Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"Like I've said before, Zen For Primates collectively is the Brecht/Weill of our era. Maybe I'm making too much out of them, but I don't think so." - Jim Knipfel - NY Press
"I think Zen For Primates as a collection of individuals and musicians is superb. I was blown away. It was so funny, so dry and so reserved and yet punchy. And T. Roth's delivery was spectacular" - Grammy winning studio legend (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Traffic)
"Zen For Primates is a collaboration of the most amazing group of musicians I have ever seen. They don't follow the main stream core of the music business, which in this day and age settles for artists which are clones of other acts ." - Grammy winning Producer(The Ramones, Talking Heads, Mick Jagger, Rev Horton Heat)
"Strange/arty album of the month comes from Zen for Primates. Sounds like Kronos Quartet meets Led Zeppelin and Gene Pitney in Munich beer hall where Marlene Dietrich is the bar maid. With self-penned tunes that are more than merely witty." - Dan Deluca
"Zen For Primates is actually on to something. Its music evokes images of the Kronos Quartet as bratty new-wave kids in high school, doing quixotic originals along with twisted covers that are equal parts sendup and radical rethinking." - CMJ - James Lien
"Strange, different, but oddly attractive, Zen For Primates is part classical music ensemble, part Brecht/Weill and part cover band. Guitarist Mike Krisukas writes most of the rather quirky original material, which is sung in fine style by T. Roth." - Dirty Linen
"It's more the artistic endeavor in this unique and personal sound that they create, that is Zen For Primates. In a musical world where sameness is rewarded I find it an inspiration. And it's comforting to know that Zen For Primates is out there." - Bruce Kapler (Sax player) Late Show w/David Letterman
"Zen For Primates plays music like you've never heard before. Expertly arranged originals bristle with seething irony and stoic determination." - Electric Factory Concert News
Discography
Albatross - 1992
Blessed Are The Sheep Herders - 2000
It's Polka Time! - 2002
When It's Christmastime in Tibet - 2003
Alive and Bell - 2005
Anyone for a Little DVD? - Live Music Videos - 2005
New CD (Marianne's Dead Husband Was My Stella Novagratz) soon to be released - stay tuned!
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
One evening, back in 1987, singer T. Roth met guitarist Mike Krisukas at one of Mikes local music haunts. Becoming fast friends, the two soon joined creative forces to form the 8-Piece Rock-N-Roll Circus, The Incredible Baby Eddie. This band combined Mikes unique musical sensibilities with T.s love of theater and song. While touring with Baby Eddie, T. and Mike began a side project with violinist Mark Golin and sax player Dave Smith. (They kept the freak show posters!)Critically received, this quartet became Zen For Primates. They were soon playing regularly at China Club and CBGB's and Zens highly original sound and polished theatrical performance quickly impressed industry people, and landed them gigs in some of the best venues in New York, Philadelphia, and LA.
Zen began working with producer Ed Stasium (Ramones, Living Color, Jeff Healey, Talking Heads) and released their first CD Albatross. A year later, in 1993, they shot their first music video for "Just To Be You." Touring and recording slowed in the mid-nineties when Zen members took time to pursue individual projects. Mike founded Bummer Tent Records, and has produced and recorded dozens of artists and CDs. T. Roth pursued theater and reunited with Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres to perform as Another Pretty Face, his cult band from the NYC glam-rock scene of the 70s and 80s.
Zen For Primates continued to play and tour selectively since that time. The band released three more CDs (Blessed Are The Sheep Herders, Its Polka Time, and When It's Christmas Time in Tibet.) Today, Zen is back out of the house and ready to get back on the road full time in support of their upcoming CD release "Marianne's Dead Husband Was My Stella Novagratz."
Eddie Kramer, Grammy award winning studio legend (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones) describing Zen "I think Zen For Primates as a collection of individuals and muscians is superb. I was blown away! It was so funny, so dry and so reserved and yet punchy. And T. Roth's delivery was spectacular."
Strange, different, but oddly attractive, Zen For Primates is part classical ensemble, part Brecht/Weill and part cover band. wrote Dirty Linens Jim Lee.
Zen For Primates is at home in the funkiest of clubs and the warmest of coffee houses, building their large fan base from Jazz Bars, Folk Venues, Festivals and Rock Rooms - wherever theyve played, always remaining too hip for the room."
Zen For Primates is:
T. Roth
..Vocals
Mike Krisukas
Guitar, vocals
Jodi Beder
Cello
Shelagh Maloney
Violin
Pete Fluck
Sax and Harmonica
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