NEST RECEIVES 6 NOMINATIONS IN JPF MUSIC AWARDS 2017 { Feb 18, 2017 }
After 18 months of screening the 17,400 Albums and 240K songs the judges of the international music organization Just Plain Folks (JPF) have chosen nominees for both Albums and Songs in over 70 genres of music. I'm excited and honored that the songs of Nest, and the album overall, have received six nominations in the categories of Cabaret, Celtic, Cover Song, Jazz Vocal, and Cabaret Album. There will be an awards show held in Los Angeles, date TBA.
voted BEST LOCAL CLASSICAL MUSICIAN in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay { Sept 23, 2015 }
What a wonderful surprise to hear I won for Best Local Classical Musician in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay contest! It was an honor to be nominated in three categories; a huge thank you to all the people who voted for me. Classical violin is my foundation and while I have expanded to playing various genres and instruments, classical violin studies are my roots. While my work in the jazz and songwriting realms puts me more in the spotlight, you'll most likely hear me playing classical violin in orchestras backing groups such as Indigo Girls, Alan Parsons Project, Johnny Mathis, and most recently with former members of ELO. This particular musical side of me comes into play also at weddings, or in recording sessions, and in my violin teaching, both in my private studio and at Bringe School of Music. I've also played in the Illinois Symphony Orchestra back when I lived in St Louis, and as a substitute in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. When the awards gala was taking place last night, I was in synagogue at services for the concluding hours of Yom Kippur. A gal can't be everywhere at once, so what a neat surprise to learn later that night I had won. I want to note that I share this honor with John Shaw; it was a tie! Creative Loafing Tampa - Best of the Bay 2015
#1 in FOLK CHARTS ON REVERBNATION { July 8, 2015 }
For the week ending July 8, 2015, Rebecca Zapen is #1 in the Folk charts on ReverbNation.com. Visit website: www.reverbnation.com/zapen
SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST AT UNF's WORLD MUSIC DAYS { October 9, 2013 }
The UNF Orchestra Joins the Daniel Pearl Harmony for Humanity Worldwide Concerts Celebration with special guest Rebecca Zapen, Jazz violinist/singer song writer and Dr. Simon Shiao, conductor. Dr. Parvez Ahmed special guest speaker.
This concert is being presented as part of the world wide Music for Humanities concert under the Daniel Pearl Music Days. Daniel Pearl was a Wall Street journalist that was kidnapped and killed in Pakistan. Daniel Pearl was also an amateur violinist that took his violin throughout the world during his travel and made friends through music. As a outgrowth from this tragedy, world wide performing organizations join together to celebrate the good in humanity and music by presenting concerts. Last year, there were 2028 concerts performed in 79 countries. http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/about.php
MONDAY MORNING COFFEE Tune in every Monday morning at 10am EST (or watch on demand whenever you fancy a cuppa) for Monday Morning Coffee internet radio blog, on the Creating Calm Network. Rebecca provides musical interludes between segments. Click here to tune in: Monday Morning Coffee on Creating Calm Network
THE ALTERNATE ROOT SALUTE TO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - 'WOMEN ONLY' SAMPLER { March 24, 2013 }
Rebecca's song "Colorado" was selected for The Alternate Root's 'Women Only' sampler. Click here to listen to the sampler: Alternate Root's 'Women Only' Sampler
SWAMP PIT SELECTED FOR NOTEBORN MUSIC CATALOG { Dec. 2, 2012 }
Swamp Pit, from Rebecca's latest album Nest was selected for the Noteborn Music Catalog for placement in t.v. and film.
BOUND FOR BURLESQUE April 26-30th, Rebecca will be headed to the midwest to do several shows in the Indianapolis area, including two performances with burlesque troupes Minsky Kinks Burlesque and Angel Burlesque. Visit the shows page for more details.
TAMPA BAY TIMES ARTIST OF THE DAY { Nov. 23, 2011 }
TBT feature about Rebecca Zapen and Jeremy Douglass' creations: new album "Nest", and their 2-year-old son Joel. Balalaika, banjo and bambino.....
