ZOoT PLANeT - Zoot Crew

ZOoT PLANeT brings together some of CT's finest musicians each bringing many years of performing experience, some with award-winning recognition and performance in national acts. Drawn together in 2009 through a mutual respect for each other's talent, musical sophistication and a desire to raise the bar in their music careers, the ZOoT crew looks to the great compositions of the past to inspire both themselves and their audiences. The band is composed of the tight rhythm section duo of Hans Broeking and Rich Zurkowski, the tasteful guitar support of Tim DeHuff, the stylistic piano voicings of Matthew DeTroy, the soulful sounds of sax by Bruce Couillard and Dave Savitsky, all fronted by the engaging and thoughtfully dynamic vocals of Carol Piro.
	Matthew DeTroy, keyboards, vocals and Chief Musical Director. Bands: Further Notice, Of, Equinox with Jen Durkin, BlueJoy Project, Strawberry Brown, Quake, Mystic Bowie Musical Influences: Beatles, Mingus, Monk, Miles, Bach, Debussy, Chopin, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans Playing Style: bluesy, jazzy, funky & sweet Musical Motto: "Do it!" Most Memorable Stage Moment: Once I fell asleep playing a late, late night jazz gig and woke up playing a solo... wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep...
	Carol Piro, lead vocals, shaky things and Band WebGoddess Bands: Third Sister, BlueJoy Project Musical Influences: Susan Tedeschi, Joss Stone, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Anita O'Day, Aretha Sade Vocal Style: soulful and dynamic Musical Motto: "Without music, Life would be a mistake." Most Memorable Stage Moment: opening for Chicago Blues Project at BB Kings backing Murali Coryell with 3-part harmonies - just us girls (Third Sister) and Murali on guitar and kick drum. Even better was having Sam Lay (Howlin' Wolf's drummer) serenade us in the green room.
	Dave "Dragon Boy" Savitsky, alto and tenor saxophone Bands: Blue, Fro, Scott Weiss Band, Larry Deming's Journey to the East, What Up Funk, Remember September, BlueJoy Project Musical Influences: John Coltrane, Jackie McLean, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, Maceo Parker, Kenny Garrett, Edgar Winter's White Trash, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Thin Lizzy, Devotchka Playing Style: It changes with every situation but no matter what I'm playing, I like to convey rhythmic energy into a solo or line. Musical Motto: Simplicity is complicated. Most Memorable Stage Moment: Two stand out: playing "Au Privave" with Adam Nussbaum at the Oasis in New Paltz, NY and sitting in with DBB on "God Made You Funky" at the Wetlands in NYC.
	Tim DeHuff, guitar, vocals Bands: The Main Ingredient, Vicky Sue Robinson, Larry Coryell, Alphonse Mouzon, many TV & radio spots, shows and commercials including a gig with Milton Berle. Musical Influences: BB King, Jimi Hendrix and Wes Montgomery Playing Style: funky-bluesy-jazzy kinda feel Musical Motto: Most Memorable Stage Moment: playing a gig where I had a wha-wha spot and, as anyone whose owned a wha would know, if you hook it up backwards, it sounds like an air horn. While playing I heard this sound blasting and finally realized it was me!
	Rich Zurkowski, bass, vocals Bands: Electric Hill, Manchado (The Durkins), Martin Sexton, Joe Louis Walker, Mystic Bowie Musical Influences: Charles Mingus, Herbie Nichols, Igor Stravinsky, Duke Ellington, etc. Playing Style: balls deep Musical Motto: talking about music is like dancing about architecture Most Memorable Stage Moment: playing a gig from 1-6am at a communist coffee shop in lower manhattan where the urine from the restroom would run like a river under the stage.
	Hans Broecking, drums, vocals Bands: Electric Hill, Tongue-n-Groove, HedTrip, Rev&Ron, Los Platanos, The Quake, Equinox, Stone Cold, The Assembly of Dust with Reid Genauer, Fro, Blue and Big Fuzz. Musical Influences: The Beatles, James Brown, Art Blakey, Bill Stewart, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Kreutzman, Miles Davis, Mike Clark, The Meters.... I could go on and on... Playing Style: groove-oriented music mostly. I also enjoy playing classical percussion instruments. Musical Motto: Most Memorable Stage Moment: sitting in with George Porter at a gig in Baltimore and getting a smile during the jam. That was cool.