22 Questions with Leah Zeger
1- at what age did you start to play a musical instrument, and was it violin?
6 years old-violin
2- what make violin do you mostly play,and how many do you have?
I owned and played on a Goffriller violin worth $100 from the age of 12-15 years old, but obtained an overuse injury in my left shoulder (pinched nerve) at 15 that ended my competitive career as a classical violinist. I didn't touch my instrument for 3 years and we sold it and got me a cheapie Chinese instrument that sounds pretty good. ($2000) when I started playing again. I also have 2 others that have pick-ups on them and sound pretty good for playing with bands.
3- you play any other instruments proficiently
I play piano well enough to write songs, and bass guitar enough to hold my own in a jam. Starting to play jazz. Also a trained singer (opera and jazz- the rest I've just started experimenting with: pop, R&B, etc.
4- what kind of strings do you use,maker,gauge,etc?
I never know what I'm using. My mom, a violinist in the Houston Symphony just packs my case full of them and I put them on once a year if that. Don't tell my symphony friends....
5- I saw you the first time with the Hudsons , a folksy 3 piece that found you in support of 2 guys on acoustic guitars. I was pretty blown away. You guys taking a break?
Hudson just moved to New York a few months ago after our farewell tour in August in Canada and the US. It was a great run with those boys. 2 1/2 years.
6- you also play with our Austin Symphony...how many gigs do they have per year,and how much rehearsal does that require from you?
It's one subscription concert a month interspersed with children's concerts and pops concerts. It's always 5 rehearsals and 2 concerts on Fri. and Sat.
Been in the symphony since I turned 20. (6 years)
Also sub with Austin Lyric Opera- 3 concerts a year.
7- you play in a number of bands... tell us alittle about each?
Hmmm, been in at least 100 different bands over the last 7 years. Have played with the Brew, Strings Attached, Graham Reynolds Golden Arm Trio, the Hudsons, a 3 piece klezmer trio, a jam band called Toast out of El Paso, the Medicine Show (now "Sideshow Tramps") in Houston, my own jazz group, Leah Zeger trio/quartet at the Elephant, Eddie V's, Domain... Guest starred with the Austin Pops Orchestra singing everything from the Queen of the Night aria by Mozart to Bomboleo by the Gypsy Kings, Now I've got a new project called Leah and the Moonlighters which is Steely Dan infused jazz/rock, and an awesome eclectic string quartet called Sweet Bunch of Daisies (myspace.com/sweetbunchofdaisies)
I am surely forgetting to mention the many others I've sat in with over the years. But you get the picture. You know us fiddlers.
8- you have a dry sense of humor. You once described yourself as a "Passover Girl". I know religion is a private matter,feel up to telling us about your spiritual outlook ?
I am an agnostic Jew. Both parents are Jewish, and I was raised in the tradition til about 13 or so, and then because our family consists of musicians, it took over as a religion of sorts. It kind of always was. I subscribe to the belief that Jews are sort of a race. I hope that's ok with everyone... I am very proud of my heritage. Among my many odd jobs, I work at Congregation Beth Israel and get to play for Sunday school. I never attended, so I really enjoy being around the tribe once a week.
Agnostic just means that I contemplated vast concepts such as space, infinity, death, and God very intensely in my youth until I finally relaxed and decided life is too short to get all ferklemped (that's Yiddish) about things we will probably never know the answer to in our lifetime.
9- name 5 Austin restaurants you dine at, and the food you indulge in at them.
I love Veggie Heaven- Protein 2000
Thai Passion- Tom Ka
Enoteca- Tagliatelli pasta with truffle oil
Arby's (favorite sandwiches since i was little)
anything I get to eat for free at gigs. Those gigs ROCK.
10- you are no stranger to the camera, the lens does you kindly. Who is your favorite photographer to work with locally?
Todd Wolfson is really good.
11- name your main influences in music,and why?
