Gotta Lotta Lemons/Scat Battle

Gotta Lotta Lemons from Zach Trandum Music on Myspace.

Check it out folks!  This is from a number of years ago.  I was honored to perform alongside my friends in Groove For Thought.  Head on over to grooveforthough.com to dig in to more of their amazingness!
I got to scat battle with my friend, and founding member of GFT, Kelly Kunz.

What You Can Do: Breaking the Creative Box

Being a student of vocal jazz, I was exposed to one of the more creative sides of the genre.  I can't put a label on exactly what drew me to vocal improv (or "scat").  I fell in love with jazz at an early age and have been border line obsessed with it since then.  As I began developing my abilities as a vocalist I started listening to artists like Kurt Elling and Mark Murphy, who are known for their incredible scat skills.

One of the reasons I love vocal improvisation is the fact that it is insanely creative.  What would happen if we included aspects like this in to worship music!?  Awesome is what would happen.  If anything it would be a venture outside the normal box that so much of worship music is stuck in right now.  I'm not dissing on what the current popular sound is, I'm just saying that we weren't created to be creatively limited.  So how can we bust out off the box?

Here is a cover I did of an oldy that I'm sure you'll recognize.  I put my own spin on it.



But Seriously, what are your thoughts on creative worship music?  What aspects and cross genre sounds could you incorporate to usher in a new sound?

The bible tells us that we are created in His image.  This means that God, being the ultimate creative being, made us with the ability to be hugely creative.  But how do we get those creative juices flowing?   How do we take old songs and make them feel new?  Here are a few thoughts I have on this subject:

1. Listen like crazy.  Not just to the stuff you usually stick to.  Venture away from your DC Talk CD's and branch out.  Charge your creative batteries by listening to other creative people.  David Crowder is a great example of a massively creative writer.

2. Play with what you're playing.  Try taking the worship tunes you're used to playing one way and take them in a different direction with a different feel.  Who knows, maybe Mighty To Save would sound awesome as a Ska song. 

3. If you're a songwriter, get together with other songwriters and bounce ideas off each other.  Let creativity inspire creativity!

4. Make time for yourself to sit down and create.  Even if nothing of real substance comes out of the time spent, you're still working those muscles.  Creativity takes practice!

So You Like Jazz?

My good friend Richard Page and I decided to throw down one of our favorite Sinatra standards.  Here's our rendition of "Fly Me To The Moon".
Just a little teaser, I think Richard and I are toying with the idea of doing some more tunes together.

My Most Popular Youtube Video: Vocal Improv (Scat)

When I did this video I didn't really think much of it.  I was bored and hanging out at my parents place one weekend and decided to do a little scat solo in the kitchen.

Though I may not have been putting much thought in to it at the time, vocal improv is something I truly love and appreciate.  If you are an aspiring Jazz vocalist the key to learning how to scat is listening to other artists who already do it well.  Listen to their stuff like crazy and mimic what they do.  I used to drive nearly 2 hours to class every day during college and would spend a good chunk of that time with a CD of just a rhythm section playing changes and scat over the top.  You'll feel kinda weird for a while, but you'll get the hang of it.

Groove For Thought Welcomes Zach For Another Jam

Yep. Got to sing with these guys AGAIN. I think like 3 times in the same night.  SO awesome. You should have been there to feel the awesome.



Gotta Lotta Lemons from Zach Trandum Music on Myspace.

Zach Trandum sings with Groove For Thought

I have been SO blessed to have shared the stage with my friends in Groove For Thought. These guys can SANG. Here's a little video of me performing a vocal improv solo with the group.
Zach Trandum and Groove For Though from Zach Trandum Music on Myspace.

My Funny Valentine featuring Edan Dover

Back in 2009 Sweatshop Studios snagged me and flew me out to their AMAZING facility in Katonah New York.  Seriously folks, this place is GORGEOUS.  I had been a part of the Facebook Idol competition they hosted and, while I was not the official winner, Sweatshop liked my music enough to pursue making some more of it and thus the adventure began (I've included an extra video below the first one.  Its an excerpt from my 'Zach Trandum Takes New York' DVD. Watch it to learn more about the trip!)
After a long day in studio, we skittered down (skittered!?) to the Sinsin Leopard Lounge in Eastside New York City and played an amazing show for an incredible and loving crowd.  Edan was kind enough to join me on stage for a couple songs, one of those being a great old jazz standard. Enjoy!

Afternoon Jazz Break

I was raised on jazz.  Mom is as much of an addict to the music as I am and exposed me to many of the artists I now consider to be favorites.  Well here is a little homage to one you all should know, and if you don't you should be forced to wear Lady Gaga's meat dress.... Or you could just go listen to him... The meat dress idea sounds more interesting though.

Here is a litte Frank Sinatra for your listening pleasure. The AMAZING guitar player featured in this video is my good friend Richard Page. The kids got chops!

Vocal Improv (Scat)

Alright folks. I. Love. Scat. I LOVE IT.
If you aren't quite sure what 'scat' is exactly, let me give you a quick run down.
In jazz, scat is basically improvising the way a musical instrument, like a sax or trumpet, would but using your voice.  Some artists will actually mimic the sound of the instrument they are thinking of at the time.
When I heard scat for the first time I fell in love with it and now find myself wandering around the house scoodle-dee-doot'n various lines and phrases.  I include it in a lot of my writing as well.
Anywho,
Heres a little improv solo I did in the kitchen at my parents old house.
(If you'd like to check out a few amazing artists, I recommend listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Kevin Mahogany, and Kurt Elling to start)

Wade In The Water

So just a short while back I sat down and started tinkering around in the key of E minor (one of my favs to noodle in) and came up with my own take on a little song called "Wade In The Water".  I had a blast doing this recording and really didnt put a whole lot of effort in to it.  This is just me having a good time.  I'll probably do a better recording at some point just for kicks and giggles.

Autumn Leaves

http://youtu.be/E2zGwxwyVAU

Check it out ^^^^^

God, you spoke the word "acceleration" to me not too long ago.  for a while I took my time, expecting acceleration to be something that I could simply float in to... I believe I was wrong so right now I step in to the acceleration you have spoken over me.  I receive what you have spoken over my life!!!

Well kids,
I'm kinda just ready to sprint!  All out, pedal to the metal, foot to the floor, 0 to 60, and get stuff done!!!  I dont want to miss what god has for me!!!  I've stayed so active in my daily life that I think I've let some things fall by the wayside, even those things that I've dreamt about for so long. 

One of those being my health.  I dont have any health issues right now, but I could down the road if changes arent made.  So the wife and I joined a gym and are working hard to get in shape and change our life habits. 
I've also committed my Saturdays for the most part, to my craft, songwriting. 
Most of the time Sarah works in the morning, so I can take that time to dig in and get my creativity flowing as well as finish other musical projects that have yet to get done.
There are some amazing things I have started and have yet to finish, but when we finally get through them they are sure to effect the lives of people around the world!  At least thats the goal.

So keep an eye and an ear open as some new tunes, and eventually an entirely new album is thrown your way!!!  I am planing to release what I am lovingly dubbing "Worship In Low-Fi", sometime in the next few weeks.  this is a simple, home grown project that i have been tinkering with here and there.  it will contain some new and original worship songs for you to simply kick back and enjoy.  I've tried to gear some of them toward the "church friendly" side of things in case anyone felt lead to use the material.

Anyway,
I'm going to go do something productive now.  Yall come back now... Cuz if you dont, I will haz a sad.