Zino and Tommy
Encyclopedia
Haim Zinovitch, a.k.a. ZINO, is a prominent and prolific musician
in Israel
.
Zino is a pioneer and self-described chameleon. His music encompasses a wide variety of musical genres, from folk
to rock
to ambient/electronica. With his partner Tomer Biran (TOMMY), he also creates music for films, TV shows, and commercials, dominating the TV music market in Israel. Zinowitch was born of Russia
n and Moroccan
descent.
, Scandinavia
n, and Romania
n music, among other influences. His career began with a stint in a military band
. Afterward, he collaborated with Israeli musicians on various compilations before recording The Gibberish Album in 1992. This “half circus, half musical” brought 115 musicians and singers from different cultures together on one stage to sing in gibberish—what Zino describes as “folk songs for an imaginary village.”
Zino’s next album, A Bit of Lust, a Bit of Tenderness, a Bit of Love, (1993) was a major milestone in the development of Israeli alternative and hard rock music and made him the “bad boy” of Israeli rock. Zino’s subsequent CDs range from alternative rock (Drive By) to hip-hop tracks featuring Zino’s innovative production/sampler techniques (Zino Featuring Human Beatbox). Songs from his CDs have been heard in the hit TV shows The Sopranos
, Sex and the City
, and others.
Zino began collaborating with Tomer Biran ("Tommy") in 1997. The duo released four CDs with songs ranging from funk
to rock to trance and chill-out. Three of their song were heard in the HBO TV show The Sopranos
. The duo's music is also heard in several films including Click, RV (film)
and Catwoman
.
Their songs are heard on the compilation CDs Lotus Lounge
, Buddha Bar, Happiness, and Café del Mar: Dreams
. They also create music for many of Israel’s prime-time TV dramas, as well as game shows, movies, multimedia projects, and computer games.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Zino is a pioneer and self-described chameleon. His music encompasses a wide variety of musical genres, from folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
to rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
to ambient/electronica. With his partner Tomer Biran (TOMMY), he also creates music for films, TV shows, and commercials, dominating the TV music market in Israel. Zinowitch was born of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
descent.
Early career
He was always interested in different cultures and music, blending his love of folk and rock with CelticCeltic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n, and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n music, among other influences. His career began with a stint in a military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
. Afterward, he collaborated with Israeli musicians on various compilations before recording The Gibberish Album in 1992. This “half circus, half musical” brought 115 musicians and singers from different cultures together on one stage to sing in gibberish—what Zino describes as “folk songs for an imaginary village.”
Zino’s next album, A Bit of Lust, a Bit of Tenderness, a Bit of Love, (1993) was a major milestone in the development of Israeli alternative and hard rock music and made him the “bad boy” of Israeli rock. Zino’s subsequent CDs range from alternative rock (Drive By) to hip-hop tracks featuring Zino’s innovative production/sampler techniques (Zino Featuring Human Beatbox). Songs from his CDs have been heard in the hit TV shows The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
, and others.
Recent career
In 2000, Zino became front-page news in the Israeli media when he disguised himself as a war-scarred singer. Dubbing himself “The Burned Man,” he created a fictitious biography and appeared in public disguised as a burned, masked cripple. The Israeli media gave The Burned Man and his mysterious story prime-time coverage, during which Zino revealed his true identity. After this “artistic terror act", The Burned Man’s first CD was released, becoming one of Israel’s all-time best-selling albums with over 450,000 copies sold according to Haim. A second title followed soon after.Zino began collaborating with Tomer Biran ("Tommy") in 1997. The duo released four CDs with songs ranging from funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
to rock to trance and chill-out. Three of their song were heard in the HBO TV show The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. The duo's music is also heard in several films including Click, RV (film)
RV (film)
RV is a 2006 comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, written by Geoff Rodkey, and starring Robin Williams, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Cheryl Hines, Josh Hutcherson, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth and Will Arnett. It was released on April 28, 2006 in North America...
and Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
.
Their songs are heard on the compilation CDs Lotus Lounge
Lotus Lounge
Lotus Lounge is a compilation of lounge and chill out music released by LoveCat Music. The CD was produced and compiled by DJ Steve Popkin and Benny Fresco. The liner notes were written by Michael Hill. The CD was distributed by Bar/None Records...
, Buddha Bar, Happiness, and Café del Mar: Dreams
Café del Mar
Café del Mar is a bar located in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza. It is known for its sunsets and chill-out music.- Beginning :The Café del Mar was founded by Ramón Guiral, Carlos Andrea, and José Les on 20 June 1980.- Decoration :...
. They also create music for many of Israel’s prime-time TV dramas, as well as game shows, movies, multimedia projects, and computer games.
Haim Solo Albums
- The Gibberish Album (1993)
- A Bit of Lust, a Bit of Tenderness, a Bit of Love (1994)
- Zino Featuring Human Beatbox (1997)
Zino & Tommy Albums
- Travels With My Amps (2005)
- Invisible Things (2006)
- Want To Funk You (2007)
- Symphonic Rock (2008)