The Zoo Human Project

The Zoo Human Project returns to Roseville to give a performance at Borders Books and Music before they leave for their next tour. The event will take place at 6 p.m. today at Borders Books and Music, 2030 Douglas Blvd. The free event is open to all ages. The Zoo Human Project is an acoustic rock/soul trio that originated in Los Angeles and is the winner of the Las Vegas television series "StarCaster Live!" They recently finished recording their second album titled "Naissance" and will take pre-orders at the show. - Nathan Donato-Weinstein, The Press Tribune Frontpage News

Usually when someone introduces me to a crowd of listeners they use some accolades that always make me feel good and warm inside. Jen Cordero, gorgeous singer/guitar player/songwriter/Yogi for the Zoo Human Project , introduced me the other night when I sat in with the band and literally made me...well...really warm. It seems when I play I make Jen, Derek, and Kevin 'Pee Their Pants! Yowsir! That is an accolade!

The Zoo Human Project is Jen Cordero, Derek Martinez, and Kevin Sakamoto. I met them last year when they were touring here from LA. And now they have been staying in the Sacramento Area and playing out quite a bit. They asked me a while back if I would sit in with them. I did, had a blast, and have done a few more shows with them since.

They are a pleasure to play music with. They are all extremely talented, have great songs, and are one of the best rehearsed bands anywhere. It makes it so fine to play with people that have the passion, talent, and drive to make their music right and in the pocket. These guys are superb!

Derek is a great guitar player mostly understated, but will throw out a riff that soars, and he has a wonderful voice and can sing like few others, lead or harmonies. Great songwriter too. Kevin, the drummer, as young as he is, is probably the finest hand-drummer I've played with. He's tasty, never too loud, always in the pocket, and like a freakin metronome. He graced me with his talents on a new recording of a song of mine that will be part of a Sacramento compilation record soon called Fresno. And Jen. Wet Pants and all, she is a wonderful singer, as well as great guitar player and songwriter. And definitely the beauty in this crowd.

Check the Zoo Human Project out, but hurry, they are leaving to do some more traveling. They have a new record available too. it is fabulous too. We have talked and it looks like I will be recording some with them on the next record. Hope they have a washing machine and dryer in the studio. - Ken Burnett, Mandolin Avenue

I'm going to be totally honest here. I listened to their two albums in order. As the first one spun I often thought, "Well that's not bad," or, "cool chord change," or "nice thing Jen did with her voice there." And then I put in the second and totally forgot about that sort of thing and listened to the whole album with barely a thought about sound quality, intonation, or any other kind of technical correctness. Naissance is really, REALLY good.

First of all, both Derek and Jen took huge steps forward in their singing. She held on to her technique while sounding more genuine and soulful than before, and Derek improved technical stuff like range and intonation and control while still sounding like he mean it.

The guitar work is just fantastic. It's this nice pyramid of simplicity, where the broad foundation is real comfortable, pleasant, basic stuff, and built on top are smaller and smaller layers of increasing complexity. And
every now and then, there's a little lick or chord change that's totally amazing but still works.

The percussionist sounds like a different guy. Is it? If not, he has my vote for most improved. He's helped, I imagine, by the writing itself, since on Innominata it feels like he was a special effect and an afterthought, while on Naissance he's as important, colorful, and interesting as the rest of the voices. The grooves are so organic, the pocket is deep and super-tight, the fancy stuff is fun and amazing but still tasteful, and that piece, "Seizure," was so good and so unexpected I think I smiled through the whole thing.

On top of all the improvement in performances, the songwriting is incredibly organic now. Things are simple because they need to be or complex because they need to be--nothing is there just because it *can* be, or just to fill a void. Almost every note seems to have a purpose. I feel the lyrics are more refined, too. And the vocal collaboration between Derek and Jen is an order of magnitude more developed and natural and thorough.

The recording quality deserves a mention, too, since it allows those wonderful details that are everywhere to shine through.

I can't tell you enough how blown away I was by Naissance. It makes me want to hear Innominata get the same treatment--better technical performances, better recording, better collaboration. Not that it's bad at all, just that I think it pales next to Naissance. But that's what growing is all about, right? Congratulations on making one of my new favorite albums!
- Jeremy Olsen, FOX TV Animation (“Family Guy” & “American Dad”)

Straight from the outset, "Naissance" reaches out a tantalizing auditory tendril, beckoning the listener to come closer and listen. "NWT" is a toe-tapping, head-bobbing song guaranteed to have you singing along with the addictive chorus after only the first time hearing it. The lyrics (in trademark ZHP style) are both stylistically excellent and delivered with gusto, not just on "NWT" but throughout the entire album.

