Zack Ferris started piano at the ripe age of seven and has continued to this day pursuing his love of playing the keyboard. Zach has composed pieces ranging from twelve tone rows, to four part contrapuntal fugues, to TV jingles to brass fanfares to big band charts to pop singles.. After receiving his BA in Filmscore from Berklee College of Music six years ago Zack decided to hit the west coast.

​

He worked as an educator focusing specifically on the art of improvisation at the Blue Bear School of American Music. Then he landed a job instructing students about motif writing at Cogswell College. He shared his knowledge of music theory teaching at Pyramind in San Francisco and educated others in piano improvisation at New Mozart School and the Palo Alto School of the Performing Arts. He has instructed all ages at Vibomusic and has taught theory and Emagic Logic intensive courses at Cogswell College.

​

Additionally he provided tech support for all musical applications with a company called Obedia.com.He signed with an independent label called Music in the Vines in 2000. Ferris scouted for Promofm.com. Ferris did music synthesis for Somatone.com. His influences include Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Danilo Perez, Keith Jarrett, Meschell N’dechello, Bobby McPherrin, Soulive, Kenny Garrett, Mccoy Tyner, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Arturo Sandoval, Guillermo Rubacaba, Eddie Palimieri and Sting. He has appeared as a guest artist on KCSM with his last jazz release “Chasing the Cheetah.” He is working on his next two releases, one entitled “1,2,3,” which is mostly solo jazz piano and the other is an album dedicated to Afro-Cuban music. He was an understudy with Coto Pincheira who was mentored by Chucho Valdes and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He was a sideman at Rasselas with Gary Flores.

​

In Jan 2010 he was asked to direct Orcestra Conquistado with congero Carlos Ramirez. In the fall of 2014 he was accepted to North Bennett Street School (Boston, MA) and was an understudy with Emily Townsend, Debbie Cyr and Jack Stebbins training to be a piano technician. He has collaborated with Baba Tunde Leah, Karl Perazzo (Prince), Vernon Ice Black (Mariah Carey), Quanti Bomani , Naim Satya, Ledisi, Josh Jones, Louis Romero, Curtis Ohlson, Bobby Bryant, Stymie and the PJLO, La Gran Orquestra, Mingo Lewis (Miles Davis), Josh Jones, Nicole “Butta” Pearson (American Idol finalist) , Larry Jazz Thomas and Ziggy Modeliste.

 

” Zack always tells you an interesting story on his Solo Voyages ” -Gary Flores (Santana)

 

CD: Chasing the Cheetah

LABEL: Music in the Vines

“This album offers a full smorgasbord of jazz and is recommended.” -Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

“Zack provides a unique musical landscape. Fusing the elements of his diverse background Zack comes up with music that consistantly grooves. I have the privilege of listening to literally hundreds of jazz artists and albums. Zack’s project stands out!!”- Clifford Brown Jr. KCSM FM 91.1

​

“Zack grabs the spirit by the tail & goes for a ride” -Karl Perazzo (Prince)

 

“Robert (Zack) Ferris is a very capable musician that displays great skills on keyboards, programming & music theory. While doing so, he understands the importance to do it all with heart & soul.”- Vernon “Ice” Black (Mariah Carey)

Robert Ferris is following

Robert Ferris is not following anyone.