[read article]
NEST IN NETHERLANDS { Nov. 1, 2011 }
Nest played in the Netherlands!! Nest's official CD release is today, with folk radio programs in the U.S. and abroad adding its songs to their playlists. In addition to receiving airplay on stations such as WYSO (Miami Valley, OH), WSLR (Sarasota, FL), WDBX (Carbondale, IL), and WEFT (Champaign, IL), "Swamp Pit" was heard on Folk en Zo (translated Folk and Such www.folkenzo.net) on Dollard Radio (www.dollardradio.nl) 105.8 FM from Winschoten, the Netherlands.
BRAND NEW ALBUM NEST AVAILABLE ON CDBABY.COM { Nov. 1, 2011 }
Rebecca Zapen's new release Nest is available on www.cdbaby.com/cd/rebeccazapen and iTunes, as well as Amazon. Barely out of the starting gate, Nest has already been awarded Florida Album of the Year 2011 (Florida Times-Union). Folio Weekly says of the album: "While some musicians spend a lifetime avoiding responsibilities and domestic duties as if they were sunlight or sobriety ... Zapen has taken the art of settling down to new heights with her latest album, the aptly titled 'Nest'."
ENCORE! ENCORE!
Rebecca's CD pre-release shows in her new town of St. Petersburg and hometown of Jacksonville, FL, have been sold-out and standing-room-only. Monday, November 7th is the encore performance in Jacksonville, featuring Zapen with her 12-piece Nest Ensemble. At European Street Cafe, 5500 Beach Blvd (near Emerson), Jacksonville, FL. Call (904) 399-1740 to reserve a seat. Join the mailing list to hear from Rebecca about future dates, and exciting developments about Nest.
NEST AWARDED FLORIDA ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2011 { Sept. 19, 2011 }
Barely out of the starting gate, Nest has already been awarded Florida Album of the Year 2011 (Florida Times-Union).
Nest is a beautifully recorded CD whose songs show the maturation and growth of one of Florida's most exciting recording artists and performers, Rebecca Zapen. Classically trained with a musical family history that obviously seems to help, Ms. Zapen was, until recently, a regular on the Jacksonville, North Florida music scene, for what it is, and has since relocated down South to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, where she quickly became a significant and favorite musical performer there.
Nest is a deeply personal CD, pulling at your collar and tugging at your sleeves long after the first play. The music is wonderful and the lyrics are intelligent, sometimes funny and often times deeply moving. The concept of the CD revolves around Rebecca's first pregnancy and the birth of her son Joel. Many of the songs reflect this theme including I'm Gonna Make So Many Things For You, Tiny And Strong, 888 (written on August 8th, 2008), the very beautiful Peace, and finally Jacaranda, which says simply,
...With a cat and a dog and most of all a man who loves me so,
Sitting here in our nest, waiting for this little egg to grow.
I never knew how much my life could change in one short year,
And I'm so glad I'm here. -- Ron Johnson
UPCOMING ALBUM NEST
Mark your calendars! Rebecca's newest studio album, Nest, will be released November 1, 2011. CD pre-release shows in St. Petersburg on Sept 18, and in Jacksonville on Sept 26. The very personal songs of Nest speak of Rebecca's musical family tree, the roots of her songwriting, and the story of the new "nest" she built. Her fantastic 12-piece Nest Ensemble will present these new songs and arrangements at the Jax and St Pete CD pre-release shows.
LIVE On HSN
Rebecca plays in the violin section for Due Voci: The Music of Diane Warren, on Home Shopping Network, 11pm EST June 2. Featuring singers Kelly Levesque and Tyler Hamilton.
[ see video ]
FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
{ 1.14.11 }
Life has changed quite a bit for singer-songwriter and jazz musician Rebecca Zapen since she moved a couple of years ago to St. Petersburg with her husband, pianist Jeremy Douglass. The couple now has a son, Joel, who is 13 months old, so recording and gigging has been on hold until recently. Zapen said that as her son has gotten older, she's been able to put recording back on her schedule, and she hopes to have a singer-songwriter album finished by mid-year. - note from Rebecca: While having a baby definitely changes life, gigging, everything, I actually resumed teaching violin lessons when Joel was 6 weeks old, and we somehow managed a jingle recording session at home when he was 7 weeks old. Gigs started sprinkling my calendar when he was 2 and 3 months old, and I took him to his first festival when he was 4 months old, when I played the Americana Woman Music Fest in Tallahassee. Have baby, will travel! [ read article ]
AMERICANA WOMAN FEST: March 19 & 20 Tallahassee has a new music festival, featuring Americana music by women. [ festival website ]
BABY! {11/09} I was looking at my news page and realized the biggest piece of news was not listed. Just a few days before Thanksgiving, Jeremy and I became parents to our beautiful little boy Joel, weighing 8 lbs 7 oz.
