Umar Zakaria
Malay Jazz Bassist and Composer
New zealand Best Jazz Artist Tui award winnerClick here to buy the award-winning album on bandcamp
BIO
"IF YOU ARE EVEN VAGUELY CURIOUS ABOUT THE STATE OF NEW ZEALAND JAZZ THEN THIS IS THE ALBUM YOU NEED TO HEAR." -GRAHAM REID, ELSEWHERE."IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO SEE WHERE HIS CAREER TAKES HIM - BOTH HERE IN NEW ZEALAND AND OVERSEAS. I FEEL LIKE HE'S JUST GETTING STARTED." -DAMIAN VAUGHAN, RECORDED MUSIC NEW ZEALAND.
Umar Zakaria is a New Zealand bassist and composer filled with hope for the future. His music unites diverse musical traditions to inspire communication and cooperation across boundaries. In 2018 he was named Best Jazz Artist by Recorded Music New Zealand for his album, Fearless Music.He has given performances across Europe, Asia and the USA alongside Myele Manzanza, Norio Maeda, Snorre Kirk, Fabia Mantwill and Ben Wendel among others. He is a student of legendary jazz bassists Cecil McBee and Lynn Seaton as well as NZ’s own Paul Dyne, and was awarded 2nd prize at the BASS2014 International Jazz Bass Competition.Having developed a reputation for emotionally stirring performances, Umar now seeks to share heartfelt original music with audiences across New Zealand and internationally, in order to spread a message of courage and unity through the powerful sound of the double bass.
LESSONS
Private 1-on-1 online video lessons are available at
$90 NZD for 60 minutes or $60 NZD for 30 minutes.Lesson topics can include:
Double bass and electric bass technique
Jazz improvisation on any instrument or voice
Non-jazz improvisation on any instrument or voice
Jazz & general music theory
Composition & arrangingPast students have gone on to study at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington and the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.Please contact me on this form to begin!
VIDEOS
"Opening Meditation" from Family Music (Wellington, NZ)
"Zapin" from Fearless Music (Boston, USA)
Solo Bass Performance and Interview on Active Live FM (Wellington, NZ)
"Raya Fantasy" with Syafiqah Adha Sallehin and Riduan Zalani (Singapore)
PHOTO GALLERY
mentoring
welcome
Keen to take your jazz skills to the next level?My mentorship program will launch in July 2024 to help musicians across Aotearoa develop skills to create and enjoy beautiful, satisfying improvised music together through collective learning.Join a nation-wide community of enthusiastic learners, receiving guidance and encouragement to shape collaborative approaches to jazz through weekly 60-minute mentorship sessions.This innovative mentorship is designed to be accessible at only $25 per participant per week, but spaces are limited. Groups of all levels, styles, and goals are welcome to apply from anywhere in NZ - gather your friends and register your interest using the form below! I look forward to working with you.
INFO
What is this all about?
My mentorship program will be launching in July 2024 to provide opportunities for kiwi jazz learners at any level, anywhere in Aotearoa to receive guidance from an experienced mentor by working with award-winning jazz bassist Umar Zakaria. Applications are open all year round.How much does it cost?
The cost of mentorship is $25 per musician per week.
This fee is set up to be as accessible as reasonably possible and guarantees a private 60-minute mentorship session for each group once a week over Zoom. Each group must consist of at least 2 musicians, with each group member responsible for their own fee. If you have difficulty finding other group members to play with, please contact me anyway and I'll see what I can do to help!Who should sign up for Jazz in F mentorships?
Mentorships are open to all ages, and all musical interests and goals are supported, whether you are just starting out, preparing for tertiary study in jazz, seeking personal enjoyment with a group of friends, or even intense musical training and advancement within a dedicated ensemble. School, university, and post-tertiary groups are also welcome to apply.Group members are recommended to have similar levels of experience, but this is also not strictly required. Please note that this program is not intended to replace individual instrument/voice lessons.How does it work?
The program is based on the importance of musicians growing together as a group. At the beginning of each mentorship, each group will spend their first session with me designing a personalized program that combines multiple learning methods to meet their musical interests/goals. We will then meet once a week for a regular mentorship meeting.Our learning methods may include rehearsal coaching, video exchanges, private lessons, listening sessions, discussion sessions, written feedback, self-reflections, and/or other creative approaches to learning, centred around the weekly mentorship sessions.Each group’s mentorship program will be designed flexibly, taking into account what works best for the group’s individual needs and how these may change over time. It is expected that mentorship groups will meet to enjoy playing together outside of the weekly mentorship meetings.Whenever enough groups are registered, mentorship participants will also be invited to online masterclasses and Q&A sessions on specific topics, which may occasionally feature guest musicians. These collective learning meetings will also be opportunities for members of different groups to befriend each other and network across the country.By delivering this mentorship online, I hope to make high-quality learning opportunities available to all interested players regardless of where they are based within Aotearoa. I believe that everyone deserves to enjoy playing, listening to, and learning from jazz.Is there a selection process?
Mentorship applicants are not selected based on skill or experience. However, as there are limited mentorship slots are available, consideration will be given to fulfilling Jazz in F's goal of providing learning opportunities across Aotearoa (particularly to groups located farther away from the larger jazz centres of NZ), and encouraging participation in jazz from musicians from all walks of life regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or otherwise. In the unlikely event that a group's application cannot be accepted, I encourage you to join the waiting list and reapply when possible. Everyone deserves to enjoy playing, listening to, and learning from jazz.
Apply now
Mentorship Program Application Form
Note: Mentorships will officially launch in July 2024 but you are welcome to apply early and pre-register!
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