4882 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball, Disc Two (2006) (REPOST)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''FOR REX: THE BLACK TIE DYE BALL, DISC TWO''
RECORDED AT THE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2005
2006
120:03

DISC ONE
1/Iko-Iko/James ''Sugarboy'' Crawford/9:40
2/No Better Way/Will McFarlane/5:31
3/Arise/Jeff Mattson/7:24
4/When There's Two There's Trouble/Michael Falzarano/5:57
5/Garden of Eden/John Dawson/11:30
6/Down the Road/K. Black, K, McCool/4:16
7/When You Say When/Hunter, Barraco/7:00
8/Goin' to Florence/B. Godchaux/6:06

DISC TWO
1/A Different World/T. Stern/9:36
2/Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad/Traditional/9:33
3/All Night Long Blues/Tom Circosta/3:38
4/The One/Jeff Mattson/7:33
5/I'll Be with Thee/Dorothy Love Coates/5:38
6/Any Naked Eye/David Nelson/; People Are Strange/Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek, Morrison/13:42
7/The Music Never Stopped/Barlow, Weir/6:51
8/Ripple/Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter/5:31

Jeff Mattson/Lead Guitar, Vocals
Klyph Black/Bass Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals
Tom Circosta/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Joe Ciarvella/Drums
Special Guests:
Mickey Hart/Vocals, Cowbell
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay/Vocals
David Nelson/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Constanten/Organ, Piano, Vocals
Michael Falzarano/Guitar, Vocals
Rob Barraco/Piano, Organ, Vocals
Greg Anton/Drums
David MacKay/Bass
Wendy Lanter/Vocals
Produced by Donna Jean, David Mackay & The Zen Tricksters

On November 12, 2005, The Zen Tricksters and Special Guests, Mickey Hart, Donna Jean Godchaux, David Nelson, Tom Constanten, Michael Falzarano, Rob Barraco, Greg Anton, David Mackay and Wendy Lanter, came together for the first ever NYC Rex Foundation Black Tie-Dye Ball Benefit and created a night of incredible musical chemistry. Recorded LIVE at the Concert Hall , New York Society of Ethical Culture. This Two Disk Set captures the amazing energy of the concert. All the proceeds of the sale of this CD go to the Rex Foundation.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4881 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball, Disc One (2006) (REPOST)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''FOR REX: THE BLACK TIE DYE BALL, DISC ONE''
RECORDED AT THE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2005
2006
120:03

DISC ONE
1/Iko-Iko/James ''Sugarboy'' Crawford/9:40
2/No Better Way/Will McFarlane/5:31
3/Arise/Jeff Mattson/7:24
4/When There's Two There's Trouble/Michael Falzarano/5:57
5/Garden of Eden/John Dawson/11:30
6/Down the Road/K. Black, K, McCool/4:16
7/When You Say When/Hunter, Barraco/7:00
8/Goin' to Florence/B. Godchaux/6:06

DISC TWO
1/A Different World/T. Stern/9:36
2/Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad/Traditional/9:33
3/All Night Long Blues/Tom Circosta/3:38
4/The One/Jeff Mattson/7:33
5/I'll Be with Thee/Dorothy Love Coates/5:38
6/Any Naked Eye/David Nelson/; People Are Strange/Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek, Morrison/13:42
7/The Music Never Stopped/Barlow, Weir/6:51
8/Ripple/Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter/5:31

Jeff Mattson/Lead Guitar, Vocals
Klyph Black/Bass Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals
Tom Circosta/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Joe Ciarvella/Drums
Special Guests:
Mickey Hart/Vocals, Cowbell
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay/Vocals
David Nelson/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Constanten/Organ, Piano, Vocals
Michael Falzarano/Guitar, Vocals
Rob Barraco/Piano, Organ, Vocals
Greg Anton/Drums
David MacKay/Bass
Wendy Lanter/Vocals
Produced by Donna Jean, David Mackay & The Zen Tricksters

On November 12, 2005, The Zen Tricksters and Special Guests, Mickey Hart, Donna Jean Godchaux, David Nelson, Tom Constanten, Michael Falzarano, Rob Barraco, Greg Anton, David Mackay and Wendy Lanter, came together for the first ever NYC Rex Foundation Black Tie-Dye Ball Benefit and created a night of incredible musical chemistry. Recorded LIVE at the Concert Hall , New York Society of Ethical Culture. This Two Disk Set captures the amazing energy of the concert. All the proceeds of the sale of this CD go to the Rex Foundation.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4880 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - Mexicali Blues Oct 30th 04, Disc Three (2004)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''MEXICALI BLUES OCT 30TH 04, DISC THREE''
2004
174:09

