Zilla

Colorado-based instrumental rock outfit Zilla places heavy weight on improvisation and features drummer Michael Travis from the String Cheese Incident handling drums, percussion, keyboards, and mallet Kat alongside hammered-dulcimer player Jamie Janover, who previously shared a stage with Travis in Zuvuya and contributes mini-kit, percussion, sampler, electric kalimba, and sitar. Guitarist Aaron Holstein, whose earlier credits include Boogie Shoes and Vibe Squad, rounds out the trio on guitar, bass, sampler, and keyboards. Keyboardist Steve Vidaic helped launch the project but departed in May 2005 to focus on Citizen Cope.

Zilla launched its own series of live releases in 2003 with the opening installment of Crop Circle Brain Factory. The second volume arrived in January 2004, the third followed on May 11 of that year, and the fourth appeared on November 20. Their self-titled studio effort Zilla reached listeners on February 23, 2005, and Egg surfaced the following August 1. On November 2 the group set out on a six-week national tour. Studio sessions held February 13 and 14, 2006, captured more than sixteen hours of improvisation that the band distilled into the double-CD set all iZ. Issued September 5, 2006, through SCI Fidelity—the String Cheese Incident’s own imprint—the release marked Zilla’s first studio album.