ZIMPROV

Artist Information

Biography

Zim, the Bandleader & Founder of ZIMPROV, has been a staple in the music community for over 3 decades. His career highlights but are not limited to the following:Drummer for Charles "the mighty burner" Earland for 10 years, The Legendary Sonny Seals Band, 1989 Chicago Jazz Festival with Jimmy McGriff & Charles Earland (this event was captured on video & broadcast live), 1994 Berlin Jazz Fest w/ Charles Earland, Original Drummer for the Tom Dressen Show 88' & the Cotton Club, Chgo,IL Opened for Chuck Berry, Shirley Horn, Art Porter, Big Twist & the Mellow Fellows, In 1984 he Jammed with the Late Great Jaco Pastorius at 55 Grand St. - N.Y

Many of the legendary artist of our time have shown interest in Zim's career. He has had the support and mentorship of a long list of internationally known artist. This list includes but is not limited to the following legends of sound:
Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter, Elvin Jones, Lenny White, Dennis Chambers, Jack DeJohnette, Omar Hakim, Eddie Harris, Bennie Maupin, Jaco Pastorius, John McClaughlin, Art Blakey, Paul Jackson, Mike Stern, Pat Martino, Tony Williams, Von Freeman Buddy Rich, Eric Gravatt, Keith Bemis, George Freeman, Evod Magik,Bunky Green, Herbie Hancock, Roland Faulkner, Paul Wertico and last but not least his teacher, Monte Micheaux.

The ZIMPROV concept emerges from the many year's of Zim's experience as a sideman. He has performed on stage with many other impressive "sidemen" musicians who have catapulted other's careers. ZIMPROV is a collection of creative, innovative musicians; together they join on the stage to unleash their true spirit of sound without the normal restraints. Every performance is an inspired mystical quest to connect the essence of the legends of the past to the spirit of the present and the promise of the future.

Every ZIMPROV performance is guaranteed to be a funky musical voyage through the vortex of sound.

To view more information on the band check out the bands' official website: www.zimprov.com

Instrumentation

ZIMPROV focuses on the improvisational approach to music so the personnel varies but always spotlights key figures in the Chicago music arena. The basic Line -up is as follows: Zimbabu - Drums, Keyboard/Synthesizer Saxophone or Trumpet, Guitar and Electric Bass

Discography

2 Indie Releases of live performances in 2009:

ZIMPROV " Live on the Streets of Chicago"

The Best of Zim & Nim "Live"

1995 Cd Entitled - Roughs w/ StreetDancer
Zim made a guest appearance on 2 tracks, Recorded for Sesame Street with Lucius Bell, Jr.

Zim has been recorded "live" on numerous occasions, but to date his true talent has not been captured in the studio.

Zim is also the program director for a bi-monthly jazz radio show entitled "Jazz in Flight". For more information, the show's website is www.jazzinflight.com

Audio

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Summer Solidarity [+ Show ]
  

  Art in Action merges activism and aesthetics Eve L. Ewing (May 25, 2006 in Features) ... to have a...Art in Action merges activism and aesthetics
  Eve L. Ewing (May 25, 2006 in Features)
  ... to have a block party, you need a neighborhood, and that’s an area in which a lot of UofC students are woefully lacking. Many campus denizens feel little or no personal connection to the neighborhoods surrounding our dear alma mater; they feel like members of the UofC community, but not members of the South Side community. The Southside Solidarity Network aims to change that by bringing UofC students and members of the Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Woodlawn communities together over things they all love: music and free food.
  
  On Saturday, May 27, the Southside Solidarity Network presents Art in Action, a good oldfashioned block party with aspirations to bridge the gap between the town and the gown... In addition, we hold events that will promote greater interaction and openness on the part of both communities.”...we hope to create a more connected community across traditional University boundaries.”
  
  But the Art in Action organizers are perhaps most excited about the musical acts they’ve got lined up. Jazz/funk ensemble Zimprov will be the first to take the stage, led by Alabamaborn percussionist Zimbabu, or Zim, who has been called “the Bruce Lee of Drums.” Zimbabu has been featured at the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Berlin Jazz Festival, and his influences run the gamut from John Coltrane to Jimi Hendrix. Zimprov says that their concept is “one that allows the inner spirit to speak harmoniously, melodically and in rhythm with the universe.” Their performance is co-sponsored by WHPK 88.5 FM.
  
  After Zimprov......

• Zimbabu is the producer for a Chicago jazz radio show [+ Show ]
  

  Tuesday May 30, 2006 Jazz in Flight WHPK-FM 88.5 (7–9pm). Throughout the week, prepare to hear a ...Tuesday May 30, 2006
  
  Jazz in Flight WHPK-FM 88.5 (7–9pm). Throughout the week, prepare to hear a slew of shows celebrating Miles Davis’s birthday (May 25). Such programming mostly highlights Davis’s trying personal and creative life, and while we welcome such revisits (his allure seems to grow with time), Jazz in Flight’s off-the-trail bend makes perennial events like this slightly more dynamic. DJ Phoenix and producer Zimbabu concentrate on those who played with Davis over the years—Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter and Mike Stern—and considering their expertise in ’70s jazz, we’re in for an interesting ride.
  
  
  

Setlist

Any ZIMPROV performance is purely improvisational in content, however in any setlist influences from the following artist are dominant:
James Brown, Billy Cobham, John Coltrane,
Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, The Headhunters
Jabali, Alphonse Mouzon,Charles "Yardbird" Parker
Dom Um Romao & Sly Stone

Basic Requirements

Calendar