DISC ONE
01 - Where's the Count Klyph/3:52
02 - See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (One Kind Favor)/7:03
03 - Lay Your Love/4:29
04 - Jam/6:28
05 - Cumberland Blues/6:43
06 - Not Quite Enough/6:28
07 - Shine Your Light/10:38
08 - Warm Heart/5:18
09 - Jam/7:15
10 - Death Don't Have No Mercy/10:19
11 - Werewolves of London/6:10

DISC TWO
01 - Munster Theme Nod/0:36
02 - A Prisoner Say His Piece/4:14
03 - The Music Never Stopped/7:43
04 - Long Black Veil/5:09
05 - Dear Prudence/8:35
06 - Down the Road/3:29
07 - The Squid/0:18
08 - Season of the Witch/8:57
09 - Light of Life/5:56
10 - Scarlet Begonias/10:06
11 - Fire on the Mountain/10:50

DISC THREE
01 - New Potato Caboose/10:35
02 - I Know You Rider/8:17
03 - New Potato Caboose (Reprise)/0:36
04 - One More Saturday Night/4:38
05 - Sympathy for the Devil/8:24

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4879 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - Mexicali Blues Oct 30th 04, Disc Two (2004)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''MEXICALI BLUES OCT 30TH 04, DISC TWO''
2004
174:09

DISC ONE
01 - Where's the Count Klyph/3:52
02 - See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (One Kind Favor)/7:03
03 - Lay Your Love/4:29
04 - Jam/6:28
05 - Cumberland Blues/6:43
06 - Not Quite Enough/6:28
07 - Shine Your Light/10:38
08 - Warm Heart/5:18
09 - Jam/7:15
10 - Death Don't Have No Mercy/10:19
11 - Werewolves of London/6:10

DISC TWO
01 - Munster Theme Nod/0:36
02 - A Prisoner Say His Piece/4:14
03 - The Music Never Stopped/7:43
04 - Long Black Veil/5:09
05 - Dear Prudence/8:35
06 - Down the Road/3:29
07 - The Squid/0:18
08 - Season of the Witch/8:57
09 - Light of Life/5:56
10 - Scarlet Begonias/10:06
11 - Fire on the Mountain/10:50

DISC THREE
01 - New Potato Caboose/10:35
02 - I Know You Rider/8:17
03 - New Potato Caboose (Reprise)/0:36
04 - One More Saturday Night/4:38
05 - Sympathy for the Devil/8:24

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4878 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - Mexicali Blues Oct 30th 04, Disc One (2004)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''MEXICALI BLUES OCT 30TH 04, DISC ONE''
2004
174:09

DISC ONE
01 - Where's the Count Klyph/3:52
02 - See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (One Kind Favor)/7:03
03 - Lay Your Love/4:29
04 - Jam/6:28
05 - Cumberland Blues/6:43
06 - Not Quite Enough/6:28
07 - Shine Your Light/10:38
08 - Warm Heart/5:18
09 - Jam/7:15
10 - Death Don't Have No Mercy/10:19
11 - Werewolves of London/6:10

DISC TWO
01 - Munster Theme Nod/0:36
02 - A Prisoner Say His Piece/4:14
03 - The Music Never Stopped/7:43
04 - Long Black Veil/5:09
05 - Dear Prudence/8:35
06 - Down the Road/3:29
07 - The Squid/0:18
08 - Season of the Witch/8:57
09 - Light of Life/5:56
10 - Scarlet Begonias/10:06
11 - Fire on the Mountain/10:50

DISC THREE
01 - New Potato Caboose/10:35
02 - I Know You Rider/8:17
03 - New Potato Caboose (Reprise)/0:36
04 - One More Saturday Night/4:38
05 - Sympathy for the Devil/8:24

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4877 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - Shaking Off The Weirdness (2003)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''SHAKING OFF THE WEIRDNESS''
AUGUST 1 2003
59:07

1/Talk of the Town
Jeff Mattson/8:29
2/Light of Life
Klyph Black/5:54
3/All Night Long Blues
Tom Circosta/2:36
4/Waiting for a Sign
Klyph Black/4:12
5/Sleepwalking
Jeff Mattson/7:14
6/Last Ten Years/5:16
7/The One
Jeff Mattson/7:27
8/No One Said It'd Be Easy
Klyph Black/4:25
9/High Horse
Jeff Mattson/9:51
10/The Dean Street Mess Around
Jeff Mattson/3:42

