Sunday, December 16, 2018 – BROOKLYN, NY
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
The Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Doors: 7:30p | Show: 8p
BUY TICKETS
Tag Archives: Brooklyn
Tour Dates
Zo! Tour Dates

FourFront Release Shows
Sunday, April 26, 2020 – NASHVILLE, TN
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
with Such
City Winery
609 Lafayette St, Nashville, TN 37203
Doors: 6p | Show: 8p
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
FourFront Listening Parties
**These Are Not Performances**
Friday, March 20, 2020 – CINCINNATI, OH
FourFront Listening Party + Meet & Greet/Q&A with Zo!
Artsville Theater
5021 Whetsel Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45227
7-11p
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
Past Listening Parties for FourFront:
Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, Jacksonville, FL, Miami, FL, Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Richmond, VA, St. Louis, MO, Toronto, ON, Washington D.C.
For booking inquiries, please Contact:
Booking Agent || The Empire Agency
Zack Johnson || zack@empireagency.com
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Zo! + Carmen Rodgers “Piano & A Microphone” Dates

Zo! on Piano. Carmen on vocals. Intimate venues. Playing jams.
Friday, April 10, 2020 – RICHMOND, VA
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
Southern Kitchen
541 N 2nd St, Richmond, VA 23219
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
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Zo! MasterClass Workshops
TBA
‘ManMade’ in YRB Magazine
Source: YRB Magazine
Author: Ingrid Ellis
ManMade is an apt title for Zo!’s recently released album, which has already climbed to No.2 on the Itunes chart.
Nu-Soul Tuesday celebrated his new album, ManMade, with a listening party/meet & greet event on the day of its release. Hosted by Jodine Dorce, Zo! opened up to his long-time friend about the project, ForeignExchange and music.
While hanging out with fans at Frank’s Lounge in Brooklyn for his album release party, the laid back artist admitted that he played all of the instruments himself.
“In order to keep costs low,” he chuckled to host Jodine Dorce.
All modesty aside, however, Zo! (aka Lorenzo Ferguson) plays piano expertly and says that he taught himself bass, guitar and drums. The sound of real instruments (and voices!) prevails on this album, yet is complexly woven with the synthesizer, creating an effect that takes us back to the days of 80’s funk and R&B.
Known to many from his work with the group, The Foreign Exchange, Zo!, a Detroit native, commented that he has great respect for legends such as producer and bassist Leon Sylvers III. The influence on his work is evident.
It’s “grown-folks” music (you know you’re grown when you immediately recognize a Rick James riff), but speaks through the generations – simultaneously vintage and modern. Post-generational. Most tunes on the album are driven by a funky bass line, but textured through the melodies sung by talented guest artists.
Representative are the first and last tracks featuring the sweet voice of Sy Smith who starts the album off with a fast mover – The Train, but ends with the vibey “Body Rock.” Anthony David’s baritone is featured on “Show Me The Way” and gets you to feelin’ all Barry White-ish (or maybe that’s just me…).
Fans of The Foreign Exchange will delight in hearing contributions from the varied likes of veterans like Choklate, new comers, 1-O.A.K and Gwen Bunn, Eric Robertson, Jeanne Jolly, Carlitta Durand, and, of course, FE’s Phonte.
Zo! Says that he is happier with this album than the others because it “represented what I wanted it to represent.” He noted that he wanted to create a dance album and, indeed, he does.
The album is mostly upbeat, but at the same time varied in its use of tempo. Fans who thought the producer/artist had reached a pinnacle with his last album, SunStorm, should be relieved that the beat goes on. “After Sunstorm people was lookin’ at me like what you gon’ do now,” jokes Zo!, a hint of cockiness in his voice.
“I took that as a challenege.”
‘ManMade’ Listening Event at Frank’s Lounge in Brooklyn, NY – May 21, 2013
ManMade Listening Event at Frank’s Lounge with Zo!
Hosted by Jodine Dorce of Jodine’s Corner
In preparation for Zo!’s June 9th show in NYC…
Nu-Soul Tuesday celebrates his new album
ManMade
with a listening party/meet & greet event on the day of its release.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Listening Event | Live Interview | Meet & Greet with Zo!
