Zendrum | Techno-Tribe

From the beginning of time, the ancient language of rhythm has remained a primary voice of the people. Priests and elders passed on the truths of their civilization through music and dance. Often the music they played was as primitive as their instruments. Yet the passion and community that went into the playing mirrored the lives of the people that played them. That connection to the soul of the drum is the seed that conceived the Zendrum. Zendrum comes from the future while reaching into the past.

Meet some of the artists who use the Zendrum in a variety of creative applications and performance settings, find out what they have to say, and visit their Web sites.

Billy Cobham Drummer with Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, George Duke Project, Jazz All-Stars, Jazz Is Dead, Jazz Orchestra. "After thirty years of playing professionally, I finally have eye-to-eye contact with my audience. The Zendrum is a great instrument for percussion simulation. Technically very easy to grasp. I first was exposed to this instrument at a Peter Gabriel concert back in 1994, then I performed with it on tour with Paradox and my band with Randy Brecker. We used it on the Focused CD as well as on the Conundrum project as a percussion enhancement factor. Try it, I don't think you'll be disappointed." www.billycobham.com
	Futureman (Roy Wooten) Drummer, vocalist for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. "I see the Zendrum as the drum Stratocaster of the future." The Roy-El Experience www.flecktones.com
Kenwood Dennard Drummer with Miles Davis, Brand X, Sting, Gil Evans Orchestra, Pat Martino, Jaco Pastorius, Just Advance, Meta-Rhythmic Orchestra (MRO); on faculty at Berklee College of Music. "Isn't this a nice thought? Now the producers of the world have no excuse not to hire creative drummers…The Zendrum!"
	Keith Wilson Originally from Santa Cruz California, Keith can be seen performing on Zendrum (and acoustic drums and percussion) in the Orlando area with several acts at Walt Disney World and Epcot as well as in several jazz rooms. Keith is also at home "behind the board" at his studio and production company "Beaten Path Productions."
Kirk Johnson Mr KA'J", drummer, producer, CEO/owner of Kitchen Records. Formerly with Prince and New Power Generation, and Fonky Bald Heads. Has used the Zendrum onstage in concert as well as in live television performances, music videos, and concert after-parties. www.kaj.us
	Tom Roady Nashville recording artist. Composer and creator of "One Tribe", his CD featuring the Zendrum. "Finally, percussionists can play tabla samples or conga samples with their fingers and hands, and not have to play them on a pad with sticks! Bass lines, keyboard parts…whatever you want it to be, the Zendrum can be!" www.tomroady.com
Mike Swope For the past 12 years Mike has performed with Louise Mandrell and was featured nightly on Zendrum at her theater in Pigeon Forge. Currently freelancing, Mike performs a majority of his gigs on a Zendrum. "The Zendrum is portable, reliable and versatile. The mobility allows me to interact with the audience and other musicians like never before. I can't remember the last gig I played when somebody didn't ask 'what is that thing'? That thing is a Zendrum, and it's the coolest thing ever."
	Zig Wajler Drum clinician and educator, drummer with The Animal Band. "The Zendrum has become an integral part of my "Hands On with Zig" clinic program for children. I wish you could see the kids' reactions when they play the Zendrum in my clinics...mouths wide open, eyes really big! They LOVE this instrument! One very tough looking young boy came up to me after one clinic, gave me a hug, and said, "Thanks, man, that was cool." www.handsonwithzig.com
Marquinho Brasil Recording and touring percussionist whose list includes Santana, Miles Davis, The Grateful Dead, Al Jarreau, Mariah Carey, Ray Charles and many others.
	J.D. Blair "The Groove Regulator", drummer with Victor Wooten and Shania Twain. www.jdblair.net
Jennifer Hruska Electronic musician (formerly with D'Cuckoo), multi-instrumentalist, composer, audio engineer and recording artist. Digital sound designer for Kurzweil. Founder of SONiVOX MI (the home of Sonic Implants), a music technology company which produces and sells music software for musicians and composers. www.jenniferhruska.com www.sonivoxmi.com
	John Mahon Percussionist, vocalist for Elton John. "My job with Elton John is to cover a variety of percussion parts as well as sing background vocals. I have added the Zendrum to my acoustic percussion setup because the vocals are very important; the Zendrum frees me to get to the microphone easily and still perform my parts. I am also playing audio samples from current and past Elton records, kind of a second keyboard part. Sometimes I play just 1 or 2 sounds…very sparse. That is another beauty of the instrument…it can be the driving force of a song or just used to add tonal color or subtle rhythm parts. It's all about being musical and the Zendrum will open the door." www.johnmahon.com
Janelle Burdell Drummer/Percussionist with national tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast; formerly with D'Cuckoo; sound designer, programmer, performer and digital audio engineer with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum Tour; artist-in-residence at IMA, Institute for the Musical Arts; founder of Rhythm Games, a non-profit project using drumming and the drum circle to empower women and youth to develop skills in conflict resolution. Janelle is presently working on a solo CD featuring the UDU drum www.rhythmgames.org www.janelleburdell.com
	David Romero Percussionist formerly with Earth, Wind and Fire, David is now with the Wayne Newton Orchestra at The Stardust in Las Vegas and on tour, along with his own Afro-Caribbean band "David Romero and Kumpakin." www.david-romero.com
Vinx Vocals, djembe, percussion for his band "VINX" and Jungle Funk. "Zendrum has created a bridge from acoustic to electronic hand percussion, from past to future. Onstage I use the Zendrum to trigger my loops and samples; on my djembe I use the Zendrum triggers to bring me up in the mix without compromising my vocals." www.vinx.com
	Carter McLean "I use the Zendrum in two ways: on a stand next to my drumkit, triggering melodic samples like flute or African singers; then I wear it out front centerstage to do solos. In my solos I use 3 layers of sounds with the 4-note crossfading feature. The velocity control of the triggers is so sensitive that with the softest tap I play the 1st layer, drums, then with a harder tap the next layer, strings & melodic sounds, then the hardest tap brings out the 3rd layer, vocals & flutes, from my sampler. The Zendrum lets you create rhythm as well as melodic structure at the same time."
Jordan Lipp Drummer with Jive Turkey, recorded the band's jazz-fusion CD "There Are No Words" playing only the Zendrum. "The Zendrum is not only a new instrument with endless possibilities, but a completely new way of thinking and playing. The Zendrum is the smallest and yet the largest drumset I've ever played!"
	Paul DeStefano Playing with Too Hip For The Room, Paul abandoned the traditional percussion of their first CD for the variety and nuance of the Zendrum on their follow-up CD, "What Am I Doing On The Moon" and has used it on all recordnigs since then. Paul became so taken by the Zendrum that he moderates the user forums, created the Resource Site which is now part of Zendrum.com and is our webmaster. www.toohipfortheroom.com
Mike Morgan Mike has been playing the Zendrum almost as long as the Zendrum has been commercially available. The first time Mike played the Zendrum with Upstate NY's "Wild Geese" the fate of the already popular band was sealed; the Wild Geese suddenly had a new member and the acoustic band could finally have a drum set player that didn't overpower them in small venues. Before his association with The Wild Geese, Mike used the Zendrum in a "Power Acoustic Duo" called Billy Brown and Buster, Pit Orchestra gigs and an assortment of jazz, rock and funk bands. Mike can be heard playing the Zendrum on two of the Wild Geese CD releases; "Back to the Boozer" and "Unplucked".
	John Emrich Drummer/Percussionist and producer. Sound designer for Fxpansion, designed the Jazz & Funk expansion pack for BFD. John is currently pioneering a new direction for edrummers by using a MUSE Receptor to perform with his Zendrum in a software enviroment. www.johnemrich.com
Mike Farrell Mike is the drummer for the band The Others, and former drummer of Mighty OV. "I play my Zendrum during my solo at our shows, and it always leaves the crowd wanting me to play it more." Mike can be "heard" and sometimes "seen" using the Zendrum in theatre productions in the Philadelphia area as well.
	Paul Jennings Paul Jennings Paul Jennings is the drummer for the Scottish based Fred Morrison Band. Paul has also played with many other leading groups in the UK including Scotland's Croft No. Five, and British acts Cappercalie, Mira, Fred Morrison, Andrew White, The Blizzards, Jenna Reid, Emily Smith and Boys of the Lough as well as being part of the highly acclaimed band Old Blind Dogs from 1999 to 2002. Paul has toured extensivly across Europe and the USA, and each January he performs music written for Zendrum at the annual Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. www.myspace.com/fredmorrisonband
Rob Silverman Zendrummer with "Bach to the Future" and "Downtown Trio," best-selling drum instructional author of Mel Bay's "Drumset 101" and "Drumset for the 21st Century," Rob Silverman travels the country with a multiple Zendrum set-up, thrilling audiences everywhere he goes. "The Zendrum has opened doors for me I never could have imagined. Everyone is so intrigued with the instrument, and you can play it in places where acoustic drums would be too cumbersome." His group the Downtown Trio is the house band on a weekly sports/variety show called 'The Fan Show" on the WB network. "I think we got the gig over every other band because of the Zendrum. It was so unique, and from a technical point of view, it was easier to mix for sound than a standard kit." www.downtowntrio.com www.bachtothefuture.net