NAT'L PUBLIC RADIO - Michael Feldman's WHAD'YA KNOW? {11/7/09} Rebecca on the radio! WHAD'YA KNOW re-aired the Feb 2, 2008 episode featuring Rebecca as musical guest. [ Whad'Ya Know website ]
STUDIO 10 TV SEGMENT
Rebecca Zapen and husband Jeremy Douglass performed live on Studio 10, with Rebecca
on vocals / violin / ukulele and Jeremy on keyboard / melodica.
Video clips from the 10/13/09 segment:
studio10.tv
BEST MUSIC - SEVEN DAY FILM FESTIVAL
Songs from the album Japanese Bathhouse were used in a short film by director Allison Ayer ('Look Both Ways'), which won 3 awards, for Best Music, Best Director, and Best Actor/Actress. Peter Roos did the scoring for the film, including a wonderful orchestration of "Smile".
TAMPA BAY TIMES ARTIST OF THE DAY
{ 8.27.09 }
Jacksonville native Rebecca Zapen, a recent transplant to St. Petersburg, has been playing violin since childhood, when her musical parents played plenty of classical tunes around the house. Her most recent album, Japanese Bathhouse, was inspired by -- you guessed it -- a Japanese bathhouse, and is full of quirky, jazzy ditties that sound like exquisite little snippets of an indie-film soundtrack. Zapen and her husband, local jazz pianist Jeremy Douglass, are expecting their first child in November. She had a good thing going in Jacksonville, receiving much local acclaim for her music, but says she's happy to be here, too.
[ fullarticle on TampaBay.com ]
2 WINS! 5 NOMINATIONS! JUST PLAIN FOLKS AWARDS 2009 JPF Awards is the world's biggest music contest, with 42,000 CDs & 560,000 songs submitted. winner! Best Cabaret Album: Japanese Bathhouse winner! Best Cabaret Song: Japanese Bathhouse
. . . Additional Nominations . . .
Best Cabaret Song: Smile
Best Vocal Jazz Song: Dolores
Best Music Video: Smile [ jpfolks.com website ]
JACKSONVILLE'S MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR: REBECCA ZAPEN
{ December 2008 }The pride of Riverside, Rebecca has toured the U.S. as well as Europe but takes time to occasionally play for some of the local hospitals and other benefits and causes around the area. I saw her earlier this year at Shands Jacksonville as part of the Arts in Medicine Program, giving back to the community. We also saw her at the Florida Folk Festival this year and of course, she is a regular at the Casbah Cafe or the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine. [ full article on Jacksonville.com ]
LIVE ON THE RADIO: WSLR April 28, 2009. Rebecca was the musical guest on Women Matters, hosted by Jane Blanchard, on WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota. The topic was Alzheimers, with guests Babette Bach Esq. and Pam Polowski. Hear an archive of the show here. [ hear archived show ]
NEW VIDEO! "I HAVE A LITTLE DREIDEL" Rebecca Zapen & Jeremy Douglass give their 'spin' on "I Have A Little Dreidel" as their submission to the Bushman World Ukulele Video Contest. Watch, enjoy, and share with your friends. If you want to directly show your support, join the Bushman Ukulele Forum here.
[ video on YouTube.com ]
ALL ALBUMS AVAILABLE ON iTUNES & CD BABY Hummingbird, Japanese Bathhouse, and ZapStar are available for purchase on CDBaby, or downloadable on iTunes [ iTunes ] [ CD Baby ]
E-CYCLEWORKS ELECTRIC SCOOTER Rebecca's "Woe Is We" bops along in an ad for E-CycleWorks.
E-CycleWorks is a dealer for new, environmentally responsible, reliable, and inexpensive-to-operate bikes and scooters, offering to you practical alternatives to the high cost of owning and operating a gas operated vehicle.
[ see the electric scooter ]
FILM MUSIC IN FRANCE Original music by Rebecca is featured in Laura Newman's film ìSexy Clown B*tchî, which is an Official Selection of the Avignon Film Festival in Avignon, France & ArtsFest in Harrisburg, PA. AVIGNON is celebrating itís 25th year. June 25th-29th. This is a great festival that shows in both NYC and France.
