It's many years after Katrina and the wounds in New Orleans are still not healed.  As a reminder, here is a free download of the song I wrote a few years ago. If you enjoy it, I'd appreciate it if you send some love (and money) to Tipitina's Foundation, which was founded to support Louisiana and New Orleans' irreplaceable music community and to preserve their unique musical cultures.  Read more and donate at ~ http://tipitinasfoundation.org/

Jimmy Z

Also - please join my newsletter list~ http://www.ztribe.com/
  
Jimmy Z - bass, keyboards, harp, sax, vocals
Zac Harmon - guitar, background vocals
Lee Thornburg - trumpet, trombones
Christina Viera -  background vocals
Bob Boykin - guitar, mix, production 

The Big Easy's Gone Cold

"Here's a fun, tongue in cheek semi autobiographical blues romp that I wrote on piano. Thanks to all the great players who raised it to a level far beyond my expectations. That's the way I roll."  - JImmy Z

Jimmy Z - vocals, harp, tenor & bari saxes, bgs
Christina Vierra - back vocals
BR Millon - guitar, bass
Mo Beeks - organ
Fredrik Ostergren - piano
Lee Thornburg - trumpet, trombone
Lavelle Jones - drums

That's The Way I Roll

"I wrote this for a N'Awlins type vibe. I'm not sure if that's the case but I sure dig the way it came out." - Jimmy Z

Jimmy Z - voc, tenor and baritone saxes
BR Millon - guitars, bass
Lavelle Jones - drums
Mo Beeks - piano
Lee Thornburg - trumpet, trombone

Lover Be A Friend Tonight

"BR Millon wrote this song for BMI winner and good friend of mine Zac Harmon. I went over to BR's to record sax and harp on a few songs and this was one of them. I just loved the song and how I played on it but Zac passed on the song and didn't even sing it. So I did. Thanks Zac!!"

Jimmy Z - vocals, sax 
BR Millon - guitars, bass 
Lavelle Jones - drums 
Mo Beeks - piano and organ

Nothin' Like A Woman

Lavelle Jones, a direct cousin of Little Walter himself plays drums on here. We cut the drums in my living room for "My Babe" and during the session Lavelle called his cousin in Louisiana who is much older and knew Little Walter and we talked on the phone for  a while. I asked about the scene in the movie "Cadillac Records" when Walter shoots a man and if it was accurate. He evaded answering the question directly by saying Little Walter was a little crazy. He was very funny and it was a cool moment of connection with one of my harp heroes and influences.


Jimmy Z - voc, harp
BR Millon - guitar, harm voc
Vince Tividad - up right bass
Lavelle Jones - drums

My Babe

Ready For Love

By now, only my fans remember that I played harmonica on the original recording of the Eurythmics 'Missionary Man.' [see my  blog post for details of that incredible session - http://ztribe.com/2010/03/14/meeting-eurythmics/]. Besides the persistent nagging for years by a good buddy of mine to do my own version of the song, I must admit seeing Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart doing a stripped down acoustic version on an old You Tube video inspired me. It allowed me to see the possibilities of doing a Delta Blues take on it. We originally meant for it to be acoustic dobro and harp but one thing led to another and... well, ya know... now it's got drums and bass. Hope you enjoy it.

Missionary Man

A little Christmas gift for everybody - This is a track from an upcoming Blues CD we started a many years back. Not finished still a work in progress. It features all original blues arrangements 10 songs, me on harp, Christina Vierra on vocals, Bob Boykin on guitar & producing & Mark Jordan on Keys and some more of our good friends in Nashville and LA helping out... This is a new mix for this season!

Joy2TheWorld 2015 Mix

Audio from a back of the hall out-of ofucs video

"I Get Love"  excerpt- Back In Sac Again - 6.11.16

Jimmy Z - lead vocals, harmonica, sax
Josh Sklair - lead & background vocals, guitar
Tom Fillman -  background vocals, drums
Rick Cortes - background vocals, bass

James Zavala/Ron Bloom - Composers
© Zavala Songs (ASCAP)

House Full Of Love (from Caught Inside)

[this track is available for licensing - contact jimmyz @ ztribe .com]

Jimmy Z - lead vocals, harmonica, sax
Vampiro - lead guitar
Leo Munoz - percussion
Johnny Griparic  - bass
Teddy Zigzag - keyboards, vocals
Chuck Kavooras - guitar
Tom Walsh - drums

Shotgun Cha Cha

Moscow Nights- story by James Zavala © 2019

About 2 years ago in early 2017, I got a call from Digital Domain, Inc founder Scott Ross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Ross_(film_executive)
inviting my wife Erica and I  to a surprise birthday dinner for his wife Michelle at a restaurant in Hollywood. We all met in Rome 6 years ago through a mutual friend.

