John Zipperer & Friends

Artist Information

Biography

John Zipperer,
After years of working as a musician and instructor at the world renowned Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Ca., playing with greats such as Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge), Dave Sutton (Lucinda Williams, Melissa Etheridge), Doan Perry (Jethro Tull), began working as a Hollywood actor/stuntman. John returned his creative roots, and started working as a singer/songwriter, inspiring the title song of his first CD, “Full Circle”.

Tara Sitser,
a seasoned stage performer and former choreographer, joined John to sing harmony. Encouraged by John, she now plays lead on a couple of her own original songs and has taught herself keyboards and ukulele.

Jime Van Booven,
was already a professional musician playing around So. Calif., when his wife was diagnosed with Cancer. Jime dropped everything including his musical aspirations, to take care of her. A few months after her passing, Jime and John met at a jam. They hit it off immediately and John asked Jime to play in his band. After 3 1/2 years Jime has become an integral part of “John Zipperer & Friends”.

Barrett Tagliarino,
Author and MI Instructor, is the newest member of John’s band. His vocals and incendiary guitar playing help create that unforgettable “John Zipperer & Friends” sound. Barrett has published many guitar instructional books and has 2 excellent solo CDs available.

Eddie “The Spoonman” Terry,
has been playing the spoons for 78 years. A past Ted Mack Amateur Hour winner, his enthusiasm and charisma belie his advanced years. Rumor has it, “Eddie gets all the chicks!”

John’s encouragements and NUDGES have inspired a 2nd “John Zipperer & Friends” CD of songs written by his friends, Tara, Jime & Barrett, coming out the end of the year.

Nice Things
People Say About Us

"John Zipperer seems to me to be a cross between Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, while being a true original at the same time."
Gary Austin - Founder - The Groundlings Theater, Hollywood, CA

"John Zipperer and Friends is a wonderful band that plays with the same level of enthusiasm and joy whether they are playing for 20 people or 200 people."
- Joseph Wahl, Owner Joseph Wahl Arts Gallery, Woodland Hills, CA

"You guys ROCK!!!!! Thanks for the great music."
- Mike, Owner Rib Ranch Restaurant, Woodland Hills

"Thank you all so much for playing at our event. The band added that special "something" to the day."
- Rosalie Broad, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Instrumentation

Barrett Tagliarino - Guitar, mandolin, Bass and Vocals
Tara Sitser - Vocals and keyboards
Jim Van Booven - Bass, guitar and vocals
John Zipperer - Vocals, Guitar, mandoline

Discography

John's upcoming CD "Full Circle" Will be released later this year.
John Zipperer & Friends recordings that have had airplay:
"Twisted" by Gray/Ross,
"Moondance" by Van Morrison and
"The Spoonman" written by John Zipperer
-KCSN Radio 88.5 FM -

Official Website

http://www.johnzipperer.com

Links

• John Zipperer

Audio

• Here By Me
  Listen  
• The Ballad Of Micah McDowde
  Listen  
• Full Circle
  Listen  
• Like Being With You
  Listen  
• To The River
  Listen  
• The Spoon Man
  Listen  
• Not Love
  Listen  
• Never Really There
  Listen  
• Brown Eyed Girl
  Listen  
• Moondance
  Listen  
• Know Who You Love
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Never Really There
• Bring Back My Boy
• The Spoon Man
• Full Circle
• Here By Me
• Like Being With You

Video

Full Circle

Like Being With You

Photo Gallery

Press

• Just Music [+ Show ]
  

  Just Music John Zipperer and Friends take songs back to basics By Nancy Dunham Now that the pol...Just Music
  John Zipperer and Friends take songs back to basics
  By Nancy Dunham
  
  Now that the political season is in full swing and musicians are everywhere hawking their preferred candidates, it's a pleasure to hear a group just kick back and enjoy. No apparent agendas, hang ups, crusades.
  