Rob Barraco /Piano
Klyph Black /Bass, Dobro, Guitar, Vocals
Buddy Cage /Pedal Steel
Christian Cassan /Percussion, Piano (Electric)
Tom Circosta /Guitar, Vocals
Jason Crosby /Baritone Violin, Fiddle
Jeff Mattson /Guitar, Vocals

REVIEW
by Jesse Jarnow
Much of the Zen Tricksters' vocabulary -- both musical and literal -- is drawn from the musical universe of the Grateful Dead. Considering the fact that the Tricksters have spent the better part of the last 20 years as one of the country's premier Dead cover bands, that's not a surprise. What is surprising, however, is how effective their original material it is. Sure, much of the band's sound is firmly in the mode of their main influence, but it is delightfully free of rhythmic lumber of the Dead. Indeed, the Tricksters seem to have taken the lessons of the Dead's best periods of the late '60s and early '70s and stripped them down. "The One" sounds like a jazzier version of a Jerry Garcia ballad from American Beauty, while "Talk of the Town" hones in on jazzier elements. The band's jamming is affable and comfortable, sticking mostly to acoustic sounds. Refreshingly, the Tricksters pull it off without sounding like a tribute act.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4876 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - A Love Surreal (1999)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''A LOVE SURREAL''
AUGUST 14 1999
63:46

1/Eilat
Bari Koral / Jeff Mattson/4:20
2/Warm Heart
Jennifer Markard / Jeff Mattson/11:36
3/Where You Want to Be
Dave Diamond/6:09
4/Who Are You
Rob Barraco/3:29
5/Goin' Down Slow
Jeff Mattson/11:47
6/That's All
Jeff Mattson/4:34
7/Down the Road
Klyph Black/3:44
8/Calliope
Rob Barraco/5:03
9/Call of the Wild
Rob Barraco / Jennifer Markard/8:02
10/Say That I Am
Bari Koral / Jeff Mattson/5:02

Rob Barraco /Fender Rhodes, Organ, Piano, Vocals
Klyph Black /Bass, Dobro, Vocals
Joe Chirco /Cardboard Box, Drums, Percussion
Jeff Mattson /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals
Barry Sless /Pedal Steel

REVIEW
by Gary Hill
Picture a Grateful Dead that is a bit tighter and a lot more jazz oriented and you have the Zen Tricksters. The vocals and music on this disc are very much in the mode of the Grateful Dead, but with a very precise approach and a lot of jazz-oriented instrumental breaks. the Zen Tricksters are Jeff Mattson, Rob Barraco, Klyph Black, and Joe Chirco. Barry Sless and Jennifer McCallister join them on the disc.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

4875 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - The Holy Fool (1996)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''THE HOLY FOOL''
JULY 18 1996
67:53

1. Victim Of Circumstance /4:30
2. Arise /5:10
3. Done Is Done /6:20
4. Drownin' /4:33
5. Body Parts (The Anatomy Of A Breakup) /3:56
6. Shine Your Light /9:43
7. Mother Found A Gun /4:19
8. Hoodoo /4:28
9. Not Quite Enough /6:47
10. Blinding Light /4:10
11. Lay Your Love /10:21
12. Homesick /3:36

REVIEW
by Stanton Swihart
Those who have only heard Zen Tricksters' reputation as a "jam" band and not its actual music might expect the songs on its debut album to be longwinded or dominated by extended instrumental excursions. Instead The Holy Fool is surprisingly soulful with tight, though involved, song structures. In a couple of words, downright poppy, though in a skewed sense of the word, and, in comparison to their concert interplay, rather succinct. Some of the songs seem like melodically slight excuses to play a certain style or utilize a certain musical touch, but mostly the songwriting maintains a high standard. The music is certainly varied: beginning with the jazz-fusion of "Victim of Circumstance," the Tricksters switch from bouncy world music ("Arise") to rootsy folk-rock ("Shine Your Light") to the vaguely gospelish "Not Quite Enough," and "Mother Found a Gun" downright swings. "Done Is Done" riffs on a chunky, country beat, but theZen Tricksters seem incapable of playing something as straight as country without twisting it into something much more involved and fun. Though all the instrumentalists are stellar, the star of the show is Rob Barraco, whose nimble-fingered keyboards always enhance the songs in just the right way. If there is a musical point of contention on The Holy Fool, it may be that the album has an overall studio sheen that doesn't entirely reflect the band's complex, sometimes gritty, musical interaction onstage. Of course, it is natural, even expected, to soften the edges of a live show in the studio, and, if anyone's listening experience is affected, it is most likely to be someone who is already a longtime fan of the band and, thus, more used to the band's live sound. The album also might have benefitted from a consistent lead vocalist. Each member is a solid (though not scintillating) vocalist in his own right, but former lead vocalist Jen Markard (who co-wrote four songs on the album) lends her wonderful vocals to "Homesick," making that song one of strongest efforts on the album. Her presence on the rest of the songs might well have taken The Holy Fool to an even higher level than it has already reached. Still, for most listeners, The Holy Fool is bound to be an enjoyable experience because it is a solid, fun album full of vigorous melodies and beautiful playing.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
DoWnLoAd