Jeez,
Brahms, Barber, Holst, Orff, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Debbussy, : in other words mainly "classical" music from the romantic and impressionist era because they're sexy and have lush chords.
Jazz: Wayne Shorter, Bill Evans, Ella, Frankie
Rock: Beatles, Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Guitar Watson, Jamiroquai, Michael Jackson, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Yes... Just too much, man... too much!!
Bob Marley is some of the most uplifting music, Zero 7 and D'Angelo and Shuggie Otis some of the most sexy, Nine Inch Nails is empowering... goes on and on.
12- you play a number of different styles. tell us abit about each of them. And which is your favorite...classical? pop? etc?
I play a little of everything and have had to fake a little of everything too. I love rockin out on some funk like "Red Clay" believe it or not. I LOVE playing with the symphony. Nothing like that kind of experience. I like playing gypsy jazz and Latin music because it incorporates a lot of virtuosic technique that I get to utilize in classical playing.
And of course I play a bit of folk, bluegrass and country because it's Texas. I even got to duel with Charlie Daniels when he played with the symphony this year.
13- you are a desert isle with a solar boombox...name the 5 cds you have .
Aaaahhh, I usually listen to a few songs from each CD I own. But it seems that any CD of Jimi Hendrix', Jamiroquai, D'angelo, the Police, or Stevie Wonder are sure fire GOLD.
14- what studios do you love to record at?
I don't remember names- except for David Rice's place and Tequila Mockingbird. A lot of great studios in town, but I have spent a lot of time at David's recently recording 5 songs which are at the top of the downloadable songs on my website, leahzeger.com that David Rice also created for me.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
15- who is your favorite engineer to work sessions with?
Danny Levin and David Rice, Mark Zarisky but there are so many more I'm not mentioning and should.
16- where do you hail from? large or small family? single,in a relationship?
Houston, TX. Have a brother a year younger than me who lives near my parents in central Houston. He is a sound and lighting technician for Brightstar and is a natural at it.
I am nearly perpetually single, but I have many wonderful, supportive, and patient friends in my life.
17- where,if anywhere,did you go to college,and did you get there on a music scholarship?
Got a scholarship from the vocal department at UT Austin. Started to play violin again a little bit my sophomore year but not at school. Twas all opera there. Got a BA in music with focus on voice and a minor in women's studies. Studied jazz improv with John Fremgen and Jeff Helmer too. Took some lessons from jazz vocalist, Suzi Stern, one of the most sophisticated ladies I know.
18- whom have you toured with,and where?
Barrage (barrage.org) a violin group consisting of 6 dancing, singing violinists (i was hired as their lead singer) out of Calgary, Alberta. This was right out of college for a year. Toured China- for months, Taiwan, Denmark, Guatemala, Hawaii, Canada, US. Was a lot of fun.
The Hudsons for the last 2 summers in Ontario and the US, did a month in Vegas with Barrage a year ago; a corporate gig at Hooters Hotel and Casino- dress was surprisingly modest.
19- you have dogs or cats, both,or none?
None. I am a landlord and live in the house with my 3 male renters. I can't risk scuffing up the beautiful stained cement floors, although I adore dogs and cats. Especially golden retrievers which is all my family ever chose to have.
20- do you write your own compositions?
Yes. check em out at www.leahzeger.com. I have no one style of my own, unfortunately, so it will take me a few years to compile enough from each genre to make an album for each. But in order to pay for any of it, I'd better get a sweet touring gig pretty soon. ;)
21- name your top 3 classical music pieces and why.
Hmmm, I don't know if I can...
Carl Orff- Carmina Buranna, (i'm mispelling everything, i know, so sue me.)
Gustav Holst- The Planets
Prokofiev- Romeo and Juliet
Why? cause it hurts so good.
22- you find a magic lamp,and are granted 3 wishes. They are...?
To tour with Steely Dan as their back-up singer
Have an apartment in Portugal, Barcelona, NYC, Vegas, Maui, London, LA, and unlimited airfare to get there...
Play violin with Transiberian Orchestra.