[ Avignon Film Fest ] ARTSFEST May 23-25th, Harrisburg, PA ñ John Waters is opening up the festival.
[ ArtsFest ] Congrats to everyone! Laura Newman film Sexy Clown B*tch soundtrack features original music from Rebecca Zapen.
[see film: Sexy Clown B*tch]
YOU BY CROCS POSTCARD COLLECTION Spring/Summer 2008 - Crocs Inc. has introduced its new spring and summer 2008 lines of footwear. The You by Crocs Postcard Collection includes 14 new styles inspired by by some of the most luxurious getaway destinations from around the world. YOU by Crocs produced a CD compilation "The Postcard Collection", which includes Rebecca's songs "Japanese Bathhouse" and "Dolores". [ YOU by crocs website ]
MUSICAL GUEST ON MICHAEL FELDMAN'S WHAD'YA KNOW? February 2, 2008 - A live broadcast from the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. Guests include Mark Woods, columnist for the Florida Times-Union, Joan Peoples from Clarks Fish Camp and musical guest Rebecca Zapen. [ Whad'Ya Know website ]
You can visit www.notmuch.com to hear archived audio of the show. Rebecca and her band performed original songs:
...Smile (from album Japanese Bathhouse) and
...Andrea (from album Hummingbird)
EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN TELL THEIR SECRETS January 13, 2008 - Rebecca will be one of 13 women sharing their formulas for success in their personal, professional and Jewish lives. Click here for more information on this event.
2nd PLACE IN BUSHMAN WORLD UKULELE VIDEO CONTEST! January 4, 2008 - Many thanks to Bushman Music Works and owner John Hall for the prizes: ukulele & case, endorsement with Bushman Ukuleles, and an invitation to perform at the springtime Ukulele Luau festival held in late May, in Nashville, Indiana. Thanks to friends and family for your enthusiastic response to the video! Kudos to all the contestants! [ Watch Rebecca Zapen's video "Smile" ], from her album Japanese Bathhouse.
JACKSONVILLE MAGAZINE Jacksonville Magazine met with Rebecca Zapen for an interview and photoshoot for their November issue, in a piece titled "The Next Big Thing". Interview by Alison Trinidad, photography by Bradley A. Stookey.
HER LIFELONG LOVE HAS LED TO NASHVILLE Interview by Mark Woods, from the August 29, 2007, issue of the Florida Times-Union. "The contest began with more than 1,300 bands. After the field was narrowed to 100, editors at Billboard magazine gathered in New York and chose six finalists to play in Nashville on Sept. 20." [ read article ].
MUSIC BUSINESS RADIO Music Business Radio interviewed Rebecca Zapen at the Disc Makers' Independent Music World Series. Listen to the podcast, episode #49, [ here ].
INDEPENDENT MUSIC WORLD SERIES Rebecca Zapen has been selected by the editors of Billboard Magazine as one of the top 6 finalists to perform at Disc Makers' Independent Music World Series showcase at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville on September 20, 2007. Over 1300 bands submitted their entry, but only 6 were selected! 12 judges from record labels, music companies and media will be on hand to select a final winner. The grand prize winner will walk away that night with their share of over $50,000 in prizes and each band performing will receive $1,000 and other prizes from our sponsors! [ read more ]
DIRTY DISHES ON TOUR July 7, 2007 - Rebecca Zapen and her Dirty Dishes are on tour, featuring Rebecca on vocals, guitar, ukulele, and violin; Chelsea Chason on double bass and vocals; and Dorinda Pena on flute, melodica, glockenspiel, and vocals. We are performing in Oregon, California, and Texas, so please tell your west coast (and western!) friends to come see us. We are keeping a blog of our adventures: [ read our tour blog ]
HOLY CANNONS, BATMAN! July 1, 2007 - Rebecca, who has twice been a guest vocal soloist with the Hollywood Philharmonic Orchestra, played chimes on the 1812 Overture with the orchestra. Her father, Ronald Zapen, is the orchestra's artistic director.
2007 FLORIDA FOLK FEST CANCELED DUE TO WILDFIRES May 18, 2007 - One of the largest and longest running folk festivals in the United States will not be held on Memorial Day weekend due to concerns over the massive wildfire burning nearby and poor air quality. Rebecca Zapen Folk Trio will perform in the May 2008 Florida Folk Fest. [read article]
MUSICAL GUEST ON THE BABBLE SHOW Rebecca appears as a musical guest on The Babble Show, airing on Saturdays through mid-April, in the North Florida region, channel 29.