Mo'Rockin
"Mo'Rockin" at Epcot Moroccan Pavilion www.morockin.com
Phillip Bailey
Singer for Earth, Wind & Fire.
Sammy Figueroa
Legendary Percussionist. Has recorded and performed with hundreds of artists around the world.
Mick Fleetwood
Drummer, founder of Fleetwood Mac. "There is a lot of depth to the Zendrum. It's a real instrument, it's not like a toy."
Jon Hassell
Trumpet, soundtrack composer; Brian Eno, Sting, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel
Ramon Huggins
DJ in LA; concert & studio drum and keyboard tech with Earth, Wind and Fire, Paisley Park, Toni Braxton tour, Whitney Houston tour, & others
Mark Mothersbaugh
Devo, Smart Patrol, soundtrack composer
Eric Mouquet
Keyboardist with Deep Forest
Jamie Muhoberac
Keyboardist with Seal, Ry Cooder; soundtrack composer
Stephen Perkins
Drummer with Porno For Pyros, Jane's Addiction
Vicki Randle
Percussionist & vocalist with the Tonight Show Orchestra
Terry Santiel
Percussionist with Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, others
David Van Tiegham
Percussionist with Laurie Anderson, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, David Byrne
Victor Wooten
Bassist with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Vital Tech Tones, as well as Solo. www.victorwooten.comIf you would like to link to Zendrum, please visit our Banner page.