Album Notes

Weaned on apples, fresh west coast mountain air and salt from the sea breeze, Zach now embraces the humidity, smog and concrete of Toronto as home. Zach says: art is the delightful pursuit of meaning in life. This pursuit has taken Zach from coast to coast as a folksinger, actor, songwriter and disco-dancing street performer called Discoman. Classical piano lessons, and jazz saxophone kept zach musically active throughout most of his life. At university Zach became more politically active and discovered the music of Phil Ochs. The music and life story of Ochs inspired Zach to take up the guitar and perform a one-man play about the folksinger titled The Ballad of Phil Ochs. His passion for performing the show took him to unexpected places. This folk musical, funded, in part, by his Disco street act toured from the remote and sparsely populated Queen Charlotte Islands to Canada’s entertainment capital and biggest city, Toronto. The show met with invariable acclaim and ovations wherever he traveled. Ochs aficionados praised his portrayal of his hero and new fans were introduced. The show culminated in a sold out stand at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. One of the greatest benefits of that journey was meeting and befriending Ochs’ sister Sonny who now regularly insists on his appearance at Phil Ochs Song Nights that she organizes in Canada. Since then Zach has appeared in numerous live theatre performances from coast to coast as an actor including CanStage’s revival of Hair, Urinetown: The Musical, and as Buddy Holly in multiple productions of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story a role he will reprise this summer in Penetenguishene. As a musician Zach has played in folk cafes and bars on the west coast and Toronto. Last summer he recorded an independent album as musical outfit: The Human Statues with his songwriting partner, Jeff Bryant entitled Sweet Sorrow for the Happily Departed. Also available here at CD Baby. While I'm Here is his first solo record and while being an acoustic folk album clearly shows the influence of pop, rock n' roll, funk, and musical theatre.