It was listening to Mutuashi by the fabulously named Zong Zing All Stars a week or so ago that planted the seed for today's selection, artists with names beginning Z.
Now, even the modestly travelled blogophiles amongst you might say that this is blatant rip off/poor imitation (delete as applicable) of the "Rock's Greatest..." series over at No Badger Required, which to date has covered the letters J and W. To which I'd reply, if only I were half that good...!
The closest this selection gets to rock is via hirsute Texan trio ZZ Top, although legendary New York DJ/producer John 'Jellybean' Benitez does his best to drag them onto the dancefloor. Mind the broken glass, sticky beer puddles and piles of vomit, boys...
Sticking with New York, sister act Cristi Jo and Jessica Zambri caused a bit of a stir in the late 00s/early 10s, although seem to have released just one album, House Of Baasa, in 2012 and been quiet on social media since the summer of 2018. Easier is an early song, remixed by Berkshire's finest Does It Offend You, Yeah? who I revisited in a post earlier this year.
Staying in the city, another New York DJ legend, Justin Strauss, trims and polishes Tomorrow People by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers to make a radio-friendly hit. Not the first reggae tune on this selection, you won't be surprised to read.
From New York to Phoenix, Arizona, Zola Jesus aka Nika Danilova is an artist that I haven't listened to in a little while, having been on a intensive immersion in her catalogue back in 2022. As the title suggests, Versions contains reworkings of songs including Collapse, which originally closed Zola's third album Conatus in 2011. This string-laden version features Jim 'Foetus' Thirlwell and the Mivos Quartet.
The aforementioned Zong Zing All Stars are a London-based 9-piece, playing euphoric music informed by the Cavacha rhythms with Soukous from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I don't profess to be knowledgeable about these genres in the slightest. However, I can point you in the direction of the esteemed Ernie Goggins at 27 Leggies, whose continuing African Odyssey series has been an education. You can hop back to last year's stop at the Democratic Republic of Congo, to sample the likes of Zaiko Langa Langa, who apparently created Cavacha back in 1973. From there, go back to the beginning and enjoy the entire trip, which most recently paused at Mali.
The final stop on this trip is my birthplace Bristol and producer extraordinaire Eeyun aka Ian Perkins with Zoob & The Co-operators. The first burst of melodica should underline the fact that South Of The River Avon is inspired by Augustus Pablo's East Of The River Nile and in all likelihood Dr. Pablo and Dub Syndicate's 'response' album, North Of The River Thames. South Of The River Avon is the B-side of one of several vinyl 7" singles that I bought last year from Happy People Records and enjoys a regular airing on the Casa K turntable.
1) Zion High (TGU Remix By Transglobal Underground): Zion Train (2004)
2) Velcro Fly (Dance Mix By John 'Jellybean' Benitez): ZZ Top (1986)
3) Tomorrow People (New York City Edit By Justin Strauss & Murray Elias): Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers (1988)
4) Mutuashi: Zong Zing All Stars (2020)
5) This World (Album Version): Zero 7 ft. Mozez (2000)
6) Lush Life (The Ironix Remix By Felix Eickhoff & Simon Reichardt): Zara Larsson (2016)
7) Easier (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix By James Rushent): Zambri (2009)
8) Last War (Jah Jah Children Arise): Zap Pow (1977)
9) Collapse (Version): Zola Jesus ft. Jim Thirlwell & Mivos Quartet (2013)
10) South Of The River Avon (Version): Zoob & The Co-operators (2022)
1986: Velcro Fly EP: 2
1988: Tomorrow People EP: 3
2000: Simple Things: 5
2004: Original Sounds Of The Zion Remixed: 1
2005: Trojan Roots & Culture Box Set: 8
2009: Bang For Changes EP: 7
2013: Versions: 9
2016: Lush Life EP: 6
2020: Global Riddims Volume 3: 4
2022: Up Trooper’s Hill EP: 10