY COE (vocals/hand percussion), ANDREW MICHEL (bass), ELIAS BERLINGER (drums), JACOB SUNDSTROM (guitar) and BURLEIGH DRUMMOND (drums).
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Occasionally, Z-BOP! is lucky enough to be joined by Guest Stars, including LAURA JANE (vocals, star of "Vintage Vegas" and "the Sue Palmer Band"), MARCELA (vocals), HILLARY BERTRAND-HARRIS (vocals), HOWIE SEGURSON (alto sax) and JESSE MICHEL (guitar).
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