Pianist Peter Zak was born in Los Angeles in 1965,
and grew up in
Columbus and Kent, Ohio, then moved with his family at age 16 to
Oakland. At the University of California, Berkeley, he studied with
Susan Muscarella (founder/director of Berkeley's Jazzschool, now the
California Jazz Conservatory). He was soon gigging around Northern
California with saxophonist John Handy, among others.
Since relocating to New York, he has performed and/or recorded with
George Coleman, Jimmy Cobb, Ryan Kisor, Peter Bernstein, Eddie
Henderson, Eric Alexander, Walt Weiskopf, and Jon Hendricks, among many
others.
Peter is also a faculty member in the renowned jazz program at
New School University.
Peter's newly released recording, "One Mind", (Fresh Sounds Records),
is a collaboration with bassist Marcos Varela, that also includes Billy
Drummond on drums, and acclaimed saxophonist Seamus Blake.
"Brilliant...quite startlingly so...underlines just how shrewd a
musical mind Peter Zak has." -Brian Morton, Jazz Journal (UK).
Since 2005,
Peter has also released eleven critically acclaimed recordings for the
Danish jazz label, SteepleChase Records.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Peter Zak Trio.
Essiet Okon Essiet first received critical acclaim more than a
decade
ago as a member of saxophonist Bobby Watson's post hard bop group
Horizon He has long since established himself as one of New York's
premier bassists.
His first big break came in 1982 when he met Chicago based
percussionist Famoudou Don Moye. Moye asked Essiet to join his quartet
and during that same year the bassist met Abdullah Ibrahim, the famed
South African pianist. Working with Ibrahim, Essiet toured the globe
splitting his time between Europe and the US during the period from
1982 to 1986. Eventually Essiet settled in NYC. Two years later, he
joined Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and remained in the group
until the famed drummer/teacher's passing in 1990.
He has performed and recorded with Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, James
Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Sam Rivers,
George Adams, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean, Frank Morgan,
Kenny Barron, Louis Hayes, Ben Riley, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Billy
Hart, Art Farmer, Abby Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Cobham,
Bennie Maupin, Al Foster, Eddie Henderson, Steve Turre, Jon Faddis,
Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Kirkland, Mulgrew
Miller, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Mike Stern, Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Elling,
Fort Apache Band, Danilo Perez, Claudia Acuna, Geri Allen, Ralph
Peterson, Greg Osby, Javon Jackson, Tim Hagens, Kevin Hays, and Bill Stewart.
Drummer Sylvia Cuenca, originally from San Jose,
now living in New York, has performed for 17 years with trumpet legend
Clark Terry
at venues such as the Village Vanguard and Blue Note in New
York City.
She toured internationally for 4 years with saxophonist Joe
Henderson, including trio settings with Henderson and bassists Charlie
Haden or George Mraz.
Ms. Cuenca has performed with such jazz
luminaries as Billy Taylor, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron,
Ray Drummond, Frank Foster, Red Holloway, Jimmy Heath, Al Grey, Frank
Wess, Michael Brecker, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Jon Faddis, Dave
Stryker, Ed Cherry, Dianne Reeves, John Hicks, Geoff Keezer, John
Handy, Lew
Soloff, Marian McPartland, Hilton Ruiz, George Cables, James Spaulding,
Kenny Drew Jr., Frank Foster, Randy Brecker, Emily Remler, and Helen
Merrill.
She has appeared at Chez Hanny with Jared Gold and Ed Cherry, Jared
Gold and Brian Levy, Cuenca/Bollenback/Blades, the Peter Zak Trio, the
Roni Ben-Hur/Harvie S Trio, and the Sylvia Cuenca Trio.