One for a Cello One for a Goat
Debut EP by Boaz and Zito released March 2022
Boaz and Zito is the folk duo project of Jack Boaz (fiddle) and Eli Zito (guitar, piano, banjo). The two wrote and produced the EP to showcase a their wide-ranging folk inspired songs. The EP features experimental fiddle tunes combining different folk styles, more classically americana love songs and some experimental string layering and synthesized production. The duo has been writing songs and playing together for 3 years. They regularly play at Taos Center for the Arts and around Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Cure the Mourning
Live Video
Boaz and Zito
Chest Pieces (2020)
Visual collaboration with Rachel Rambaldi (Los Angeles based film director and photographer) and Agnes Artoonian (Los Angeles based photographer, dancer and multi-media artist).
Chest Pieces is an exploration into the form of the violin, Boaz's personal relationship to it and his exploration of transness and queerness within that form. The violin is an instrument he has played since he was 4 years old and has been his constant companion.
Artoonian and Boaz deconstructed an unused violin and built a shield using the elements of the instrument. The photography is by Rambaldi and channels and references Catherine Opie's early portraits of her community and friends.
Fragile Objects (2016)
Multimedia/New Media. Fragile Objects premiered at the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive on April 8, 2016 during the "Right Now" concert, as part of a performance with the Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective. The instrument was played by Jack Boaz and Andrew Rahman, with Zachariah Garn accompanying on drum kit.
"Fragile Objects" is a project created by Jack Boaz and Andrew Rahman (UC Berkeley Class of 2017, B.A in Music) using a laptop running Max/MSP, BCF2000, mixer, amplifier, contact microphone, iPad with Lemur app, and transducers connected to Speaker-Sculptures.
The basic goal of the instrument were to address questions of improvisation and interaction between computer and performers, and how the interconnectivity of performers on the same instrument can create a symbiotic relationship between performers and technology.
The sound is generated using a Bell/Bass Resonator and Additive Synthesizer in Max. These two sounds are the basis of expression of the instrument manifested by two different hand gestures on the iPad. The Resonator is triggered by tapping the iPad, creating a percussive sound and the Synth by a centroid between multiple fingers. The Lemur displays an X/Y coordinate system, X is pitch, Y controls the Synth’s vibrato length. The sliders on the BCF display the harmonic overtones of the Synth and the sound of their movement is picked up by the contact mic on the BCF. A “Shimmer” effect–created by Andrew Rahman–is applied to the contact mic, and is controlled by the knobs on the BCF. All sound is broadcast through the Speaker-Sculptures by a transducer attached to them. The two hanging speakers are in stereo with Left transmits the Synth and the Right transmits the Resonator. The free standing speaker plays all sounds in mono and the contact mic transmits through all of the sculptures. The basic goal of the instrument were to address questions of improvisation and interaction between computer and performers, and how the interconnectivity of performers on the same instrument can create a symbiotic relationship between performers and technology.
World tour
Boaz was awarded the Hertz Traveling Fellowship in May 2017 by UC Berkeley with the intention to study Scottish and Hungarian folk music. From 2018 to 2019 he travelled, learned and played folk music from all over the world.
Boaz attended Ethno global folk festivals in Belgium, Slovenia and India. In Budapest, Boaz learned from renowned Hungarian fiddle player Csoori Sandor. In Hangzhou, China and Berlin, Germany Boaz played a live collaborative show for sculptor and painter Baiway.
Duet for Violin and Loop Pedal
A composition by Andrew Rahman, premiered and recorded by Jack in Berkeley, CA 2017.