Jazz in June Features ZARO on June 9th

By Tom Ineck

Lincoln native Andrew Vogt returns home with his quartet ZARO for a June 9 performance at Jazz in June. The popular concert series surely will increase awareness of this imaginative and eclectic outfit, which appeared only a year ago at Vogt’s alma mater, Lincoln East High School.

Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, the group blends R&B, jazz and funk in an appealing mix that defies category. In democratic fashion, each of the four letters in ZARO represents a player’s name—Zac Rothenbuehler on guitar and vocals, Andrew Vogt on saxophones and woodwinds, Roger Barnhart on basses and Oscar Dezoto on drums and percussion.

ZARO’s intrepid repertoire includes such disparate, but familiar tunes as the TV theme song of “Sanford and Son,” the movie theme song “Mo’ Betta Blues,” Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” and Nat Adderley’s “Jive Samba.” With influences ranging from Marvin Gaye and Maceo Parker to Frank Zappa and Charles Mingus, ZARO always keeps its listeners on their musical toes, wondering what will come next.

Like most freelance jazz musicians, Vogt has performed his share of jobs that require an encyclopedic knowledge of the standards, but allow for very little expression outside the conventional jazz songbook.

“There are so many gigs that I play where I just step in and do it right now,” he said in a 2007 interview with me. “You’ve got to hit it right on the spot. That’s how it is with a lot of jazz players.” Unlike that off-the-cuff, impromptu performance ethic, ZARO presents a clearer path for artistic growth and frees the musicians to tackle unusual tunes in their own inimitable styles.

As a child in Lincoln, Vogt was influenced by his jazz-loving father and his many teachers, mentors and musician friends. During a three-year stint playing on cruise ships, he honed his technique and broadened his knowledge of the bedrock standards that every jazz musician worth his salt must learn. Since 2000, he has called Fort Collins his home base, making frequent forays to gigs in surrounding towns and nearby ski resorts.

Vogt came up through the Lincoln Public Schools system, which has a good reputation for high-quality music education. But his earliest influence was closer to home.

“My dad has been a jazz fan for many, many years,” Vogt recalled. “I think he went to see Dave Brubeck live way back when, and he had a really nice record collection of Cannonball Adderley, Brubeck, Stan Getz.” He also ranks the recordings of saxophonists Art Pepper and Zoot Sims among his longtime favorites.

Lincoln jazz musicians and educators had an early impact on Vogt, including saxophonists Ed Love and Scott Vicroy and the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra. When he entered the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music, he fell under the influence of saxophonist Dave Sharp, and he feels especially close to Lincoln keyboard whiz and mentor John Carlini.

Jazz in June concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the Sculpture Garden west of Sheldon Museum of Art on the downtown campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Admission is free, but concertgoers are asked to donate what they can to maintain the high quality of music. This year's theme, “Going Green,” stresses the benefits of an increased environmental consciousness by reducing the number of plastic bottles and more intense recycling.

In its 18th year, Jazz in June is organized by the Sheldon Art Association, the Berman Music Foundation and the UNL School of Music. To volunteer your services in this community event, call Laurie Sipple at 472-1170.

The rest of the 2009 Jazz in June series:

• June 16, Kendra Shank Quartet, led by singer Shank and featuring pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Tony Moreno

• June 23, Project Omaha, featuring six musicians with ties to Nebraska—saxophonist Bill Wimmer, keyboardist-singer Tony Gulizia, guitarist Dave Stryker, bassist Mark Luebbe, drummer Victor Lewis and percussionist Joey Gulizia.

• June 30, John Riley Trio, fronted by drummer Riley, who is on the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and has authored several instructional books.