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Zig Noda Musical Biography
Zig Noda was born and raised in Southern California to parents of Japanese ancestry and started playing the flute at age of 12. One of the reasons chose the flute at the time is because he figured it would be the easiest instrument to carry back and forth from home to school...
"Little did I know... that there was a deeper and more profound reason for my attraction to this instrument which would be revealed over time" says Zig, who continued playing in school bands through middle school and participated in all-district honor bands and orchestras. "When I went to high school I quit playing music altogether because I became more interested in playing sports. But even back then, while watching and hearing the marching band play, I always felt that playing and creating music was something that I wanted to pursue."
After high school Zig picked up the flute again, and within a year he played his first professional gig with a keyboard player from England named Dave Gill. "Dave asked me to play as his sideman at a Christmas party and paid me $90 for about three hours of playing. The funny thing is I would have done it for free, but it was an honor to be paid for doing something that I really enjoy."
Zig's unique style and approach to jazz flute comes from an unconventional musical education. After high school he took a few music lessons from a local jazz pianist who introduced him to the vocabulary of jazz and jazz flute stylings and techniques and to Doc Rutherford's Jazz Improv class at OCC in Costa Mesa, California. It was there in class that the seeds of his playing style were planted and he began to blossom musically. Collaborations with local musicians followed and he 'sat in' wherever he had an opportunity. It was during one of these sessions that he met a unique musical artist named Jim Wright who plays a fascinating 12 string "touch-style" guitar and bass instrument that is played by tapping the strings. Zig continues to collaborate with Jim in various jazz duo, trio, and quartet settings.
While looking for other musicians to jam with Zig had an unusual meeting with of one his musical mentors, a 'giant' in the jazz flute world...
"One day I was out on the Venice Boardwalk looking for other musicians to sit in with, and I noticed a man standing there playing solo flute - he was performing the calypso standard 'St. Thomas' by Sonny Rollins. Since that song happens to be one of my favorites, and since I had my flute along with me, I started jamming with him. Suddenly to my surprise, I happened to notice that this guy was a really, really hot player... So hot that he began to comp the bass line of the song while I was playing the melody! Now this would have been quite normal for a bass player or a pianist to do, but for a flutist to do that on the spot is remarkable! When we finished the tune, I introduced myself and found out that I had just met and played with one of the greatest jazz and latin and salsa music flutists of all time....Artie Webb! Needless to say I was just amazed that I met him (of all places) on the Venice Boardwalk."
After meeting Artie on the boardwalk, Zig was invited to sit in with him in various musical situations. In addition to performing with Art Webb, he has performed with Suzie Hansen (Latin jazz violinist virtuoso), and has also shared the stage in latin jazz jams that featured Artie Webb and Zig on flutes, Susie Hansen, along with Vatos (the bassist from the legendary band Oingo Boingo) and an incredible rhythm and percussion section. Zig says of the experience... "What a rush!!! Artie is such an incredible flutist and musician, one of the world's best. I'm grateful for the encouragement he gave to me, and the doors he was willing to open for me. He even took the time to write a recommendation letter for me to attend Berklee. I'm very thankful for the experience, and his help."
That letter helped Zig get accepted with a partial scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Although he never made the trip back East - shortly after sitting in with Artie, Zig got into a serious bicycling accident where he fell on his face and seriously injured his teeth and lips which kept him away from the flute and out of the music scene for several months. As the months passed by, he lost interest in any musical career whatsoever and avoided playing for nearly seven years. But throughout this long hiatus Zig had always felt a calling to get back to composing and playing music. As the years passed with much soul searching he re-discovered his love for making music and the flute and realized that this love will be always be a part of him.
Why the flute? Well, back in grade school it was the easiest instrument to carry. But now there are several reasons...
"I love the sound of the instrument, particularly in the middle and lower registers, and playing it makes me feel kinda high. The flute is a very lyrical instrument that can be played either melodically or percussively, and yet it's a very challenging instrument to play that requires total physical, mental, and emotional commitment to really make it sing".
Another reason for Zig's attachment to the flute can be traced to his family heritage..."My Grandfather played the Japanese Bamboo Flute called the Shakuhachi, and he used to make his own flutes from local bamboo trees. From what my mother and aunt tell me, he used to play the Shakuhachi all the time, and he enjoyed teaching others how to play in his village in Hiroshima, Japan. He absolutely loved the flute. I've never met my Grandfather, he passed away before I was born. The interesting part of all this is that I never knew of his passion for the instrument until I was in my 20's. I believe his love for the sound trancends time and over a generation to me."
"Hopefully the music I write and perform gives enjoyment to those who hear it. If my musical work can bring ease to a hectic day, soothe someone's soul, put a skip in someone's step, or bring joy to the heart of those who listen to it - then I've done my job properly."
Zig's background also includes performing or jamming with other musical artists such as Harold Todd (sax player for Lenny Kravitz), Eric Stiller (Los Angeles studio bassist for many artists), and the late Curtis Peagler (sax player for Count Basie and Ray Charles). He was also a student in the first jazz flute masterclass presented by virtuoso jazz flute player James Newton.
Zig Noda is a composer and publisher member of ASCAP and is currently working on recording and producing his 2nd CD release.
For information on booking Zig Noda for special events (private parties and corporate events), jazz festivals, or educational clinics please contact Zig Noda at:
zignoda at gmail.com