Zo! is a Detroit-born, now DC-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer who has helped to reshape modern soul, R&B, and jazz with his innovative approach.

Heavily influenced by the sonic adventures of music producers like the Mizell Brothers, Zo! excelled at music during his formative years while balancing his love of baseball and drive to pursue an education. Zo! began his recording career with the album “Ablyss”, the first in a series of instrumental releases. He would soon become an in-demand producer and beatmaker, collaborating with artists such as Little Brother, Slum Village and Platinum Pied Pipers while earning a Master’s Degree in Special Education.

Zo!’s breakthrough would come through his association with the group The Foreign Exchange. He regularly collaborated with the group’s founders, Nicolay Rook and Phonte Coleman, and he would eventually become a part of the collective, serving as TFE’s musical director while signed to the Foreign Exchange’s record label.

5 Essential Tracks by Zo!

1. “Flight of the Blackbyrd” – Zo!

With lush keyboard layers, tight rhythm sections and vibrant melodies, Zo!’s 2010 album “Sunstorm” reflected his deep admiration for the Mizell Brothers, known for their groundbreaking work with Donald Byrd, another native Detroiter who made waves in the music industry decades before.

Zo!’s ability to reinterpret jazz funk with a contemporary flair is evident in the next track. It’s taken from his 2013 release “ManMade” which saw him cementing his place in jazz fusion and progressive soul music while earning critical acclaim. The track features the vocals of Georgia native, now Los Angeles-based soul chanteuse Gwen Bunn along with Phonte Coleman.

2. “Count to Five” – Zo! (feat. Gwen Bunn, Phonte)

Featuring collaborations with artists like Jeanne Jolly and Eric Roberson, “ManMade” demonstrated Zo!’s range as a producer, and his tracks melded hypnotic rhythms with intricate productions that drew on various funk and electronic influences.

Sticking with this same album, we’ll explore a high-energy collaboration with Eric Roberson and Phonte. This track captures the feel-good essence of Zo!’s music, driven by dynamic horn arrangements, a tight rhythm section, and lyrics that celebrate joy and forward momentum. It remains a highlight in his live performances, connecting audiences through its infectious spirit.

3. “We Are on the Move” – Zo! (feat. Eric Roberson, Phonte)

By the time “We Are On the Move” was released, Zo! was known as one of the most versatile producers in the industry and a leading voice in modern soul, following in the footsteps of various other multi-instrumentalist music innovators like Leon Sylvers III, and the Mizells.

Our next track comes from Zo!’s 2016 album release “Skybreak,” a stunning exploration of themes of love and resilience as he takes listeners on an immersive and introspective sonic journey into matters of the heart.

4. “Lifelines” – Zo! (feat. Dornik)

Zo!’s penchant for cinematic music productions and excellent storytelling have garnered him production credits and/or co-writing music production credits on various film projects and soundtracks such as the IFC network’s “Sherman’s Showcase” and the wildly popular animated series “Black Dynamite”. He most recently has enjoyed another noted collaboration with Terrell Wallace, aka Tall Black Guy, as they released the 2021 work “Abstractions,” which also featured appearances from the usual roster of Foreign Exchange members and associates. Zo! and Tall Black Guy have extensively toured together  alongside Washington DC-based songbird Deborah Bond, garnering universally positive reviews.

From his beginnings as a Metro Detroit-based instrumentalist to becoming a vital member of The Foreign Exchange collective to his collaborative work as a multi-faceted music producer/artist, Zo! has continually helped to redefine the landscape of soul, R&B, and jazz through his blend of timeless musicianship with a progressive edge, reaffirming his standing as one of this era’s most versatile musical craftsmen.

We’ll conclude this segment with “On the Four,” which features the vocals of noted Dallas-based songstress and The Foreign Exchange associate Carmen Rodgers.

5. “On the Four” – Zo! (feat. Carmen Rodgers)

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Zo! in 5 songs. For more musical journeys like this, tune into The Progressive Underground every Saturday at 6 on 101.9 WDET or stream online at wdet.org. You’ll thank us later for the soulful music discoveries that we dig up just for you.

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