Visuals from…
Zo!
+ Carmen Rodgers
at The Studio in WareHouse Live in Houston, TX
April 8, 2016
Personnel:
Zo! – Choir Direction
Carmen Rodgers – Lead Saingin’
Gary Mayes – The Clear Kit with Lights
Nick McNack – The Low End Theory
Photos by LeTony W. Hadnot Jr.
In the spring of 2015, Zo!, Carmen Rodgers and Sy Smith came together as an underground soul power trio, playing live shows on the west coast for a stint they called the “California Love Tour”. Director Shawn Carter Peterson filmed the Los Angeles performance and created a beautiful long play video/short film, capturing the trio’s musical mastery and camaraderie in this presentation of three captivating singles from the show. Sy playfully flaunts her quick-paced scatting chops on “Personal Paradise”, Carmen drips with honey-coated cooing on “It’s Me”, and Zo! shows off his piano virtuosity with “Flight Of The Blackbyrd”. The acoustic set exhibits a beautiful simplicity of instrumentation; just piano (Zo!), upright bass (Maurice Ellis) and drums (Stacey Lamont Sydnor) which makes plenty of sonic room to experience the tunes stripped all the way down. And just like the human form, these tunes are even better naked.
Spectacles’ 31st Anniversary Show
at The Carr Center
Detroit, MI | July 14, 2015
Collective Peace featuring Amp Fiddler & Zo!
LaDarrel “SaxAppeal” Johnson – Saxophone
Ideeyah – Vocals
Kristopher Jahi Crosby – Keys
Kamau Inaede – Bass
Marcus Douglas – Drums
Zo! – Keys
Amp Fiddler – Vocals/Keytar
Photos by Tyler Plaxco
Zo! & Amp Fiddler (Photo by Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard)
Should she stay or go?
Zana Smith from Spectacles, the small, popular hip-hop fashion store, wasn’t that worried when she was told last month she had 30 days to vacate her downtown Detroit space (the building had been sold). Smith even hosted a party Tuesday celebrating 31 years in business. “Everyone has been so supportive,” she says. “We’ve had amazing offers to open up shop in spaces all over Metro Detroit. It’s a good feeling to see how supportive our community can be.” About 100 guests showed up to the party and were treated to a concert by Collective Peace featuring two native Detroiters, Amp Fiddler and Zo!. Guests were asked to wear their “Soul Detroit” T-shirts (a Spectacles exclusive). DJ Dez played the evening out with dance music as people shopped until 10 p.m. The kicker: Smith reports that the building’s new owners said they will present a “simple lease” to her in the next week or so. So yes, perhaps she will stay.
“Soul Intro with Zo!”
Live on Heart & Soul, SiriusXM – Channel 48
Interview with Cayman Kelly + Live In-Studio Performance
May 14, 2015
Zo! – Piano
Deborah Bond – Vocals
Jon Laine – Drums
Zach Cutler – Guitar
Kush El-Amin – Bass
Last week, I sat down with my good friend and former WKU classmate, DJ Jon Doe last week and ended up going into an in-depth two hour interview that covers everything from our college days, to why baseball didn’t work out, to the time I randomly met Dilla…. to my history with +FE Music. Take some time to listen, download…. and most of all, enjoy!
After a tiny bit of trash talking throughout the show, my bass player Darion Alexander and I finally decided to go ahead and engage in a heated battle of the low-end, stringed instruments on stage at my show in Richmond, VA back on August 23rd with Carmen Rodgers. With Jon Laine on drums providing the rhythmic backdrop we needed, I came off of the keys briefly after accepting the challenge and we went in. Here’s a clip of what transpired…
Saturday, January 17, 2015 – Chicago, IL
The Logan Center For The Arts
915 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL | (773) 702-ARTS
Doors: 6:30p | All Ages
BUY TICKETS
Visuals from…
Zo!
featuring Carmen Rodgers
at Joe’s Pub in New York City, NY
October 28, 2014
Personnel:
Zo! – Grand Pie-Anna
Carmen Rodgers – Lead Saingin’
Eric Roberson – Guest Saingin’ on “We Are On The Move”
Zach Cutler – Gee-tar
Dennis Turner – The 6-string Low End Theory
Jon Laine – Skins
Zo! 