0042 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - FOR REX: THE BLACK TIE DYE BALL, DISC TWO (2006)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''FOR REX: THE BLACK TIE DYE BALL, DISC TWO''
2006
RECORDED AT THE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2005
HGB/ZEBRA TANGO
DOWNLOAD

1/A Different World/T. Stern/9:36
2/Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad/Traditional/9:33
3/All Night Long Blues/Tom Circosta/3:38
4/The One/Jeff Mattson/7:33
5/I'll Be with Thee/Dorothy Love Coates/5:38
6/Any Naked Eye/David Nelson/; People Are Strange/Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek, Morrison/13:42
7/The Music Never Stopped/Barlow, Weir/6:51
8/Ripple/Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter/5:31

The Zen Tricksters
Jeff Mattson/Lead Guitar, Vocals
Klyph Black/Bass Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals
Tom Circosta/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Joe Ciarvella/Drums
Special Guests:
Mickey Hart/Vocals, Cowbell
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay/Vocals
David Nelson/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Constanten/Organ, Piano, Vocals
Michael Falzarano/Guitar, Vocals
Rob Barraco/Piano, Organ, Vocals
Greg Anton/Drums
David MacKay/Bass
Wendy Lanter/Vocals
Produced by Donna Jean, David Mackay & The Zen Tricksters

On November 12, 2005, The Zen Tricksters and Special Guests, Mickey Hart, Donna Jean Godchaux, David Nelson, Tom Constanten, Michael Falzarano, Rob Barraco, Greg Anton, David Mackay and Wendy Lanter, came together for the first ever NYC Rex Foundation Black Tie-Dye Ball Benefit and created a night of incredible musical chemistry. Recorded LIVE at the Concert Hall , New York Society of Ethical Culture. This Two Disk Set captures the amazing energy of the concert. All the proceeds of the sale of this CD go to the Rex Foundation.

09:51 15/2/2012

0041 - THE ZEN TRICKSTERS - FOR REX: THE BLACK TIE DYE BALL, DISC ONE (2006)

THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''FOR REX: THE BLACK TIE DYE BALL, DISC ONE''
2006
RECORDED AT THE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2005
HGB/ZEBRA TANGO
DOWNLOAD

1/Iko-Iko/James ''Sugarboy'' Crawford/9:40
2/No Better Way/Will McFarlane/5:31
3/Arise/Jeff Mattson/7:24
4/When There's Two There's Trouble/Michael Falzarano/5:57
5/Garden of Eden/John Dawson/11:30
6/Down the Road/K. Black, K, McCool/4:16
7/When You Say When/Hunter, Barraco/7:00
8/Goin' to Florence/B. Godchaux/6:06

The Zen Tricksters
Jeff Mattson/Lead Guitar, Vocals
Klyph Black/Bass Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals
Tom Circosta/Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Joe Ciarvella/Drums
Special Guests:
Mickey Hart/Vocals, Cowbell
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay/Vocals
David Nelson/Guitar, Vocals
Tom Constanten/Organ, Piano, Vocals
Michael Falzarano/Guitar, Vocals
Rob Barraco/Piano, Organ, Vocals
Greg Anton/Drums
David MacKay/Bass
Wendy Lanter/Vocals
Produced by Donna Jean, David Mackay & The Zen Tricksters

On November 12, 2005, The Zen Tricksters and Special Guests, Mickey Hart, Donna Jean Godchaux, David Nelson, Tom Constanten, Michael Falzarano, Rob Barraco, Greg Anton, David Mackay and Wendy Lanter, came together for the first ever NYC Rex Foundation Black Tie-Dye Ball Benefit and created a night of incredible musical chemistry. Recorded LIVE at the Concert Hall , New York Society of Ethical Culture. This Two Disk Set captures the amazing energy of the concert. All the proceeds of the sale of this CD go to the Rex Foundation.

09:49 15/2/2012