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THURSDAYS IN UTC, LA JOLLA -- Franco Z and Z-BOP! started an unlimited engagement of select Thursdays on Nov. 13 at Indulge Restaurant and Lounge, Embassy Suites, 4550 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla, from 6 to 9 p.m. The band's next date at the upscale University Town Center lounge is Jan. 29, 2009.
SUNDAYS IN THE GASLAMP -- Exy, the exciting new Greek restaurant on Sixth Ave. (between F and G Streets) in the Gaslamp, downtown San Diego, has just booked Franco Z and Z-BOP! The restaurant hopes to have its cabaret license approved this month, paving the way for Sunday Jazz from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
NEW YEAR'S EVE ON HORNBLOWER CRUISES -- For the second straight year, Z-BOP! has been chosen to play the gala New Year's Eve celebration for Hornblower Cruises. Last year's cruise on San Diego Bay on the Lord Hornblower was sold out, so make your reservations early for what SanDiego.com called, "the most memorable New Year's Eve celebration ever." For details, see hornblower.com or call (619) 686-8715.
THE OFFICIAL Z-BOP! T-SHIRT is now available, just in time for the holidays. 100% cotton, in Large and Extra Large sizes, the design features the Z-BOP! logo in white against the black t-shirt. See our "photos" section for a sample. At gigs, the t-shirt will sell for $15. On-line orders will carry an additional charge for postage and handling.
Z-BOP! IS NUMBER ONE -- TWICE! In the recent (Oct. 13) ratings on Broadjam.com, two original Z-BOP! songs were top-rated in their categories: "Gerry's Tune" topped the list for Be-bop and "As Ever" captured the number one slot for Classic Jazz (the tune slipped to number 3 on Oct. 24, followed in the number 5 spot by "Lullaby of Martinis" -- written by Franco Z for Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego, where he has performed with Laura Jane in Vintage Vegas for five years). In addition, the haunting Kasey Coe vocal of Franco Z's "I Never Thought I'd Say Goodbye To You" occupies the number three spot in the Standards category. Surprisingly, three new original ballads rank in the top 10 in the Pop Standards category: "Summer Never Goes" (#8), "I Had the Night of My Life" (#9) and "There's a Someone for Everyone" (#10). Three other Z-BOP! originals ranked in the top 20 in other jazz categories. The band is recording new originals in hopes of completing a new album in time for the upcoming holiday season.
THE FLYING BRIDGE closed its doors on Sunday, Nov. 9 -- a week after its initial date for closing. Z-BOP! played the final two nights, finishing our second year in style at this historic Oceanside venue.
FIVE FRIDAYS IN OCTOBER -- Franco Z and Z-BOP! played on the Friday night dinner-dancing cruises over San Diego Bay in October for Hornblower Cruises. The band also played on Friday cruises in June.
THE 20th ANNIVERSITY OF UNICO-SAN DIEGO, October 11, 2008 at the La Jolla Hyatt, featured Z-BOP! as the main entertainment. The non-profit organization honors, perpetuates and disseminates the culture and ethnic heritage of Italian immigrant ancestors by supporting higher education and by educating and informing its members, local communities and our nation.
SICILIAN FESTA -- Sunday, May 18, in the heart of Little Italy. Z-BOP! took the main stage at Cedar and India Streets at 10 a.m. for a 90-minute, non-stop show, performing Rat Pack classics, Louis Prima favorites and Italian songs to kick-off "Festivale Siciliano." Over $25 in SPECIAL DISCOUNTS were distributed to the crowd at the show -- savings at all our venues, including Tommy's Italian Restaurant in El Cajon, Martinis Above Fourth in Hillcrest, The Flying Bridge in Oceanside and Hornblower Cruises.
UNICO/Brian Piccolo Dinner -- on Sunday, June 1, in The University Club atop the Symphony Towers in downtown San Diego, Z-BOP! provided cool jazz for the cocktail hour plus standards and Italian-American classics for the dinner-dancing segment of this gala event. UNICO bestowed $2000 scholarships to six local high school seniors.
TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC and PUMP AUDIO are now representing Z-BOP! original songs to advertisers, TV networks and movie studios, photographers and videographers worldwide. "Gerry's Tune" and "No Pain" have already begun to earn royalties through licenses by Triple Scoop Music.
VINTAGE VEGAS has been extended at Martinis Above Fourth for the first Saturday of each month through January, 2009. The lounge act, starring Laura Jane, is now completing its fourth year at the popular Hillcrest restaurant. DiscoverSD.com says, "the entertainment featuring Vegas style lounge act Laura Jane and Franco Z will make you swoon -- if you are lucky enough to get in."
Z's COMPANY completed its return to Tyler's Taste of Texas on Second St. in El Cajon for three months of Saturdays beginning July 5. Franco Z, Kasey Coe and Don Wiseman and Z-BOP! band members performed at the restaurant known for its great ribs and extensive menu.
CARLSBAD MAGAZINE featured Z-BOP! in its January, 2008 issue. A photo of the band highlights its performance for the gala opening of the New Village Arts Theater last November.
WEBSITE NOW USING ORIGINAL Z-BOP! SONG
Martinis Above Fourth, where Vintage Vegas has performed every Saturday for the last three years (and where Z-BOP! plays regularly) now features the Franco Z original "Lullaby of Martinis" on its website -- www.martinisabovefourth.com. The song was written expressly for the club, based on the George Shearing classic, "Lullaby of Birdland."
NEW RELEASES
Z-BOP! in currently recording new original songs. New releases are now available to listen to and download, including a haunting new ballad sung by Kasey Coe -- "I Never Thought I'd Say Goodbye to You" -- and a tribute to legendary tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, whose nickname was Frog -- "Frog's Song." Just added are "Gerry's Tune," a tribute to baritone sax great Gerry Mulligan, "As Ever," and "No Pain."
The new releases have been sent out to radio stations nationwide, with seven more new recordings scheduled throughout the year.
KSDS-FM (88.3) in San Diego has aired "Frog's Song," "Gerry's Tune" and "I Never Thought I'd Say Goodbye to You" on its West Coast Jazz program (3 to 5 p.m., Saturdays), hosted by Phil Dinsen.
SHEET MUSIC (Lead Sheet) is available for all original songs for $8.50 per song, including delivery by regular mail (U.S. only -- foreign delivery may incur an additional charge). Contact Lodestarz for complete order and delivery information.
VALENTINE'S DAY on the Lord Hornblower -- Z-BOP! performed a special evening of romantic songs on Valentine's Day, Thursday, during a sold-out dinner cruise around San Diego Bay.
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SELECT THURSDAYS -- Indulge Restaurant and Lounge
Embassy Suites, 4550 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego 92122
6 to 9 p.m. (858) 953-4226
Franco Z and Z-BOP! -- Jazz in the Key of Z
EVERY FRIDAY -- Tommy's Italian Restaurant
1190 N. Second St., El Cajon
6 to 10 p.m. (619) 440-2676
FROM K TO Z, starring Kasey Coe, with Franco Z.
(occasionally: WIZE GUYZ or SINATRA WITH A Z or VINTAGE VEGAS)
FIRST SATURDAY of each month -- Martinis Above Fourth
3940 Fourth Ave., Suite 200, Hillcrest
7 to 10:30 p.m. (619) 400-4500
VINTAGE VEGAS, starring Laura Jane, with Franco Z
SUNDAYS (coming soon) -- Exy
789 Sixth Ave., The Gaslamp, San Diego, 92101
5:30 to 9 p.m. (619) 238-0412
Franco Z and Z-BOP! -- Jazz in the Key of Z
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