The flagship song of the album, "Naissance", opens with a sugar-sweet guitar, accompanied by Kevin Sakamoto's skilled percussion. Soon, both Jen and Derek join in with their Yin-Yang-like vocal combinations, and before long, the listener is held tight in the hands of the song, jonesing like an addict for every coming syllable.

Just like on their previous album, "Innominata", The Zoo Human Project weaves a musical tapestry unlike any other ever before; the only way to better experience the power and grace of the songs is to go see them performed live. - Tony Garcia, Chicago Writer

I've listened through the CD oh, maybe a dozen or so times in the couple of weeks since I received it, so you might guess, I really like it!

There are a number of tracks that I'd call "traditional ZHP" (i.e., they are reminiscent of the material on Innominata), but to my mind, that's a good thing. I mean, if hearing one tune from you at Uncommon Ground was enough to bring me to a second show and to buy a CD, I must think it's good. And with more experience, I'd say you're honing that "classic" sound.

But there are a few tracks in there that introduce some new sounds, and these are also quite strong. Whether it's the Barenaked Ladies-esque refrain in "Unsettled," the haunting ukulele accompaniment of "Naissance" (I assume that was the goal, and it worked!), or the piano stylings of, um, whoever handles the keys on "Let Me In" , I'm quite impressed with the new directions being introduced here. And that's not even to mention the intriguing "Seizure".

Very nice work, folks. Very nice work indeed. Keep going, keep growing (that's dangerously close to the Moody Blues), and get your butts back to Chicago! - Michael Beetley, Chicago Writer

The Zoo Human Project is a trio by way of Roseville that's led by the husband-wife team of Derek Martinez and Jen Cordero. But their song, "NWT," takes a peek at the two before they settled into marriage and wondered if they'd be better off as friends. The song about relationship jitters is full of strummy acoustic guitars and percussion.

THE ZOO HUMAN PROJECT
Song: "NWT"

Style: Acoustic rock that's suited for a coffeehouse or the club.

Members: Derek Martinez , Jen Cordero (both on vocals/guitar), Kevin Sakamoto (percussion/vocals)

Influences: "There's a clear Dave Matthews influence to our guitar parts," says Martinez. "My wife is more inspired by independent singer-songwriters. She's definitely a fan of Ani DiFranco."

Behind the song: "Jen and I, before we started dating, we were really good friends," he says. "It was that whole 'Ross and Rachel' thing. That's the easiest way to describe it. We were expressing the fear we both shared of going into that new phase. So the verses aren't very optimistic. But the chorus is celebrating the fact that it's working."

On the Web: www.thezhp.com - Chris Macias, Sacramento Bee

We’ve all been to zoos to see how animals live and interact. Now’s your chance to hear tonight’s three talented musicians interact in a self-described zoo of their own — The Zoo Human Project. Jen Cordero, Derek Martinez, and percussionist Kevin Sakamoto put together an intensely funky acoustic set reminiscent of Dave Matthews but with their own unique spin. Our favorites? The deeply personal “Get Out of My Head,” the hope-inspiring “Disease,” and “Songs to Drive To.” For more on this touring trio, go to myspace.com/thezoohumanproject. - Dave Dircks, AcousticLongIsland.com

In many ways, The Zoo Human Project's music shouldn't make any sense. Jen Cordero's vocal range and oomph are ripe for musical theater. Derek Martinez's acoustic driven songs are reminiscent of Dave Matthews. And percussionist Kevin Sakamoto takes cues from African beats and funk. But the trio must be musical alchemists because in the end it DOES work. It is this surprising and fresh confluence of elements that has drawn fans to their shows and lifted their offering, Innominata, above rank-and-file debuts.

In their songs, the audience often finds inspiration. Listeners reconnect with a forgotten emotion or find commonness among strangers, triggering a bout of self-examination in which people begin to ponder the decisions they have made in their own lives. And perhaps too, The Zoo Human Project motivates these listeners to finally consider the bigger things in life they've been meaning to think about all along. - J. Lustre, Los Angeles Novelist