Born: August 31, 1973 Primary Instrument: Guitar, electric
Guitarist, Jeremy Zmuda grew up in the small town of Long Beach, Indiana. As a child his first musical experiences were taking piano lessons, singing in various choirs and playing with fire. It was not until high school that Jeremy discovered his true love, the guitar. In high school he began meeting other kids in who also shared his enthusiasm for playing music. After learning a few chords and some Zeppelin tunes his musical career was on it’s way. A few years later and a couple thousand practice hours later he found his ear for Jazz music. Jeremy remembers driving late at night into Chicago with his friends, “We would just drive around the city for hours listening to Jazz on the public radio station, I felt drawn to it at once.” Soon his love for the music landed him for a year at Chicago’s Columbia College. There he studied with various teachers on the Chicago scene, and began cutting his musical teeth. In 1993, he enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he was awarded scholarship while studying Jazz performance and music education. Upon Graduating with honors, he stayed in Boston and became a well sought after musician on the Boston scene. He moved to New York in the fall of 2004 and his musical world grew beyond his imagination.....
“End Of An Era” is guitarist Jeremy Zmuda’s first recording as a leader. The album showcases all original tunes written by Mr. Zmuda for the record. It features up tempo tunes such as- “On Standby” and “Jam Factor Ten”, odd meter strait eighth tunes like- “Wink” and “Mook’s Time”, the heartfelt title track ballad “End Of An Era”, a minor blues with a slick intro/outro- “It Wasn’t The First TIme”, a samba tune- “Jimmy” written for guitarist Jim Hall, and they are all held together by a couple of vignettes “Mook’s Reflection” and “Mook Rides Again” which start and end the album. Joined by some of New York’s finest young talent on the Jazz scene, this record flows with originality and consummate musicianship. Pianist, Bryn Roberts and drummer Greg Ritchie both hail from Canada and are well sought after sidemen as well as leaders, they have worked with artists such as: Dave Leibman, Seamus Blake, Jerry Bergonzi, and others. Bassist, Matt Clohesy grew up and cut his musical teeth in Australia, after moving to New York in 2000, Matt has become one of the city’s busiest bass players, playing along side of Geoff Keezer, Ingrid Jensen, and Paul Bollenback, to name a few. Rounding out the band is California native and Saxophonist, Dan Pratt. Dan has recently released his second album as a leader, and has played with the likes of The Christian McBride Big Band, and The Bjorkestra.
This album is a life’s work in progress for the young guitarist. From Indiana, to Chicago, to Boston, and New York, you can look forward to hearing much more of him.
“a stellar musical treat, a very impressive debut.......Great charts, musicianship and colorful melodies, marking “End Of An Era” an exciting new beginning for one of the new young lions of jazz, Jeremy Zmuda. - Edward Blanco - ejazznews
”His attack, tone and melodic concept put him in the realm of Kurt Rosenwinkel and Adam Rogers.........a unique and thoughtful take on modern jazz......” Matthew Wornoc - Just Jazz Guitar
“Zmuda's compositions will likely impress the invested jazz listener who cares about able musicians and subtle, solid quality.........he has an ability to showcase his chops and to recognize silence as one of a jazz musician's most valuable instruments......this band will introduce you to a musical nook you never thought existed.” - Ben Johnson, AWE music writer ”Zmuda synthesizes his influences in an interesting fashion-from his big Jim Hall tone and tight phrasing to a dash of high lonesome melody notes that recalls Ben Monder” -Jason Bivens - Cadence Magazine
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