sounds

Music is what I do most. I grew out of the jazz tradition but am influenced by everything. I play lots of instruments. Here they are in descending order of facility: Flute, Tenor & Alto Sax, Kalimba, Piano & Electronics, French horn, small percussion, and a Trumpet I've recently acquired. I've been living in Oakland, CA for the past seventeen years.

The first group I put together in the Bay Area is Forward Energy. This is an ongoing unit originating in 1997, and has issued a half dozen CDs on Edgetone Records. We've played gigs from coast to coast. Go to www.edgetonerecords.com/ryan.html for information and purchase. There is also a FE CD on Cadence Records which is available through yours truly (contact me through this site: jimzeen@gmail.com). Forward Energy is my free jazz, evolving, revolving, flagship group. For some tunes, video, and info go to www.myspace.com/forwardenergy Also, check out this PDF narrative of the Forward Energy Ghost Dog Tour

As my interest in improvisation and experimentation runs very high, I inaugurated The Left Coast Improv Group in 2001. This is a free-form chamber ensemble of varying numbers of players performing on classical as well as foreign and newly conceived instruments. Two CDs from the LCIG have been issued on Edgetone Records (see above), and a third is in the works: due in 2011. There's pix, info, and sounds on www.myspace.com/leftcoastimprovgroup

In 2002 I formed Subjects of Desire to express the combination of some of my literary works with a group of experimental musicians and speakers. The resultant is also available on Edgetone Records.

Most recently I have been working with a trio -- I'm playing flute, sax, & kalimba, Bob Marsh is on cello, and Spirit is on percussion . . . the CD was released on my own label ‘jimzeen productions’ in 2009 and can be obtained by contacting me . . . or it can be downloaded (digital only) from Edgetone Records. Some of the music and more details can be found at www.myspace.com/thespiritmovesus

So, there you have my recent musical history and current activity in the musical arena. The narrative that follows tells how it came about.