Marc Z + Musician in Minneapolis, MN

ABOUT

Marc Ziegenhagen (Marc Z.) began playing piano at age 3. In his early teens he discovered a passion for Jazz Fusion and Progressive Rock. Enrolling at Berklee College of Music in Boston at age 19, Marc immersed himself in the transcription and performance of the music of Frank Zappa. By age 23, Marc had performed at The Ritz in New York City in “Zappa’s Universe,” a 4-night, sold out performace featuring an orchestra and rock band made up of notable Zappa Alumni. The PolyGram CD release of this performance won a Grammy in 1992 for “Best Rock Instrumental” with Steve Vai on guitar.

Marc went on to freelance in the Twin Cities, touring briefly with guitarist Jonny Lang, as well as recording and touring nationally & in Holland with Mike Keneally, formerly guitarist with Zappa.

Currently, Marc continues to work in music performance, composition, private instruction, production and recording in Minneapolis, MN.

* 1997-2002 - Mike Keneally US Tour & Europe. Played keyboards with former Zappa & Steve Vai guitarist Mike Keneally's band "Beer For Dolphins." Did two US tours, two shows in Holland, and a bunch shows in California. Appears on three of Keneally's CD's.

* In 1991, performed in "Zappa's Universe" at The Ritz in NYC. The CD of the first of 4 shows won a Grammy w/ Steve Vai for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1993.

* 2008 - CD, Progrock Records - Played piano & synth on Andrew Gorczyca - Reflections - An Act of Glass
Genre: Progressive Rock
Appeared on recorded tracks with Adrian Belew & Phil Keegy
.chris-g/reflections/

* 2009 - CD Exowax - Appeared on "Wine and Pickles" by Mike Keneally
Genre: Progressive Rock/Alternative Rock
.connollyco/discography/mike_keneally/wine.html

* 2002 - Live Performance - ProgFest '02, Clairmont, CA.
Performed Kevin Gilbert's "The Shaming of the True."
Genre: progressive-rock opera.
Performed with Nick D'Virgillio (Spocks Beard) and Mike Keneally.
.kevingilbert/rehearsal.htm

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Complete Bio:



Jan. 1988 – Present
Professional Musician, Pianist/Keyboardist, Transcriptionist, Composer, Instructor, Business Manager, Online Marketing & Promotions.
Boston, MA & Minneapolis, MN

• Accompanies local and national artists in rock, jazz, blues, soul, reggae, fusion, pop and improvisational idioms.
• Provides solo piano for lounges, bars, weddings & receptions, and corporate events.
• Provides private music instruction for adult students in their homes.
• Records, performs and tours nationally & internationally. (See “Artists List” below)
• Transcribes contemporary guitar and piano music for publication and professional use. (See “Publications” below)
• Creates and developes music instructional articles and books. (See “Publications” below)
• Composes and produces music for television, radio, video and broadcast.



August 2008 - Present
Keyboards
Exit Stage Right: A Tribute to Rush
://./tribute2rush

• Covers analog synthesizer & Moog Taurus Pedal parts in material from Rush's Progressive Rock Era (1977-1981) and Synthsizer Period (1982-1989)



Feb. 2008 - June 2009
Management, Development, Musical Direction, Publicity/Marketing, Arranger & Keyboardist
What's That? (a Radiohead Project)
://.citypages/2009-02-04/news/radiohead-cover-band-seeks-to-unlock-thom-yorke-s-genius/1

• Founded and directed a 6-piece ensemble performing unique arrangements of Radiohead material.
• Secured a featured cover story with City Pages/Village Voice, Minneapolis, published Feb. 2009. (see link above).



Keyboards
Kevin Gilbert's "The Shaming Of The True"
Nick D'Virgillio
ProgWest 2002, Claremont, CA
://.kevingilbert/rehearsal.htm

• Played keyboards in live performance of Kevin Gilbert's posthumous Rock Opera, with Mike Keneally on guitar under the direction of Nick D'Virgillio.



Musical Director/Keyboardist
The Steely Band: A Presentation of the Music of Steely Dan
://./steelingdan

• Prepared horn charts and directed rehearsals and live performances for 13-piece ensemble.
• Created unique arrangements of classic & obscure Steely Dan material.



Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Mike Keneally
://.keneally

• Played keyboards in 2 US tours, Holland, and multiple California shows with Keneally & both a 4-piece and 8-piece band, "Beer for Dolphins."
://keneally/music.html
• Played keyboards on 3 Keneally CD's: "Dancing," "Dancing With Myself (Live & Acoustic)"and "Wine and Pickles."
://.keneally/discography/dancing.html



Nov. 7 – 10, 1991
Keyboards, Sound Effects, Vocal Rehearsal Director
“Zappa’s Universe” 25th Year Celebration, The Ritz, NYC, NY
://.nytimes/1991/11/12/arts/classical-music-in-review-320091.html?

• 1994 Grammy Award Winner for "Sofa," Best Rock Instrumental Performance, featuring Steve Vai.
• Performed with Dweezil Zappa, Steve Vai, Scott Thunes, Mike Keneally, Dale Bozzio, Rockapella, The Persuasions and others for four sold-out shows.
• Developed multiple full-score transcriptions and charts from more than two dozen original recordings by Frank Zappa.
• Prepared parts for a 30-piece orchestra and rock band of dozens of Zappa compositions.
• Rehearsal Director for vocal groups Rockapella & The Persuasions.



1990 – 1993
Music for Picture Composer/Producer
Multiple Production Houses, Twin Cities, MN & Chedd-Angier Productions, Boston, MA

• Composed and produced soundtrack and incidental music for broadcast on PBS Television, Corporate, Industrial and show room videos. (Clients included Nordictrack, Ecolab, Health Partners, Minnesota Mutual Insurance, and Crestliner Boats).



Music Transcriptionist and Writer
Harris Publications, New York, NY
Cherry Lane Publications, Port Chester, NY

• Produced manuscript, tablature and written analysis of contemporary guitar music for publication in “Guitar School” & “Guitar for the Practicing Musician” magazines, as well as various instructional music books available in music stores worldwide. (See “Publications” below)



EDUCATION

1987-1991
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Major: Professional Music
Minor: Ear Training, Music Synthesis, and Transcription

1986
Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN
Studies: Music Theory

1985
Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, MN
Studies: Music Notation

1985
Film In The Cities, St. Paul, MN
Studies: Analog Multi-track Recording

1985
Burnsville Senior High School, Burnsville, MN
Diploma

1980-1982
MacPhail School of Music, Minneapolis, MN
Private Piano Instruction



SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Guitar World & Guitar School, Harris Publications – 1991
• “Suite Judy Blue Eyes,” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Guitar Transcription
• “Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut” – The Stray Cats – Guitar Transcription

Society Pages International: A Magazine About Frank Zappa – 1989 – 1990
• Not Necessarily For Musicians Only, Vol. I – Essays on the Technical Aspects of Frank Zappa’s Music
• Not Necessarily For Musicians Only, Vol. II – Essays on the Technical Aspects of Frank Zappa’s Music

Cherry Lane Music Company – 1989
• “Storm Troopers of Death – Speak English or Die – Songs and Analysis”



SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

• Mike Keneally - Wine And Pickles - (2008, cd, usa, Europe, Exowax Records)

• Andrew Gorczyca - Reflections - An Act of Glass - (2008, cd, usa, Progrock Records) - Appears on 2 tracks with Adrian Belew & Phil Keeggy.

• Chris Opperman – Concepts of Non-Linear Time (2004, cd, usa. Purple Cow Records)

• Steve Vai – Mystery Tracks – Archives Vol. III – (2003, cd, usa, europe, asia, Favored Nations)

• Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins – Dancing With Myself – Live & Acoustic at the Baked Potato - (2001, cd, usa, Europe, Exowax Records)

• Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins – Dancing – (2000, cd, usa, Europe, Exowax Records)

• Various Artists – Choice Morsels - incl. various zappa band alumni performing frank zappa's compositions - (1993, cd, usa, nl, PolyGram/Verve)

• Torture Time Vol. I – A Sampler of Frank Zappa’s Music Compact Disc – (1992, cd, usa, europe, Muffin Records)

• Various Artists: Zappa’s Universe – A Celebration of 25 Years of Frank Zappa’s Music (1993, cd, nl, PolyGram/verve 513575-2) - 1993 - Grammy Award Winner 1993 – Best Rock Instrumental – Steve Vai, Performer.