There was a table for us all, a gang of about 16 people and as with most of Scott’s productions, it was loaded with creative interesting people. Mark Chait and his partner Vasilis Paddis were two of those people. Mark, I learned, was a concert pianist and film composer based in China and also a representative of Steinway Pianos. By chance we were seated next to each other so got to know each other over dinner.

At one point, as we were singing happy birthday to Michelle, I thought, damn, I should run out to the car and grab a harp and play something for Michelle. So I did. I came back and played an impromptu blues jam for Michelle. At this point, Mark says to me, “Wow, I’m writing a score for a Shanghai, China TV/Movie production and I was thinking of using harmonica. Would you  be interested?” Of course, I gave my usual reply, “ Oh, hell yes! “

A few months later in May, Mark and Vasilis, emailed me a guide track and chart. 

Not exactly the blues, rock, funk or country songs I usually record on. The harmonica would be very exposed. No room for error.

And as I was due to leave for Sweden in a week they needed it ASAP. I was tempted to defer and tell them maybe they would be better off with a chromatic harmonica player. Then as I started going through the chart with the guide track and a few minor harps I discovered that this was something maybe I could deliver on.

So I did. I played the melody as they instructed and they loved it but then they wanted me to improvise outside of the melody. So I did. I ended up improvising over the entire vamp.

 And things turned out all right. Mark Chait raised my game.

I’m honored to be working with an artist of Mark Chait’s stature and massive talent and very proud of my playing on Moscow nights.

I’ve included a rough mix mp3 of my harmonica melody and solo over the vamp because you won’t hear much in the trailer edits.

Movie Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CAuScZ80wE&t=16s

Movie Music UK thought is was one of the Best Soundtracks of 2018,https://moviemusicuk.us/2019/01/11/best-scores-of-2018-part-i/?fbclid=IwAR3zH9PVUQCElWTFJum0Qf6cqJVaxIjIJC5f-OQwb_33EVSjLD7Gcx48caA

HarpMoscowNights Bar23 Out

Gulture Enterprises is dedicated to encouraging artists, musicians, storytellers and developers who stretch the boundaries of their mediums.

Here on SoundCloud we feature the music of Jimmy Z:

There’s a reason legendary blues Diva Etta James calls Jimmy Z her “Hootchie Cootchie Man” and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics calls him “the best harmonica player in the world.” Jimmy attracts attention. He caught the attention of Rod Stewart, Tom Petty and the Eurythmics – all of whom he recorded and toured with. He also caught the attention of Dr. Dre, Barry White, Ziggy Marley, Yes, Bon Jovi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Macy Gray, Jaguares, and countless others who sought out Jimmy Z’s blazing harmonica and soulful saxophone to spice up their recordings.

From a smoky 20-seat bar in Sacramento to the 300,000 person sold out Rock in Rio concert with Rod Stewart in Brazil, Jimmy has toured the world blowing crowds away with his electrifying stage presence. Performing in 1988 with the Eurythmics for the Nelson Mandela Concert at Wembley Stadium and televised to 1 billion people worldwide, Jimmy’s harmonica solo on Must Have Been an Angel brought the world to its knees.

In 1988, Jimmy’s first solo instrumental album was for Miles Copeland, then owner of IRS Records, called Anytime…Anyplace!  In 1991, legendary rap producer Dr. Dre produced Jimmy Z’s next album Muzical Madness, featuring Jimmy on lead vocals. In addition, Jimmy Z and Dr. Dre co-wrote all the songs.

Jimmy Z has appeared and acted in the movies Georgia, The Doors, Wild at Heart, and The Shrink Is In, as well as concert films with Rod Stewart, Tom Petty, the Eurythmics, Jaguares, and Etta James. He has scored numerous videos and films as well.

Since the year 2000, he has toured extensively with Etta James as well as the Mexican rock band Jaguares, while also fronting his own blues-rock band, ZTribe. The ZTribe CD, Caught Inside is a true indication of Jimmy’s amazing abilities with the harmonica, saxophone and vocals.

Jimmy recently produced and played on a new ZTribe CD, The Heart and Soul of a Jaguar - Corazon Y Alma de un Jaguar. This CD is a true blending of the Mexican side of Rock en Espanol, provided by Jimmy’s hermanos  - some of the great musicians of Jaguares, along with their American counterparts from the world of blues and R&B. It is a combination of musical influences, creating a unique sound from both sides of the border that the whole world will enjoy.

In 2006, Jimmy joined blues and jazz luminaries Zac Harmon, Munyungo Jackson, Gregg Writght and Rich DelGrosso in NeoBlues, a fresh look and listen at African-American music in the 21st Century.

Currently, Jimmy is in the process of blogging 'Confessions of a Glorified Sideman,' chronicling his over 30 years in the music business. It includes many anecdotes and adventures from being on the road with some of the most famous (and infamous) musical celebrities.

In addition, he has recently been recording music for stock libraries and soundtracks for documentaries and radio & TV commercials as well as producing new music in his home studio. 

Zavala Songs, Inc.

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