ON THE LOT: REBECCA'S MUSIC IN "SEXY CLOWN B*TCH" Sexy Clown B*tch, by NYC filmmaker Laura Newman, features several songs from Rebecca's acclaimed CD Japanese Bathhouse, including "Pizzicato #1", "Miss You", and "Shower #2". Newman and Zapen met at a performance at the Bitter End, in NYC, during ZAPENation Tour 2006. Please support the talented Newman's work by viewing and rating her film for the ON THE LOT contest.
JAPANESE BATHHOUSE ON WNCW Japanese Bathhouse is on the air on radio station WNCW in North Carolina. If you're in the area, call up the station and request a tune!
GIFT IDEAS: CDs & T-SHIRTS Looking for a holiday (or anytime) gift? Consider one or more of Rebecca's three critically acclaimed albums which you can order on CD Baby. We also have T-shirts for sale, in a variety of colors, 2 designs, and in men and women's cuts (so you can follow your every super-fine curve!). Email to place an order or to request more information.
TOMMY WOMACK LOVES ME It was our second day of the tour and by the end of the day I was sure we had jumped the shark and just needed to head home because it couldn't get any better than this! Eddie's Attic had booked us to play at the Decatur Book Festival and after our set, while enjoying a fine beverage at Eddie's, who is sitting next to us but amazing songwriter Tommy Womack, just back from his appearance on the David Letterman Show. After gathering more than a little bit of courage I approached Tommy himself and poured out my musical guts in the hopes to perform with him that evening. It all turned out so fantastically -- I ended up staying onstage to play with the other two performers, legendary lady of rock Marshall Chapman, and the wonderful sensitive Ellis Paul.
Anyhow, we've been back for weeks now, but I was perusing Tommy's site, and saw he mentioned me! Tommy writes:
I did ..Nice Day.. next with a young fiddle player who..d just accosted me
before the gig and wanted to sit in, Rebbeca Zapin. Eddie (Eddie Owen, of Eddie..s Attic) vouched for her chops, she..d
jammed with Vassar, so what the hell. I got together with her beforehand, went over her cue line before her
lead break, told her to lay low during the lyrics, hummed her the melody line that doesn..t change, and by the second verse, she got in the zone and it was so great that Ellis and Marshall kept her up for their next two songs as well.
Weeee! Excitedness!
x,
Rebecca
TOUR BLOG We are such wild and crazy guys and gals that we are keeping a tour blog. This is not for the faint of heart. If old fashioned oatmeal really gets you going, so will this journal.
FALL TOUR In support of Japanese Bathhouse Rebecca Zapen, Chelsea Chason, Scott Murray, and Pete Stitz are hitting the road, from Sept 1 to Oct 14, to spread the good word about pirate love ("We Didn't Bother"), phone operators named "Dolores", how important it is to "Smile", and to also jazz things up when the gig permits.
ZAPENation Tour 2006
Sept 1__ @ Sentient Bean - Savannah, GA
Sept 2__ @ Eddie's Attic - Decatur, GA
Sept 5__ @ Town Pump - Black Mountain, NC
Sept 6__ w/ Jaimee Tomas @ Hookah Joe's - Asheville, NC
Sept 8__ w/ Amy Pickard @ The Greenline Cafe - Philadelphia, PA
Sept 9__ @ Love Brigade - Brooklyn, NY
Sept 9__ @ Mo Pitkins - NYC
Sept 10__ @ The Bitter End - NYC
Sept 16__ @ Katerina's - Chicago
Sept 20__ w/ Nicole Torres @ tHERe - Denver, CO
Sept 23__ @ McKenzie Theatre - La Grande, OR
Sept 26__ @ Valentine's - Portland, OR
Sept 28__ @ Delta of Venus - Davis, CA
Sept 29__ w/ Scott McChane @ Fox & Goose - Sacramento, CA
Sept 30__ @ House of Shields - San Francisco, CA
Oct 3__ @ Sugar Magnolia's Cafe - Lompoc, CA
Oct 4__ @ Genghis Cohen - Los Angeles
Oct 5__ w/ Kirstin Ashe @ Valley Music - El Cajon, CA
Oct 6__ @ Fiddler's Dream - Phoenix, AZ
Oct 11__ @ Urban Cup Cafe - New Orleans
NEW ZAPSTAR ALBUM The Rebecca Zapen / Gary Starling Group releases their new album ZAPSTAR. A heartfelt musical offering from four sensitive and dynamic performers, ZAPSTAR features Rebecca Zapen on violin and vocals, Gary Starling on guitar, Chelsea Chason on upright bass, and Peter Miles on drums.
