IJS Presents The Zakiyyah Zai'Mah Quartet

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ABOUT ZAKIYYAH ZAI'MAH

For Lonely Lovers was the album that five-year old Zakiyyah would play on her parent’s phonograph again and again. It was then that she knew exactly what she wanted to do…become a singer like her beloved Dinah Washington. Even at her young age, she synergistically connected with what would become her favorite song: The Sun Forgot to Shine This Morning.

Since that time, she has sporadically dipped her toe in and out of performing. However, she now has both feet into the water and the water is fine.

To-date, Zakiyyah has performed at such venues as the Zinc Bar, Cobi Narita’s, Universal Jazz Coalition, Cecil’s Place, Jazz at the Plaza, the Blue Note with Jon Hendricks (as part of the Jazzmobile master jazz vocalists workshop), the Tiberius Club, two years in a row for the live-streamed Jazz at the Cultural Café for the East Orange Public Library, Cricket’s Entertainment Club Complex, Clement’s Place and numerous other venus.

Zakiyyah has performed as the Woman in Purple in two separate productions of For Women Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf; she Lena Younger, the matriarch in the stage play, A Raisin in the Sun. Most recently she performed in the musical-based dramatic reading, Storms Weathered, where she portrayed Bessie Smith.

For ten years, she was the cultural affairs manager for the Planning Department and for the Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs for the City of East Orange.

Along with coordinating numerous festivals and seasonal events, Zakiyyah produced over sixty summer jazz concerts which included the following performers: Randy Weston, Abdullah Ibrahim and Satima Bey Benjamin, Jon Lucien, Vanessa Rubin, Carrie Smith, Ty Stephens, Antoinette Montague, The Count Bessie Band under the leadership of Frank Foster, Manny Oquindo e Libre, Gloria Lynn, and Miss. Abbey Lincoln. She also used this platform to present local vocalists and instrumentalists. Each show was curated to bring the best of entertainment to the residents of East Orange, Essex County and beyond.

Often asked, “What is your favorite genre of music?” Her simple and consistent reply has always been: Everything…but always infused with jazz!"

And, Zakiyyah’s stylings, repertoire, and interpretations proves it!

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Check out the livestream on the Clement's Place Jazz, IJS, and on our YouTube channel -

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8W7q1qlz0yt5Ebcn4tkSQ

https://www.facebook.com/InstituteJazzStudies