  That's John Zipperer and Friends, a collection of Los Angeles area musicians dedicated to what they say is "sharing the joy of music." This group should know how to do that. With credits that range from Jethro Tull and Vanilla Fudge (Zipperer) to Frank Zappa and the Wallflowers (Eric Brown), this band has clearly earned its musical chops and is content to let them speak for themselves.
  
  Consider the song "The Spoon Man," something of a cross between folk/acoustic/jam that brings to mind lazy summer afternoons lazing back on green grass and sipping a cool beverage. While the vocals and musicianship (including, of course, a hearty dose of spoon percussion by Ed "The Spoon Man" Terry, age 79) are first rate, what really sets the song apart is the ease with which the musicians play it.
  
  Equally charming is the group's take on Moondance, the classic Van Morrison tune that takes on a bit of a different twist in this rendition. Whether that's due to the subtle voice of Tara Sitser, who also handles piano and percussion for the band, or the easy acoustic musicianship is an arguable point. Suffice to say it's true to the original but adds enough extra punch to make it stand out on its own.
  
  Also interesting, is the band's version of Sea Cruise, which features vocals by Sitser and presumably Zipperer (no vocal credits were given). The stripped down version, again heavy on the acoustic guitar, is pleasant and enjoyable staying true to the "JZ" sound.
  
  Press materials for the band note that the members believe that music has "no age or chronological barriers." What's heartening is that they prove that belief via the band's music which is a mix or rock, blues, standards, bossa nova, and jazz.
  
  "No facade, no pretense of cool. Just music" is how Zipperer describes the sound on his MySpace page.
  
  How refreshing, we add.
  
  Nancy Dunham
  Valley Scene Magazine
  March 13, 2008

• JZ & Friends perform at the Wahl Arts Gallery, 2005 [+ Show ]
  

  “John Zipperer and his ‘not so average band’ (what band has an 80 year old Spoons player?) will eff...“John Zipperer and his ‘not so average band’ (what band has an 80 year old Spoons player?) will effortlessly perform a variety of tunes for your toe tapping, finger snapping, head bobbing pleasure and will bring a smile to your face.”
  
  Independent Journalist
  2005

Setlist

John's Originals
Full Circle - J. Zipperer
The Ballad of Micah McDowde
Old Mans Lament
Bring Back My Boy
Like Being W/ You
Here By Me
Sing W/ Me
Going Downtown
Not Love
To The River
Never Really There
What Am I Supposed To Do -
I'm In Trouble
Lady In Waiting

The SpoonMan - J.Z. + Benton Luke
In The Blink Of An Eye - J.Z. + David Kaye
It's True - J. Van Booven
Memories Of You - J. Van Booven
Conversations - T. Sitser
Brave - T. Sitser
Big Dog - J.Z., T.S., J.V.B. and Ed Terry

Covers:
Standard sets are 45 minute each. We can do six. We combine classic rock, Folk, Jazz and Country All presented with an acoustic original flare . JZ & Friends currently has more than one hundred and fifty songs in our repertoire including a full set of original music.

We change our configuration to fit the venue and the event. From a 6-piece band with full rhythm section to our usual 3-piece guitar-keyboard-spoons combo to a coffeehouse duo, we have the experience and the flexibility to provide what is needed.

A cross-section of our cover selections:
1. Moondance
2. Brown Eyed Girl
3. Beginnings
4. Angel from Montgomery
5 Danny's All-Star Joint
6. Y'all Come
7. Get Ready
8. Smooth Operator
9. Sea Cruise
10. A Pirate Looks at Forty
11. Start It Up
12. You Are My Sunshine
13. Crosscut Saw
14. Melissa
15. Twisted
16. Red House
17. Dog and Butterfly
18. Don't Know Why
19. Holly Holy
20. All I Wanna Do
21. One Note Samba
22. T-R-O-U-B-L-E
23. Down at the Twist and Shout
24. You Make Me Feel So Young
25. Folsom Prison
26. You Are My Sunshine
27. Layla
28. Summertime
29. Oh, Atlanta
30. Turn The Page

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

John Zipperer & Friends Rider

Calendar