*Note: This is not a performance*
Frank’s Lounge
660 Fulton St. | Brooklyn, NY 11217 | (718) 625-9339
8:30p – 11:30p
$5 + One Drink Minimum
2012 in Pictures

“…Give it up for Lorenzo Ferguson a/k/a Zo!, y’all!!” © Phonte in LA • Photo by Kris Perry (Oct. 2012)
2012 has been another helluva year. I got to do some traveling and play shows in LA, NYC, DC, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis, Bethesda, MD, Greensboro, NC, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Columbia MD, Boston, Virginia Beach, Raleigh, Vienna, VA, Memphis, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and Phoenix …..and Durham, NC for this coming New Year’s Eve. I completed my first year as a full-time musician after the school I taught music at closed last year – I was then able to continue teaching by conducting individual piano lessons and workshop to groups of young ones. I began endorsing Moog Music, received another standing ovation during a performance back home in Detroit, and got the bulk of the recording finished for my newest album ManMade. Sy Smith and I did some touring this year playing big solo shows at DC’s Blues Alley and NYC’s Blue Note and received big performance props from Sheila E while I was back on the road with The Foreign Exchange who wrapped up performances for an album we have been touring for two years, Authenticity. I hit my ten-year anniversary of releasing music as well. Outside of all that, it was a fairly quiet twelve months……….
…Looking forward to 2013. Enjoy the photos!!
- Me and Phonte laying VERY early recordings for ‘ManMade’ (Jan. 2012)
- The LA crowd • Photo by Kris Perry (Jan. 2012)
- Looks like I liked something I heard • Photo by Kris Perry (Jan. 2012)
- Sy and I on the keys • Photo by Kris Perry (Jan. 2012)
- Zo! + Sy Smith • Photo by Marcel Friday (Jan. 2012)
- Sy in deep concentration • Photo by Marcel Friday (Jan. 2012)
- Enjoying myself… • Photo by Marcel Friday (Jan. 2012)
- Me in LA • Photo by Marcel Friday (Jan. 2012)
- Keyboard duet featuring Zo! + Sy Smith • Photo by Marcel Friday (Jan. 2012)
- Group picture after the LA show • Photo by Kris Perry (Jan. 2012)
- Miki Howard, Me and Sy Smith in LA • Photo by Kris Perry (Jan. 2012)
- Amtrak to NYC (Jan. 2012)
- View from my hotel room in NYC (Jan. 2012)
- “Don’t ever underestimate the power of your mind…” © Sy Smith via ‘SunStorm’ (Jan. 2012)
- Dookie rope chains + Yellow Curl bottles = The 80’s.. Me and Phonte in D.C. • Photo by Victoria Ford (Jan. 2012)
- Zo! and Tigallo Hate the 90’s @ Axel F. 80’s Party/Performance in D.C. • Photo by Victoria Ford (Jan. 2012)
- Nicolay, Butta of SoulBounce.com & I in D.C. (Feb. 2012)
- Chicago Arrival, (02.09.12)
- The Nord Stage Eighty-Eight… Weapon of choice for Chicago. (Feb. 2012)
- Zo! + Sy Smith in Chicago • Photo by Warren Skipper (Feb. 2012)
- Zo! + Sy Smith in Chicago • Photo by Kimberly Vandever (Feb. 2012)
- Zo! + Sy Smith in Chicago • Photo by Kimberly Vandever (Feb. 2012)
- Zo! + Sy SmIth in Detroit (Feb. 2012)
- Zo! + Sy Smith in Detroit. (Feb. 2012)
- Zo! at Jazz and Jokes in Nashville • Photo by Shamicka Bush (Feb 2012)
- Zo! + Sy Smith = The Superman and Wonder Woman of Indie Soul… LOL Photo by Chadd Hardy (Feb. 2012)
- The St. Louis Arch – View from my hotel’s lobby… (Feb. 2012)
- Me with Cameron and Cameron after my workshop and tour of Westview Middle School in St. Louis… 02.13.12
- The “ZoTif”
- Recording for D.C.’s own, Kokayi • Photos by Kokayi (April 2012)
- Me and Sy at Ben’s Next Door in D.C. (April 2012)
- Sy Smith and I in D.C. • Photo by Julius Prince (Apr. 2012)
- Phonte, Big K.R.I.T. and 9th Wonder for the “Life Of Kings” video shoot right before I jumped my ass in front of the camera. (April 2012)
- +FE Prayer in Greensboro, NC (April 2012)
- +FE in Greensboro, NC (April 2012)
- Face Off!! in NYC • Photo by Sean J Rhinehart (May 2012)
- Sy Smith • Photo by Sean J. Rhinehart (May 2012)
- In NYC • Photo by Sean J. Rhinehart (May 2012)
- Sy in NYC • Photo by Sean J. Rhinehart (May 2012)
- Sy and I in NYC (May 2012)
