Doc Zig And Benny Z

Father and son duo, Doc Zig and Benny Z have been jamming together since the early nineties, although their connection through music dates back to the day of Benny's birth. According to Doc Zig, "As a father I introduced myself at each of the births of my newborn children with the playing of my mandolin. And they both responded with a pleasing smile." The result was later evidenced by Benny's fervor for piano lessons. Though Benny shifted to the saxophone as soon as school allowed. Benny recalls "..first gazing up through the window of a music shop and seeing the glistening tenor sax staring me down, practically calling my name.." The Stones, Clapton, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt and Ry Cooder all led Doc Zig to the Country Blues, although his interests have always been varied. In the fifties and sixties, Doc Zig cut his teeth on Rock & Roll and Rhythm and Blues performing with his band, The Revelites. As a college student he traded his custom Gibson electric ES335 for an acoustic Martin D35 solidifying his commitment to the early roots music that made its way from plantations to the cities and towns of America. Thus began his fascination with all strings acoustic, mandolin, fiddle, resonators and guitars of all shapes. Feeling most effective as a side man he experienced a ten year collaboration with Charlie Archer, a self described “walking museum of the Country Blues.” He could play all styles of pre-war blues aptly displayed on Doc Zig's first LP release, “Live In The Moment”. From an early age, Benny Z was drawn to Bob Marley's melodic tones and lullaby song writing style. Playing guitar, piano and singing as a child, he evolved through school also playing alto, tenor and most recently b flat soprano saxophone - his music often expressed in Jazz improvisations, Samba and Bosa Nova. Ben has toured Nationally as co-song writer, sax player and back up singer. More recently Benny Z authored and co-produced a live EP to be released this spring 2010. Check out Doc Zig and Benny Z, Father and Son, Playing For Small Change, a live studio EP, expressing the daily journey, sweeping the listener into a poly-rhythmic, earthy, and artful musical expression.