biography The guitar was a drum before it was a guitar.
From this idea come the driving
rhythms and agile percussion that rock the progressive folk
songwriting and capture the audiences
of “one-man band” songwriter ZO TOBI.
His playing may call to mind guitarists
such as Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews and Richie Havens. While
transforming the guitar
into an array of rich bass, lush open tunings, and signature
pulsing beats, Zo Tobi’s act is also powerfully simple
and accessible – his vocal tendencies are reminiscient
of folk-leaning Ben Harper, Shawn Mullins, and Jack Johnson.
The kind of performance you can expect from Zo Tobi is somewhere
between a tea-sipping, coffeehouse-style excursion and an all-out,
one-man rock experience. His songs cycle from the political,
spiritual, and emotional, and his stories range from the sublime
to the worldly to the bizarre.
As a young man in many worlds, Zo Tobi has managed to rock the
college and coffeehouse circuit while also campaigning for diverse
causes (electoral reform, global warming, political elections),
traveling (Nicaragua, Israel, Germany, Mexico), and pursuing
a joint Bachelors / Masters degree in International Development
from Clark University in Worcester, MA.
he
might remind you of... ani difranco
dave matthews
shawn mullins
jack johnson
richie havens
testimonials “I truly didn’t
think it was possible for that to be one guitar. As a guitar player
myself, I am in awe.”
- Kevin Caron, Keene Sentinel
“Zo truly is a one-man band.”
- Cornell Woolridge, Director of Campus Activities, Simon’s
Rock College of Bard
“
His solo guitar style taps [Dave] Matthews and Ani DiFranco…traces
of Richie Havens seep through.”
- Scott McLennan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
"Tobi brings an infectious love of his instrument to the
stage…His versatility and finesse are inspiring.”
- James O’Brien, Club Passim
“I'd recommend any folk or acoustic based artists…get
this album & hear what's going on with Zo Tobi.”
- Mike Loce, The Noise
prior bookings > coffeehouses / clubs the bull run
club passim
marlboro performing artist series
middle earth
music hall
perks coffeehouse
the stone church
tammany hall
wilton arts & film
festival
> schools • American University – Washington, DC
•
Babson College – Babson Park, MA
•
Bay Path College – Bay Path, MA
•
Bridgewater State College – Bridgewater, MA
•
Brown University – Providence, RI
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Clark University – Worcester, MA
•
Colby-Sawyer College – New London, NH
•
College Of The Atlantic – Bar Harbor, ME
•
Connecticut College – New London, CT
•
Georgetown University – Washington, DC
•
George Washington University – Washington, DC
•
The Groton School – Groton, MA
•
Johnson & Wales University – Providence, RI
•
Lesley College – Cambridge, MA
•
Rivier College – Nashua, NH
•
Simmons College – Boston, MA
•
Simon's Rock College of Bard – Great Barrington, MA
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Trinity College – Hartford, CT
•
University Of Vermont – Burlington, VT
•
UC Davis – Davis, CA
•
Unity College – Unity, ME
•
Wellesley College – Wellesley, MA
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Williams College – Williamstown, MA
•
Worcester Polytech Institute – Worcester, MA
