ZEN

Artist Information

Biography

ZEN shares an eclectic musical experience with their audience through the creation of improvisational music on stage.

This group has shared the stage with Bela Fleck, The String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, RatDog and Little Feat.

ZEN is a harmonious musical mixture of experience.

Vocal harmonies mirror the days of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Mark and Bonnie, who have shared the stage with the late John Hartford, Bryan Bowers, and New Grass Revival bring to the mix an acoustic mountain folk music background.

Add to the experience Seth Maynard, an alumni of the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a major in jazz guitar and songwriting. Seth adds to ZEN an array of intense jazz to classic rock overtures.

The rhythm and foundation is a fusion of energy from drummer, Jack Grinn, and bassist, Cameron Tenney.

Cameron Tenney holds down the bass groove in ZEN, as he aspires to stir together the influences of Phil Lesh, George Porter Jr., Oteil Burbridge, and Les Claypool.

Uniquely different, ZEN creates a good mood with many grooves. You walk away from a show feeling better than when you arrived. As with any wondrous experience, ZEN music is in a constant state of reinterpretation, as the players reshape their songs and use them as springboards into extended improvisational jams featuring electric mandolin, harmonica, and electric lead guitar. Be ready for a smile and a "groove in your move" that will last long after the show is over! 

Instrumentation

Mark Branciaroli - Electric Mandolin, ZEN Guitar, Vocals
Bonnie Branciaroli - Acoustic Guitar, Djembe, Electric Autoharp, Harmonica, Tambourine, Percussion Tree, Shaker, Kazoo, Vocals
Seth Maynard - Electric Guitar, Vocals
Cameron Tenney - Electric Bass, Vocals
Jack Grinn - Drummer

Discography

CD - Spaghetti Theory, selling world-wide on Tower Records, CD Baby, Apple iTunes, and several online areas.
Single - There's a Worm Eating My Brain
New CD to be released in 2007.

Official Website

http://wearezen.com

Audio

• All Together
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• Fishcreek Reunion
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• There's a Worm Eating My Brain
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• Free to be Me
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• In My Dreams
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• Frank's FUnk
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Lyrics

• Fish Creek Reunion
• Free to Be Me
• Chopped Liver With Mandolin
• There's a Worm Eating My Brain
• Goin on Da Road
• Feels Good to Feel Good

Video

ZEN "Chopped Liver with Mandolin" Live at the High Land Jam Festival

Photo Gallery

Press

• Liberty Rose [+ Show ]
  

  "ZEN combines exceptional musicianship and a unique entertaining into a blend that will satisfy all ..."ZEN combines exceptional musicianship and a unique entertaining into a blend that will satisfy all venues, from the largest arena to the most intimate setting. Their commitment and professionalism is sure to stimulate and awaken even the most dormant of musical imaginations. I strongly endorse and recommend them as providing a solid and very worthwhile performance."
  
  Roger S.
  President, Liberty Rose, Inc.
  

• RELIX Magazine chooses ZEN for "On the Verge" [+ Show ]
  

  2. ZEN: Elkins, WV ZEN AND THE ART OF BUS TRIPPIN' Zen was born on a very slow bus trip. "We made ...2. ZEN: Elkins, WV
  ZEN AND THE ART OF BUS TRIPPIN'
  Zen was born on a very slow bus trip. "We made a seven-week journey to Colorado and back to West Virginia in a converted school bus that traveled at a mind-warping 43 miles an hour, so... we 'zenned' out," explains vocalist and mandolin player Mark Branciaroli. "I hand-painted ZEN on the front of the bus and then painted a big smile with a blue tongue on the front bumper." The bus sparked many to wonder if Zen was a band, and after returning to West Virginia, Branciaroli decided that would be a good idea. With Seth Maynard on electric lead guitar, Joel Franks on drums, Cameron Tenney on bass and Mark and Bonnie Branciaroli providing the "late '60s/early '70s folk-rock feel," Zen released its first album, Spaghetti Theory, in 2003. The band is currently working on its follow-up, All Together. "Our All Together release party will be one unusual happening!" says Branciaroli. "We've decided to embark on a Guinness record-breaking attempt for the longest continuous performance by a jamband on July 1 and 2 at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. We hope to play for 27 hours." Zen plans to use the proceeds to aid New Orleans musicians through the Music Rising Fund.
  www.wearezen.com Rebecca Carter
  

Setlist

Shows are usually 90 minutes. Workshops are 90 minutes or longer.

Club and Theatre shows vary from 90 minutes to 3.5 hours.

Most songs are original.
ZEN reinterprets songs from The Band, the Grateful Dead, Beatles, Jethro Tull and others.

Set One:
fly high why
Lobsters
You’re the one
Make up yer mind
zenuendo
Free 2b me
goin ON DA road
Crave the wave
mercy mercy
Skin of my teeth
Chopped Liver

Set Two:
Get over it
coo-coo
Gliding - Feels good
The weight
Road feeling good
Fire on the mountain
Feel the sun
Warts
Money
worm
Norwegian Sky
Fish Creek

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

ZEN Rider & Stage Plot

Calendar