Music Industry Experience:
Has performed live, recorded and/or toured with the following:

Adrian Belew
Bryan Beller (Mike Keneally, Steve Vai)
Cash McCall
Cynthia Johnson (Lips, Inc.)
Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum)
Dennis Spears (Moore By Four)
Dr. Mambo’s Combo
Gordon Johnson (Chuck Mangione)
Gordy Knudtson (Steve Miller Band)
Greazy Meal
Hiram Bullock (Jaco Pastorius, David Letterman)
Joe Puerta (Ambrosia, Bruce Hornsby)
Joe Travers (Zappa Plays Zappa)
Jonny Lang
Kurt Neumann (The BoDeans)
Mark Ledford (Pat Metheny)
Mats Öberg (Jonas Knutson, Zappstetoot)
Michael Bland, Sonny Thompson, Mike Scott, Kurt Johnson, The Horn Headz (Prince & the NPG)
Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai)
Morgan Agren (Frederik Thordendahl, Zappstetoot)
Nick D’Virgillio (Spock’s Beard, Tears for Fears)
Otis Clay
Phil Keaggy
Phil Solem (The Rembrandts)
Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie)
Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa)
Steve Vai
Syl Johnson
Tony Maiden (Chaka Kahn)
Vernon Reid (Living Color)
Wain McFarlane (Ipso Facto)

Screen name:

Marc Z

Member since:

Oct 26 2007

Active within 1 week

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

45

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

6-7 nights a week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

Biggest all-around influence has to be Frank Zappa because so much of his work rubbed off on me and became a jumping-off point to discovering so many other musicians and styles.

Other influences would be Herbie Hancock, Mats Oberg, Lyle Mays, Keith Jarrett, Jan Hammer, (early) Steve Vai, and others listed below whose work has connected with me in really big ways and whose aesthetic may occasionally seep into mine.

Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Benny Green, Bernie Worrell, Chad Wackerman, Chick Corea, Christopher O’Riley, Donald Fagen, Doobie Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, Gene Harris, Gentle Giant, George Duke, Igor Stravinsky, Jaco Pastorius, James Brown, Jimmy Smith, John Cage, John McLaughlin, John Zorn, Joe Zawinul, Joey DeFrancesco, Joni Mitchell, Kevin Gilbert, Led Zeppelin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Marvin Gaye, Michael McDonald, Mike Keneally, Miles Davis, Mr. Bungle, Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Return to Forever, Robert Fripp, Rush, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Thelonious Monk, Thom Yorke, Tommy Mars, XTC, Yes.

Instrument experience:

Keyboard:

Expert

Piano:

Expert

Other:

Advanced

Vocalist:

Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Roland Juno DS-88
Korg T3-EX
Yamaha Motif Rack
Korg Triton
Korg BX-3 Organ w/ Pro-3 Leslie Simulator
Wurlitzer
Melodica
MacBook
Mutron Bi-Phase

MUSIC

CALENDAR

Past Events

FORUM POSTS

• In Minneapolis’ Only Rush Tribute, Exit Stage Right. at 07/10/09 05:22:16
• In Minneapolis’ Only Rush Tribute, Exit Stage Right. at 07/09/09 03:27:54
• In "What's That? (a Radiohead Project)" 18+ Show, Oct at 10/12/08 01:15:48
• In Three New Gigs for "What's That? (a Radiohead Project) at 09/30/08 03:52:07
• In New Recording from What's That? (a Radiohead Project) - MN at 09/20/08 00:32:14
• In As Close to Radiohead as Minneapolis May Get This Year at 08/23/08 01:06:08
• In Forum for gig announcements? at 07/31/08 10:04:27
• In A Radiohead Project's 1st Gig in Minneapolis, MN at 07/31/08 09:58:19
• In Would you like to see RADIOHEAD perform live??? at 07/31/08 06:53:22
• In Would you like to see RADIOHEAD perform live??? at 07/31/08 04:17:17