Zen Zadravec, Jazz pianist and saxophonist, is a musical chameleon. Whether it is Jazz, R&B, Funk, Rock, or Pop, he plays each with a freshness and confidence rarely found in someone so young. Born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1974, Zadravec studied classical piano from the age of five. At eleven he began the saxophone and the flute. Hearing Miles Davis transformed his life and influenced his decision to become a Jazz musician.
In 1992, Zadravec attended York University’s Jazz Program (Toronto, Canada) and in 1997 he graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. During his time at York he was also the recipient of two Oscar Peterson Awards for excellence as a Jazz pianist. In 2000, he earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance at Rutgers University. Zadravec also has studied with some of the biggest names in Jazz such as: Kenny Barron, Don Thompson, John Gittens, Vic Juris, Ted Dunbar and Ralph Bowen. Versatile, creative, energetic, and dynamic, Zen is constantly experimenting and refining his sound and musical conception through concerts, recordings and education.
A natural innovator and leader, he runs three of his own bands: the Zen Zadravec Quartet (straight ahead Jazz), Human Revolution (Jazz Fusion), and Ritmo Y Corazon- Rhythm of the Heart (Latin/Cuban Jazz). Zadravec is also very much in demand as a side man in straight ahead Jazz, Fusion, and Funk and has performed or recorded with: Kenny Davis, Steve Turre, Ralph Bowen, Derrick Gardner, Sean Jones, Conrad Herwig, Freddie Hendrix, Don Thompson, Barry Elmes, Mike Murley, Lorne Lofsky, Charles Fambrough, Valery Ponomarev, Dave Watson, Darryl Dixon, Gloria Gaynor, among many others. Zen has performed on the WHOOPI GOLDBERG radio show on WKTU in New York, THE TODAY SHOW with GLORIA GAYNOR on NBC with Kathie-Lee Gifford hosting, and has released a debut CD with his quartet entitled COMING OF AGE. With this new release, the Zen Zadravec Quartet has been turning heads and exciting audiences in the Jazz world.
Along with his Jazz quartet, and his Fusion group “Human Revolution,” Zen works with Gloria Gaynor, Percussionist Kevin “Bujo” Jones with TENTH WORLD, and plays with the power-house Funk/Jazz/Soul group-”CHOPS” The Band. Along with creating scores for Television and Film, Zadravec continues to pursue the path of the performer, the composer, sideman, and the ARTIST. Zadravec’s Jazz groups also pursue a busy concert schedule with dates in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, and Japan.