MariZen is a Chicago, IL based pop/rock alternative band.
The music is melodic, with singing guitar solos, catchy riffs, and expressive lyrics driven by female vocals.
The Zen music features Glen Gilbert on lead guitar, Patrick Caputo on the rhythm guitar, Jim Caiafa on the drums, Justin Francoise on the bass guitar and Mari Calip on lead vocals.
Each member's contribution to the music is unique - and creative.
This past year, Glen Gilbert's lead vocals and rhythm/lead guitar led his four member original band, Double Helix all around the Chicago area music scene.
He went into the studio and emerged with a well polished, high energy single entitled "Little Unknown." This single was submitted to Chicago radio station WKQX-FM as an entry in the Local 101 CD contest.
Glen toured the world with the U.S. Navy before Double Helix.
There, he also worked with a local cover band called Lame for 2 years, in Italy.
Currently, Glen has a CD entitled "electric/acoustic one man show" under MP3.com.
His music, once driven by the restlessness energy that was Double Helix, continues to grow and push forward the boundaries of rock in his compositions and his song writing, as well with his collaboration with Mari.
His influences include Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, DoveTail Joint, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Collective Soul, Nirvana, Reel Big Fish, Pink Floyd, Jane's Addiction, Type O Negative, Rush, Van Halen, Tool, Incubus, and A Perfect Circle.
Supporting the rhythm section, on the electric guitar also, and enhancing Glen's guitar solos is Patrick Caputo.
Hailing from Elmhurst IL, Patrick's musical background has actually been studying the guitar for almost 10 years.
He has a passion for music that is really expressed on stage, as well as in the studio.
Patrick graduated from NIU with a degree in Computer Science - playing music with different people throughout his whole college career.
Currently, Patrick is working with Chicago local cover band Crystal Eye, as the lead singer and rhythm guitar player.
Some major influences include Dave Matthews, Paul Simon, Stone Roses, Phish, Zepplin, and the Beatles.
Coming from Wauconda, IL, Jim Caiafa proves that he is a very dedicated, energetic, and versatile musician with a huge passion for music.
He has studied with Chicago's own professional drummers such as Kevin Connelly and Charlie St. Cyr-paul who both have made a major influence on his playing and his ideas.
He has been drumming for 3 years and gigging for the past 2.
Currently, he is working with Chicago Local cover band Crystal Eye.
On stage, he hits you with the many different styles - since there is a very big variety of music.
In the studio, his knowledgeable ideas take this original band in new directions, giving the other members the exposure to the variety of music they need.
Drumming influences include Carter Beauford, Dabe Weckl, Dennis Chambers just to name a few.
Jim's main goals are to constantly surround himself with music, and to keep growing and developing with his instrument.
The newest addition to the group is Justin Francoise on the bass guitar.
A student of the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and originating from Melrose Park, IL, Justin learned 22 songs in a matter of a couple weeks.
He has an amazing ear with the musical background that shined right through his bass playing.
On lead vocals is Mari Calip.
Studying vocal jazz as a music education major at Elmhurst College, she has lived in Elmhurst, IL all her life.
Mari likes to grace the stage with the varying vocal styles of Nathalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman, Blondie, or Janis Joplin.
This past November 2000, she worked on a studio project with John Ramberg and Rhyme Records - a songwriter in the Chicago Area.
She began working with Chicago local cover band Crystal Eye since February 2000.
This past December, she teamed up with Glen Gilbert and began writing originals for this newborn band.
Singing has been her first and foremost passion, actually originating from her mother - who taught her scales and harmonies at 7 yrs old.
As far as the piano playing, she currently plays keys for Crystal Eye, which helps in writing vocal lines and song writing with Glen.
Together, this band has been hitting the local suburban music scene as a Chicago local cover band for the past two years, and has just started writing originals this past November 2000.
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