- Me on keys and Monet on flute • Photo by Sean J Rhinehart (May 2012)
- Rockin’ the hell out with the Bubba Gump lip • Photo by Sean J. Rhinehart (May 2012)
- +FE Music… Stocked up in Moods Music – Atlanta (May 2012)
- Apache Café setup in Atlanta (May 2012)
- Sy Smith + Zo! @ Apache Café in Atlanta • Photo by Angie Keilhauer (May 2012)
- Sy Smith + Zo! @ Apache Café in Atlanta (May 2012)
- Me and Sy Smith ain’t here for you other sucka ass crews!! (May 2012)
- The set-up at Quixotic in Dallas and me and Sy’s show. (May 2012)
- Taking a walk in Downtown Houston (May 2012)
- Sy Smith + Zo! @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (May 2012)
- Sy Smith + Zo! @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (May 2012)
- Sy Smith @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (May 2012)
- Sy Smith + Zo! @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (May 2012)
- Sy Smith @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (May 2012)
- Zo! @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (May 2012)
- My View at the Capital Jazz Fest (June 2012)
- Performing with +FE at the Capital Jazz Fest (June 2012)
- Zo! @ the Capital Jazz Fest (June 2012)
- Zo! @ the Capital Jazz Fest (June 2012)
- Stage Shot @ Capital Jazz Fest (June 2012)
- +FE Crew with Anthony Anderson after our Jazz Fest performance (June 2012)
- Looking out on the empty venue in Brooklyn at +FE’s soundcheck. (June 2012)
- +FE in Brooklyn! (June 2012)
- My view from the stage in Boston for +FE’s show. (June 2012)
- +FE Shutting it down in Raleigh, NC (June 2012)
- +FE in Black and White in Raleigh (June 2012)
- Didn’t get to go to visit Moog while we were in Asheville, but I did get to endorse them this year. (June 2012)
- Stage setup at The Emerald Lounge for +FE’s show in Asheville, NC (June 2012)
- Zach, Biscuit, Sy and I rehearsing for Blues Alley (June 2012)
- Blues Alley Marquee • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Ready to go at Blues Alley in DC. (June 2012)
- Me and Sy just before hitting the stage for the first show at Blues Alley in DC. (June 2012)
- Zo! • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Zo! • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Zo! • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Sy Smith • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Zo! • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Sy Smith • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Zo! • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Laughing HARD at somebody • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Sy Smith • Photo by Lauren Persons (June 2012)
- Fatin “10” Horton and I… Three days straight in the studio, June 2012
- Tim Scott Jr. laying drums down for the ‘ManMade’ album. (Aug. 2012)
- Me, Sheila E. and Sy Smith in D.C. (08.30.12)
- Zach Cutler, Jon Laine, Sy and I rehearsing for the Blue Note (Sept 2012)
- Turn your cell phones off… Me and Sy are ready to tear the Blue Note stage down. (Sept. 2012)
- Behind our hotel… The Detroit Riverwalk, September 2012
- On keys for The Foreign Exchange at Detroit’s Chene Park • Photo by Crystal Bailey (Sept. 2012)
- Phonte, Me, Deborah, Kush and Sy in Detroit • Photo by Drake Phifer (Sept. 2012)
- On the way to Memphis (Sept. 2012)
- Grover Stewart, Scott McGreer, Sy, Me and Chadd Hardy after our show in Indianapolis (Sept. 2012)
- Up to no good in Inglewood… (Oct. 2012)
- Soundcheck at The Key Club in LA (Oct. 2012)
- Detroit goes with me on the road (Oct. 2012)
- Key Club in LA Crowd • Photo by Kris Perry (Oct. 2012)
- +FE in LA’s Key Club • Photo by Kris Perry (Oct. 2012)
- “…Give it up for Lorenzo Ferguson a/k/a Zo!, y’all!!” © Phonte in LA • Photo by Kris Perry (Oct. 2012)
- +FE in LA • Photo by Kris Perry (Oct. 2012)
- So much shit, I don’t know which one to choose!! (Oct. 2012)
- Driving to Phoenix (Oct. 2012)
- HAD to go swimming in Phoenix (Oct. 2012)
- The +FE Family in Phoenix after wrapping up the ‘Authenticity’ Tour, October 2012
- Sy Smith, Me and Phonte recording in N.C. (11.07.12)
- Two of my most treasured T-shirts. One of a kind.