Order your copy today! Available in the US and internationally via CDBaby.com
ZAPSTAR . $15 . Bashert Records 2006 1. On The Street Where You Live
2. Like Someone In Love
3. It Might As Well Be Spring
4. How Deep Is The Ocean
5. It Ain't Necessarily So
6. Things We Said Today
7. Nuages
8. Bernie's Tune
9. I Only Have Eyes For You
10. When You Wish Upon A Star
11. I thought About You
12. Here Comes The Sun
MYSPACE The popularity of myspace has exploded in the past few months. It's a great way to connect with other musicians and fans of music. Come visit myspace and sign me up as a friend at www.myspace.com/zapen
RELIX REVIEW "Nothing adequately prepares for the way in which her deeply personal album instantaneously envelops and never loses its grip.... The title song and others bring to mind no less than early solo McCartney and Brian Wilson's SMiLE.... One of those near-perfect hidden gems..." -- Jeff Tamarkin
[full review]
REBECCA'S WHEELS! The Relix review was amazing, but now it's time to take action. "It's one of those near-perfect hidden gems that all too few will hear, but so many would love if they did." So, all you awesome brainstormers, multi-millionaires :), help me put my music on the road. Any leads, tips, contribution$ so that your li'l Rebecca can get on the road this summer in a minivan or van or station wagon (something Japanese? hey, fits with the album 'Japanese Bathhouse'!) will help make this dream come true. In the event that you, amazing-benefactor-out-there-I've-yet-to-meet, are particularly generous, it would be my happy pleasure to plan a special performance for you in your town, perhaps a house concert if you prefer, and give you special gifts of merchandise and an autographed cd and tour poster, not to mention my eternal gratitude!
Ideas? Write me. ~ Rebecca
INTERVIEW WITH U.K. MAGAZINE SUBBA-CULTCHA "Subba-Cultcha.com caught up with the violinist/guitarist/ukulele/singer-songwriter Rebecca Zapen on the verge of releasing her stupendous album ëJapanese Bathhouseí."
[full interview]
SOLOIST WITH HOLLYWOOD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA February 12, 2006 Rebecca Zapen makes a solo appearance on violin and vocals with The Hollywood Philharmonic Orchestra. Anniversary Park. 7pm. Free to the public.
DESERT FILM SOCIETY: A RIVERSIDE EVENING The First Coast Chapter of the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association screened Riverside Evening and other film shorts. Riverside Evening will be presented by the Desert Film Society in Palm Springs, CA on December 3rd. Music by Rebecca Zapen, screenplay by Richie Levine.
ITALIAN INTERVIEW
Interview with Italian WebZine JUMPER [here]
ELECTRO LOUNGE
For those near Jacksonville, FL, tune into 89.9FM WJCT for Electro Lounge, Thursday Oct 13th, 9:00-11:00pm. Guest host John Citrone will be playing a track from JAPANESE BATHHOUSE.
THE NEW REBECCA ZAPEN ALBUM JAPANESE BATHHOUSE available Tuesday, Sept 27. Buy your copy of her acclaimed new album available in the US and internationally via CD Baby and at Borders Books & Music in Jacksonville, FL.
Featuring a kaleidoscopic selection of 13 new songs written by Zapen for the album, Japanese Bathhouse premieres the nostalgic duet "Smile", the auto-biographical "Some Things Take Time", as well as an assortment of compelling new compositions including "I Am Fine", "Dolores" ("...about a telephone operator's love advice..."), and "We Didn't Bother" ("...about love gone wrong, but inspired by a Lego pirate..."). And for those of you who heard the tune live at the CD release of Hummingbird, of course included is the title track, "Japanese Bathhouse", a sassy little cabaret number.
Working with a group of "wonderful musicians," Rebecca sings and plays guitar--as well as violin, ukulele, glockenspiel, melodica, and kazoo--on Japanese Bathhouse, an album of cinematic, emotional folk-pop, which is at once whimsical and moving.
