Becoming Human-Songs of Observation, realization and transformation
Don’t miss Becoming Human at the Amity Gallery, Saturday, December 21, 2019
Doors open at 7 pm. Music starts at 7:30 pm
Becoming Human is four people (Marji Zintz on vocals, guitar, and percussion; Jim Kunkel on guitars; Mickey Kopchak on bass and vocals; and Ron Wilson on percussion) who have been making lots of music for lots of years and are coming together now for this special, artful, moving, evocative project.
Vocalist/percussionist Marji Zintz fronts the group, which performs music composed by guitarist Jim Kunkel and bassist Mickey Kopchack. They explore and inhabit many genres across the musical spectrum, from folk to jazz, modal to avant-garde, spiritual to classical to Brazilian. They honor the space and each other’s unique “voice,” creating and holding a fertile ground for conversation, interplay, improvisation, and emotion.
Marji brings a long and diverse performance resume, working in myriad settings since the 1970s as a vocalist and guitarist. She has performed in voice/double bass duets with such notable players as Mike Richmond, Jay Anderson, Josef Pelletier, and Vin Warner. She also worked in a progressive jazz-based ensemble that included Erik Lawrence on reeds and Jim Kunkel on guitar, often using her voice as one of the horns. She has worked in collaboration with improvisational vocalists Victoria Christgau and Shula Ruth Weinstein in a mostly a capella recording and performance project called Sister Sound, and has arranged, recorded, and performed with many other innovative musical projects over the years as well as performing as a soloist. She teaches guitar and coaches voice and harmony in the Hudson Valley.
Versatile guitarist Jim Kunkel has composed music for independent films and documentaries such as the Aspects of the Arts series profiling poet Dan Masterson and artist Frederick Franck. As leader and sideman, he has performed and recorded since the late seventies, including a quintet that performed many of how own innovative compositions. Jim has a long list of people who have studied with him over the years and have gone on to enjoy a successful music career.
Mickey Kopchak has been playing bass professionally since the age of 10. Known not only for his sensitivity and presence, Mickey expands the sonic assignment of the bass by tastefully employing a multitude of interesting effects, creating rich and expansive soundscapes, as well as reaching emotional depths. Because of his versatility, expertise, and dedication to excellence, he is widely sought after and has performed and recorded with jazz and pop artists throughout the northeast.
Ron Wilson’s varied resume reflects his wide range of musical abilities. He has graced the stage with a lengthy list of accomplished artists (Mitch Ryder, Mick Jones, Mark Lindsay, Badfinger, Dee Dee Ramone, Gary US Bonds, and the Guy Lombardo Band to name but a few). Ron is currently working as musical director for Lou Christie. Some of his other credits include performances with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, the K-Rock WXRK Christmas Show and several Off-Broadway productions.
Ron is known for his musical creativity and professionalism. We love him because he loves what he does.
