Morning Zephyr began informally in May of 2004, in our hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Two months later, we wrote and recorded an EP entitled 'Proof and Content'. The last two summers have seen our continued efforts, in 'Empire Builder' and 'Advocates'. All three projects can be downloaded from www.morningzephyr.com. To us, the significance of our music has grown over the course of our summers together. At present, we view MZ as something of a workshop and a catharsis, in which we can write music we believe to be both honest and challenging. It is our sincere hope that you, the listener, find meaning in what we've written, played and sung.
buy Empire Builder at CD Baby Kip "Trundlecruncher" Jones was born one foggy 1967 morning in a garish hotel room in Tucson. Swaddled in newspaper amid stacks of prehistoric farming implements, he began his musical sojourn at age 3, whistling Pachebel's Canon in D while trying to lift an adz. His parents disowned him at 12 for his bad Latin, and he spent the remainder of his adolescence in a Monterrey orphanage preparing pico de gallo. The songs of Norteno began to stir in his heart; taking up a violin at the funeral of the neighborhood's beloved Dona Rosaria, he promptly alienated his foster community playing "Hey Hey We're the Monkees" at a dirge-like tempo. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2001, he spent nine months traveling around North America by motorcycle. Having recently returned from studying Hindustani Raag Sangeet with Kala Ramnath in Bombay, he is currently teaching English in a rural South Korean elementary school with his wife Noelle.
Karl "The Gamblin Ma'amblin" Doty is inspired, more than anything, by the sheer gastronomic prowess of Monsieur Mange-Tout. He hails from the Bras D'Or region of Cape Breton Island, where his family has herded stray and unwanted livestock for nearly two centuries. In his current town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, he has acquired a reputation as the only resident capable of dissecting the carbureators of a pre-war Allis Chalmers tractor while balancing an egg on his nose. Having studied music under the strict tutelage of a certain Olga Ivanovna Krembotyosov (who encouraged corporal punishment), he gravitated toward the double bass due to its remarkable ability to function as a shield. He recently participated in two workshops with Edgar Meyer, and has taken part in the Schleswig-Holstein festival in Germany this past summer. He is earning his master's at New England Conservatory in Boston, where he is also keeping himself busy with the formation of an eighteen member chamber orchestra, A Far Cry.
It is unclear whether or not Zach "On your mark, get set" Miller has super powers. If he does, he hides it well. I mean, I've seen him do some pretty cool stuff, but nothing I'd call flat-out amazing. Like when he juggled five oranges--that was cool. But when he tried six, he dropped them. And sometimes it seems like he's reading your mind, but maybe it's just really obvious what you want, like there's a cake in the room and you're salivating. And he says, "Do you want some cake?" and you don't think about how it's not amazing, because you want the cake so bad. I bet if you asked him what the most important contributions a drummer makes to a band are, he'd tell you something that made sense but it wouldn't blow your mind. And even if it did, you might not remember it five minutes later. He's a good climber, a good skiier, and he plays in a popular band in Minneapolis called "Put Down the Muffin". He has recorded quite a bit, toured with Sara Groves, and he teaches at North Central University. Karl and Kip regret that Morning Zephyr has not shown off his command of mallet instruments yet. He is married to Faith, and has a very young daughter, Jersey Mae.
I have seen it. Shiny Happy Monsters! Adorable. Thanks for the birthday wishes. Hey, are you still in Korea or have you made it home to the states? By the way, I'm much better about email now, so please write away. Good to hear from you!
kip! good to hear from you my friend - hope the other side of the world is treating you well. we had a good time at north central - getting it done ya know:) music... wish we could of had you there! later.
thanks for the page comment Kip- though I can't claim a lick of credit for it- I got it off the net (I'm sure there is a link off my site) I wish I Could learn flash- that would be great....maybe someday.
Anyway- didn't you get married too? Congrats to you sir- hope life is good where are you these days? (as in state side or not?)
KIPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!I still tell that old war story......Kennebunkport Maine.....oh man......we came out ahead one dollar man, I have never gambled so much in my life! By the way I haven’t changed except I got a bit taller and now I show my ass to people in different countries (I’m still crazy if not worse). Phillip Glass babyyyyy!!!!!!!!! It’s been 8 years brother, we need a Berklee reunion. At least you and I need to hang. P.S. Do you remember laughing at the impatient farmer bill joke while eating uncooked ramon noodles in the back of Minas car? HI THERE!!!!!
I can imagine that it would be tricky planning from so far away- but ya know it's still tricky planning here, we just don't have the overseas calls to make. So the date is in Aug I saw, so I know your coming back then. But is that a for good thing? Or are you going back to teach more? I have to admit- I'm jealous of you guys, sounds like an amazing adventure!
Have a great week! Hope you can tune in to the show this Sunday! If you have any requests or comments please feel free to leave us a voice comment on our profile so we can play it on the air.
Cities Live!
Thanks for becoming a Friend. Your sound instantly captured my attention when i first listened. The clever compositions combined with the command of each acoustic instrument is a solid blend. thanks for the Music!
