Steve (Z-man) Zerlin is a brilliant and versatile bassist, fluent in many styles. He is accomplished as a jazz musician on both electric and acoustic bass and is well versed in Eastern modalities having adapted the bass guitar to Indian music. He has toured India, Europe and extensively throughout the USA and performed with many top artists including Dennis Chambers, Carl Filipiak, Jack DeJohnette, Paul McCandless, Tom Canning, Paul Bollenback, Jeff Coffin, Terrence Disley, guitarist Vinny Valetino and pianist, Jessica Williams. He has also performed with pop artists, Kenny Loggins, The Coasters, The Drifters and The Platters and The Marvelettes,

Steve appears on many CD’s including recordings with Vinny Valentino, Dan Leonard, Fred Hughes, Peter Fraize and innovative Italian trombonist, Gian Carlo Schiafini. He was recently sited in Jazz Times Magazine (April 2004 edition) for his unique style and abilities.

Steve released his own CD, Still Life, with Ed Sareth and some of Washington DC’s finest musicians, Dan Leonard, Bruce Guttridge, Peter Fraize and Victor Williams, and continues to compose music for Facing East. Over the past 20 years Steve has become well known in the DC area working with most of the area’s finest musicians; among them are Fred Pena, Sean Rickman, Marshall Keys, Keith Kilgo, Tim Eyerman’s East Coast Offering, The Fred Hughes Trio and The Peter Fraize Trio.

The Bassist who defines versatility on his instrument

"It's sort of like Indian jazz, with bass guitar added to the mix for a groovy sound. Facing Beloved is original and exciting sounds in World Fusion."
www.insideworldmusic.com/library/blrevs101.htm

"About Steve’s solo tune from the Facing Beloved CD ………. Bass Alap", which starts with tampura and a fretless bass, with a skilfully and relaxed playing, that sounds reminiscent of an Indian instrument, like the veena."
psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/indojazzreview.html

"Of Steve’s playing on the Facing Beloved CD…the bass fuels tunes like "Irish Raga" with both chops and charm."
www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20030919024418369

"The second piece is an alaap played by the bassplayer. alaap means, the introduction to a raga, with slow, long glissandos. I never heard an alaap played on electric bass, but it is very convincing…. the bass is used as melody-instrument, so there is growing a dialogue between the bass and flute."
www.folkworld.de/27/e/cds5.html#wubb

“Plus, the bass player has got an original concept. This was actually very inspiring to me.” – Charnett Moffett, Jazz Times