Video/Media
ZOO's latest video - 'December', from the Psychodrama album - doesn't feature ZOO!

The video is ZOO's second collaboration with students from Leicester's DeMontfort University and the first to not feature an appearance by the band, apart from the soundtrack!. The video was shot and produced by Daniel Wilson, Danny Thwaites,
Michal Zemanek, Julia Hadji-Stylianou from DeMontfort University, Leicester.

Please see the Video page to view.

1st January 2011

Happy New Year / Performing / General News
Once again, it's a Happy ZOO Year from everyone in the ZOO Crew - we hope 2011 brings you everything you wish for.
This post serves as a bit of a year-end round-up:
On 15th December ZOO played the CafeBarContemporary in Nottingham with the fantastic Stuart McCallum. Another good gig at this venue, with an appreciative audience.

Paul attended a meeting to discuss the Stamford Riverside Festival, and is sad to report that the event won't be happening in 2011.

Also in Stamford, the free jazz sessions at Voodoo Lounge have come to an end due to falling audience numbers - times are tough out there!

But the Jet Collective in Nottingham is hard at work finding bands and venues to present exciting jazz to wider audiences.

Our great friend Chris Ashman at Red Admiral has put together a great ZOO sampler: http://www.myspace.com/kentgigs/music/songs/zoo-sampler-71027048?ap=1

So far ZOO have gigs booked for 2011 on 19th March, 21st May, 18th June, 20th August and 13th November, with more in the pipeline. Hope to see you there - your support is always greatly appreciated.

7th November 2010

Gigs / Reviews
ZOO, Stuart McCallum and the Beats and Pieces Big Band joined forces with promoters the Jet Collective and Leicester's Y Theatre to present "Jazz x 3".
Comments about the event, and the performers, included:

"Thought Zoo were excellent, detected some Allan Holdsworth influences in the playing of one R.Clegg, with a bit of Mahavisnu thrown in!" Y Theatre

"The Y Theatre hosted one of the most imaginative and innovative jazz performances I've heard for a long time."

"First up was Stuart McCallum playing ambient style solo guitar, sometimes enhanced with electronic loops. Amazing Grace showed his musicality as he did something new with a hymn, while original Vital Space added electronic reminiscent of John Martyn. John Coltrane's Blue Train was the highlight."

"Next up were Zoo. I could have listened to more of John Sanderson's reeds, and there was a moment of genius in the introduction to original Walking Not Running with Middle Eastern sounding bass clarinet and wordless vocals..."

"Then with a fanfare of blazing horns, the Beats & Pieces Big Band announced their arrival in style, playing witty, innovate arrangements." Leicester Mercury

16th May 2010

Video / Media
Shooting videos of "Could've" and "Breathing In" at the G2 Studios in Sheffield, with Dan from Light Engine Films. Pictures | Video
(thanks to GO Outdoors for use of their parking)

Review
Ahead of the collaboration and Bonington Theatre gig with Guy Barker, ZOO are reviewed by Alan Joyce in the Nottingham Evening Post - read the review on the Review Page.

Picture: David Redfern/Redferns

Festival Weather
The weather was kind - but only just!
All three of our festival appearances were blessed with fine weather - but it was a near thing.
It had rained overnight before the Lichfield Jazz Festival (pics) on 27th June, but the huge marquee was pretty immune to the elements anyway. But fine afternoon weather meant the audience could spread onto the rugby pitch for 'al fresco jazz'.
The MetOffice had warned of a 'light shower' affecting the private party in the walled garden at Norman Cross Gallery (pics), but instead we had a torrential downpour just before starting the first set. We were ok under our (well, Stamford RiverCare's!) marquee, and the audience sheltered in the Gallery. When the sun came out, everyone returned for a perfect summer's afternoon of music.
Prolonged rain was forecast before the Stamford RiverCare gig on 12th July (pics), but our concerns that the riverside site might be too boggy, or flooded, were unfounded, and it was a perfect afternoon, albeit rather windy, and with just a light shower at one point.
Such are the trials and tribulations of playing music in tents! The weather can do what it wants now - the rest of our gigs are indoors!

Media
ZOO's new album 'END OF THE TELEGRAPH WIRES' is now available for download through i-Tunes and others.
i-tunes
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=306839599&s=143441

emusic
http://www.emusic.com/album/Zoo-End-Of-The-Telegraph-Wires-MP3-Download/11400253.html

You can also hear samples of every track on the album website at www.endofthetelegraphwires.co.uk, and buy the CD from i-tunes, our record company (Red Admiral), the JazzCDs website, and from the Sales page on this site.

Collaboration
ZOO are delighted to confirm the performance details of our collaboration with Guy Barker: after a week of rehearsing at the Greenhouse studio, we'll be performing with Guy at The Bonington Theatre in Nottingham on 13th August. Tickets are £10 from the Box Office on 0115 956 0733. Details on the Gigs page. (Presented in association with JAZZ STEPS)

Picture: David Redfern/Redferns