And those are just my 3 wishes this particular week...
6 years old-violin
2- what make violin do you mostly play,and how many do you have?
I owned and played on a Goffriller violin worth $100 from the age of 12-15 years old, but obtained an overuse injury in my left shoulder (pinched nerve) at 15 that ended my competitive career as a classical violinist. I didn't touch my instrument for 3 years and we sold it and got me a cheapie Chinese instrument that sounds pretty good. ($2000) when I started playing again. I also have 2 others that have pick-ups on them and sound pretty good for playing with bands.
3- you play any other instruments proficiently
I play piano well enough to write songs, and bass guitar enough to hold my own in a jam. Starting to play jazz. Also a trained singer (opera and jazz- the rest I've just started experimenting with: pop, R&B, etc.
4- what kind of strings do you use,maker,gauge,etc?
I never know what I'm using. My mom, a violinist in the Houston Symphony just packs my case full of them and I put them on once a year if that. Don't tell my symphony friends....
5- I saw you the first time with the Hudsons , a folksy 3 piece that found you in support of 2 guys on acoustic guitars. I was pretty blown away. You guys taking a break?
Hudson just moved to New York a few months ago after our farewell tour in August in Canada and the US. It was a great run with those boys. 2 1/2 years.
6- you also play with our Austin Symphony...how many gigs do they have per year,and how much rehearsal does that require from you?
It's one subscription concert a month interspersed with children's concerts and pops concerts. It's always 5 rehearsals and 2 concerts on Fri. and Sat.
Been in the symphony since I turned 20. (6 years)
Also sub with Austin Lyric Opera- 3 concerts a year.
7- you play in a number of bands... tell us alittle about each?
Hmmm, been in at least 100 different bands over the last 7 years. Have played with the Brew, Strings Attached, Graham Reynolds Golden Arm Trio, the Hudsons, a 3 piece klezmer trio, a jam band called Toast out of El Paso, the Medicine Show (now "Sideshow Tramps") in Houston, my own jazz group, Leah Zeger trio/quartet at the Elephant, Eddie V's, Domain... Guest starred with the Austin Pops Orchestra singing everything from the Queen of the Night aria by Mozart to Bomboleo by the Gypsy Kings, Now I've got a new project called Leah and the Moonlighters which is Steely Dan infused jazz/rock, and an awesome eclectic string quartet called Sweet Bunch of Daisies (myspace.com/sweetbunchofdaisies)
I am surely forgetting to mention the many others I've sat in with over the years. But you get the picture. You know us fiddlers.
8- you have a dry sense of humor. You once described yourself as a "Passover Girl". I know religion is a private matter,feel up to telling us about your spiritual outlook ?
I am an agnostic Jew. Both parents are Jewish, and I was raised in the tradition til about 13 or so, and then because our family consists of musicians, it took over as a religion of sorts. It kind of always was. I subscribe to the belief that Jews are sort of a race. I hope that's ok with everyone... I am very proud of my heritage. Among my many odd jobs, I work at Congregation Beth Israel and get to play for Sunday school. I never attended, so I really enjoy being around the tribe once a week.
Agnostic just means that I contemplated vast concepts such as space, infinity, death, and God very intensely in my youth until I finally relaxed and decided life is too short to get all ferklemped (that's Yiddish) about things we will probably never know the answer to in our lifetime.
9- name 5 Austin restaurants you dine at, and the food you indulge in at them.
I love Veggie Heaven- Protein 2000
Thai Passion- Tom Ka
Enoteca- Tagliatelli pasta with truffle oil
Arby's (favorite sandwiches since i was little)
anything I get to eat for free at gigs. Those gigs ROCK.
10- you are no stranger to the camera, the lens does you kindly. Who is your favorite photographer to work with locally?
Todd Wolfson is really good.
11- name your main influences in music,and why?
Jeez,
Brahms, Barber, Holst, Orff, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Debbussy, : in other words mainly "classical" music from the romantic and impressionist era because they're sexy and have lush chords.
