The Dave Zinno Jazz Trio

Every once in a while one gets a chance to see a musician who is truly at the top of their game. The type of musician who, as you watch them play, you can tell that they seem as one with their instrument. Their complete dominance of the instrument makes the instrument seem to be an extension of themselves.  Well, yesterday I had the opportunity to see three of them. Yes three……be jealous now.

            I had the opportunity to see the Dave Zinno Jazz Trio at URI. Dave is a faculty member in jazz studies at URI and Brown University. He has played all over the United States, Europe and South America as well as Cairo, Egypt. Dave is clearly a master of the double bass. I sat riveted as Dave demonstrated his tremendous skills. He used finger plucking, played octaves, strummed and used a bow in ways that I’d never seen, including a tapping technique.

            With Dave, playing piano was Tim Ray. Tim was Lyle Lovett’s pianist for 15 years. Tim has played at Carnegie Hall and several times at the White House. He has toured the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Central America. He is a faculty member at the New England Conservatory, Berklee and URI. Watching Tim was amazing.  He reached into the grand piano and muted notes as he played by touching vibrating strings inside the piano. He also used a sweeping technique by again, reaching inside the piano and “strumming” across strings.

            The drummer for the trio’s afternoon recital was Steve Langone. A graduate of Berklee, Steve has played on television and film soundtracks including Sesame Street, National Geographic and Miramax films. He has toured the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Albania, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Steve is also a faculty member at URI. Steve used a combination of sticks, mallets, brushes and his hands in his playing. I’d never seen any drummer use some of the techniques that Steve did. He even used the end of a stick on a cymbal to make a very unusual sound that worked quite nicely in the piece the trio was playing.

            These fine artists were taking part in the URI University Artist Series. I’ll certainly be back. This recital was truly a treat. I don’t know all the correct terminology for the techniques used, but I can tell you that I was mesmerized.

Don’t miss a chance to see The Dave Zinno Jazz Trio.

Please check the URI music department’s calendar of events for further recital dates.