NPR'S OPEN MIC Rebecca's song Andrea is featured on NPR's All Songs Considered: Open Mic Listen and rate it (6/15/05)
EUROPE: BUSK A MOVE! We're taking off, instruments in hand to travel 7 countries! To read our latest adventures, visit my journal.
MIAMI/ORLANDO TRAVEL JOURNAL We have returned from our Miami/Orlando shows. Photos of everything from a mumu, to a gorgeous Epiphone guitar, to a creepy ventriloquist dummy, oh, and the shows. New travel blog!
JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FEST It was our thrill to play at the 2005 Jacksonville Jazz Festival. We played at the Friendship Fountain stage under breezy blue skies, along with UNF Jazz Ensemble I, St. Johns River City Brass Band with Kurt Elling, and Chris Botti. Here are some photos. [ click ]
MYSPACE.COM My music can also be heard on MySpace.com, along with photos and a wee blog.
ON THE RADIO I just got word that Hummingbird made the Top 3 Jazz Albums for CFBX 92.5 FM in Canada, College of the Cariboo (love that name!).
LA TRAVEL JOURNAL A little travel journal of my recent trip to Los Angeles
CD SINGLE: SONGS OF BOTHER AND WOE Songs of Bother and Woe ... $5 We Didn't Bother I Am Fine Woe Is We
YOU'RE SUPER, JACKSONVILLE! A big week for Jacksonville, The Superbowl came to town, and it kept the Rebecca Zapen / Gary Starling Group busy! We had some swanky clients such as the Weavers, Flagler Development, the Redskins, NFL corporate, and Philip Morris. I had gotten so used to all these private gigs that I totally forgot to mention the sweet public gig we did tonight at Copeland's for Mardi Gras. I will definitely be back for more of their bananas foster. :)
FEBRUARY FLIGHT For those of you in my lovely hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, my CD Hummingbird is available at Borders Books & Music; it is also available online at CD Baby, and of course at shows. (Valentine's Day gifts anyone?)
February is going to be awesome! I'll be flying to L.A. to hang out with my good friend and fellow musician Michelle Payne to do some performances solo and as our duo Selma in southern California.
DOUBLE CD RELEASE PARTY From Out of the Sky and Michelle Payne released new albums Dec 3rd, 2004, at The Art Bar, with Shawn Lightfoot opening. I had the honor of playing on both their albums. Check them out!
MIAMI TRAVEL LOG "Rivers and Lakes" made its Miami debut [ click ]
REVIEW: HUMMINGBIRD The latest review of "Hummingbird",
written by English music critic Paul Donnelly, on eJazzNews.com.
"This is a debut that is already assured without swaggering, full of thoughtful and
subtly emotive music which is the product of a discriminating set of
players led by a singer who is clearly one to watch for."[ full article ]
CHICAGO TRAVEL JOURNAL Newly updated travel journal covering my trip to Chicago. Photos and inspiration for a new song. [ click ]
TELEVISION APPEARANCE Rebecca Zapen and The Gary Starling Group are featured guests on "Good Morning Jacksonville", Saturday July 10th. Channel NBC-12.
FRIENDS & FANS click to see smiling faces (yours perhaps?) from the audience: [ click ]
SYMPHONY DEBUT Rebecca made her debut orchestral appearance with the Hollywood Philharmonic Orchestra on May 14, 2004, in Hollywood, Florida. Musical Director Ronald Zapen. Selections included "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Nature Boy". Orchestral arrangements written by Bill Pape.
MOZART & MANDOLIN Yeah, he was crazy like that! The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presents Mozart's Opera Don Giovanni with full opera cast and chorus. Your friendly neighborhood violinist (me!) played mandolin in the second act. Here's a photo with Franco Pomponi, who played the lead role of Don Giovanni.
SOUNDTRACK SAMPLES I just finished writing a soundtrack for "A Riverside Evening". Immense thanks to Chris Estes for his help in recording the tracks and lending a hand with some guitar and percussion. Here are a couple samples of the music.
+ Shower #2 + The Letter
SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST AT UNF's WORLD MUSIC DAYS
Such a pleasure to play live in-studio at 
Yeah, he was crazy like that! The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presents Mozart's Opera Don Giovanni with full opera cast and chorus. Your friendly neighborhood violinist (me!) played mandolin in the second act. Here's a photo with Franco Pomponi, who played the lead role of Don Giovanni.