Pianist Peter Zak was born in Los Angeles in 1965,
and grew up in
Columbus and Kent, Ohio, then moved with his family at age 16 to
Oakland. At the University of California, Berkeley, he studied with
Susan Muscarella (founder/director of Berkeley's Jazzschool, now the
California Jazz Conservatory). He was soon gigging around Northern
California with saxophonist John Handy, among others.
Since relocating to New York, he has performed and/or recorded with
George Coleman, Jimmy Cobb, Ryan Kisor, Peter Bernstein, Eddie
Henderson, Eric Alexander, Walt Weiskopf, and Jon Hendricks, among many
others.
Peter is also a faculty member in the renowned jazz program at
New School University.
Peter's newly released recording, "One Mind", (Fresh Sounds Records),
is a collaboration with bassist Marcos Varela, that also includes Billy
Drummond on drums, and acclaimed saxophonist Seamus Blake.
"Brilliant...quite startlingly so...underlines just how shrewd a
musical mind Peter Zak has." -Brian Morton, Jazz Journal (UK).
Since 2005,
Peter has also released eleven critically acclaimed recordings for the
Danish jazz label, SteepleChase Records.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Peter Zak Trio.
During the last 32 years, bassist Michael Zisman has performed with jazz stars such as
Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Dena DeRose, Joseph Farnsworth, Peter Zak, David Hazeltine and many more.
As well as leading music clinics and classes in schools across the US,
Michael previously served as the Artistic and Education Director of the Stanford Jazz Workshop and Festival,
and is the creator of “The Real Easy Book” as well as co-author of “Walking Bassics”,
all published by Sher Music. Michael has been an adjunct faculty member teaching Jazz courses at SFSU since 2007.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Peter Zak Trio.
Drummer Sylvia Cuenca, originally from San Jose,
now living in New York, has performed for 17 years with trumpet legend
Clark Terry
at venues such as the Village Vanguard and Blue Note in New
York City.
She toured internationally for 4 years with saxophonist Joe
Henderson, including trio settings with Henderson and bassists Charlie
Haden or George Mraz.
Ms. Cuenca has performed with such jazz
luminaries as Billy Taylor, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron,
Ray Drummond, Frank Foster, Red Holloway, Jimmy Heath, Al Grey, Frank
Wess, Michael Brecker, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Jon Faddis, Dave
Stryker, Ed Cherry, Dianne Reeves, John Hicks, Geoff Keezer, John
Handy, Lew
Soloff, Marian McPartland, Hilton Ruiz, George Cables, James Spaulding,
Kenny Drew Jr., Frank Foster, Randy Brecker, Emily Remler, and Helen
Merrill.
She has appeared at Chez Hanny with Jared Gold and Ed
Cherry, Jared Gold and Brian Levy, Cuenca/Bollenback/Blades, the Roni
Ben-Hur/Harvie S Trio, and the Sylvia Cuenca Trio.