BIO | official-website

ZIAD SOPRANO, ALTO & TENOR SAXOPHONE * COMPOSER * ARRANGER * PRODUCER * RECORDING ARTIST * INSTRUCTOR

RECORDED PERFORMANCES:

Ziad’s talent as a saxophone instrumentalist has resulted in recorded performances with regional and national acts. Recorded performances include:·

Billboard #1 top selling gospel album “We Walk By Faith” by James Cleveland Life Time Achievement Stellar Award winner Rev. John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir on Verity Records·
Billboard #1 gospel album “From a Songwriter’s Point of View” by Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers on Gospocentric Records·
Featured saxophone performance on the album “Next Step” by the legendary Godfather of Soul James Brown·
“Devotion” by Company on Giant/Warner Records·
“Ooo Wee” by Drea Randle on Verity Records (Gospel)·
“A Special Christmas Gift” by Rev. John P. Kee on Tyscott label·
“I’m Coming Home for Christmas” by the legendary Impressions on Rebirth Records·
Solo album “Ziad” on the JZR/WCG label ( National Release)·
“Emergence” by Ziad on the Laser Records label (Independent)·
“Transylvania 90210” by Wednesday 13 on Roadrunner Records (International Release)·
“Crazy Cryin’ Blues” by Robin Rogers on the 95 North Label·
“What If” by Evonne Rivera on Sweet Bottom Records·
“Where’d You Hide The Body” by James McMurtry on Columbia/USA·
“Small Town Gone” by Chris Cook on Gaff Records·
“Seaside Love” by Billy Scott and the Prophets (performing on the hit song “Slow Shag”)·
“Heartaches, Hangovers & A Whole Lotta Hope by Rayen Belchere on Lemonade Records·
“Funky Café” by Skip Walker & Macrorhythm·
The Soap Opera “Santa Barbara”·
WPEG Radio “The Quiet Storm Theme”

PERFORMED LIVE WITH OR OPENED FOR:

Ramsey Lewis, Grover Washington Jr., Ronnie Laws, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Buddy Rich, Mark Colby, Tom Scott, Greg Karukas (Grammy winning Smooth Jazz artist), Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls, Nneena Freelon, The Ohio Players, Jeffrey Osborne, Howard Hewett, The O’Jays, O.C. Smith, Don Dixon, Kim Waters, Melba Moore, The Crusaders, Koko Taylor, The Emotions, Freddie Jackson, Jim Belushi, The Dregs, Herbie Mann, Victor Bailey (Weather Report), Jane L. Powell, Jon Smith (Edgar Winter & White Trash, Toto..), Johnny Winter, Mic Gillette (Tower of Power), Fattburger, Keiko Matsui, Ron Holloway, Tyrone Jefferson (James Brown, A Sign Of The Times), Martha High (James Brown), Billy Scott, Maria Howell, Bob Margolin (Muddy Waters), Russell Malone (Harry Connick, Diana Krall, Sonny Rollins), T.S. Monk III, Chris Brubeck, Frederic Yonnet (Prince, Stevie Wonder...), Curtis Taylor, Kristine W., Jim Brock, Nicolas Bearde, Martin Bejerano, Joe Gransden, Danny Walsh, Kobie Watkins, Al Strong, Justin Ray, Andre Ferreri…...

EDUCATION:
B.A. Political Science and B.A. Philosophy from Wake Forest University—Four years in the WFU Jazz Ensemble·
Studied Jazz Theory with Bill Hanna (Trombone Stan Kenton, Woody Herman)·
Studied Advanced Jazz Improvisation privately for 3.5 years with internationally acclaimed educator/author/musician Jerry Coker at University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

CURRENTLY:

Ziad is the Artistic Director for the First Friday JAZZ AT THE BECHTLER series at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art where he has performed with the Ziad Jazz Quartet since May 2010. Each concert has sold out has since the series began in May 2010. See