Jazz: Wayne Shorter, Bill Evans, Ella, Frankie
Rock: Beatles, Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Guitar Watson, Jamiroquai, Michael Jackson, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Yes... Just too much, man... too much!!
Bob Marley is some of the most uplifting music, Zero 7 and D'Angelo and Shuggie Otis some of the most sexy, Nine Inch Nails is empowering... goes on and on.
12- you play a number of different styles. tell us abit about each of them. And which is your favorite...classical? pop? etc?
I play a little of everything and have had to fake a little of everything too. I love rockin out on some funk like "Red Clay" believe it or not. I LOVE playing with the symphony. Nothing like that kind of experience. I like playing gypsy jazz and Latin music because it incorporates a lot of virtuosic technique that I get to utilize in classical playing.
And of course I play a bit of folk, bluegrass and country because it's Texas. I even got to duel with Charlie Daniels when he played with the symphony this year.
13- you are a desert isle with a solar boombox...name the 5 cds you have .
Aaaahhh, I usually listen to a few songs from each CD I own. But it seems that any CD of Jimi Hendrix', Jamiroquai, D'angelo, the Police, or Stevie Wonder are sure fire GOLD.
14- what studios do you love to record at?
I don't remember names- except for David Rice's place and Tequila Mockingbird. A lot of great studios in town, but I have spent a lot of time at David's recently recording 5 songs which are at the top of the downloadable songs on my website, leahzeger.com that David Rice also created for me.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
15- who is your favorite engineer to work sessions with?
Danny Levin and David Rice, Mark Zarisky but there are so many more I'm not mentioning and should.
16- where do you hail from? large or small family? single,in a relationship?
Houston, TX. Have a brother a year younger than me who lives near my parents in central Houston. He is a sound and lighting technician for Brightstar and is a natural at it.
I am nearly perpetually single, but I have many wonderful, supportive, and patient friends in my life.
17- where,if anywhere,did you go to college,and did you get there on a music scholarship?
Got a scholarship from the vocal department at UT Austin. Started to play violin again a little bit my sophomore year but not at school. Twas all opera there. Got a BA in music with focus on voice and a minor in women's studies. Studied jazz improv with John Fremgen and Jeff Helmer too. Took some lessons from jazz vocalist, Suzi Stern, one of the most sophisticated ladies I know.
18- whom have you toured with,and where?
Barrage (barrage.org) a violin group consisting of 6 dancing, singing violinists (i was hired as their lead singer) out of Calgary, Alberta. This was right out of college for a year. Toured China- for months, Taiwan, Denmark, Guatemala, Hawaii, Canada, US. Was a lot of fun.
The Hudsons for the last 2 summers in Ontario and the US, did a month in Vegas with Barrage a year ago; a corporate gig at Hooters Hotel and Casino- dress was surprisingly modest.
19- you have dogs or cats, both,or none?
None. I am a landlord and live in the house with my 3 male renters. I can't risk scuffing up the beautiful stained cement floors, although I adore dogs and cats. Especially golden retrievers which is all my family ever chose to have.
20- do you write your own compositions?
Yes. check em out at www.leahzeger.com. I have no one style of my own, unfortunately, so it will take me a few years to compile enough from each genre to make an album for each. But in order to pay for any of it, I'd better get a sweet touring gig pretty soon. ;)
21- name your top 3 classical music pieces and why.
Hmmm, I don't know if I can...
Carl Orff- Carmina Buranna, (i'm mispelling everything, i know, so sue me.)
Gustav Holst- The Planets
Prokofiev- Romeo and Juliet
Why? cause it hurts so good.
22- you find a magic lamp,and are granted 3 wishes. They are...?
To tour with Steely Dan as their back-up singer
Have an apartment in Portugal, Barcelona, NYC, Vegas, Maui, London, LA, and unlimited airfare to get there...
Play violin with Transiberian Orchestra.
And those are just my 3 wishes this particular week...
