Zeena Parkins

Zeena Parkins
Zeena Parkins with Cosa Brava, Jazzit, Salzburg, Austria, April 5, 2008
Background information
Born	1956 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Experimental, free improvisation, avant-garde
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instruments	Harp, accordion, keyboards, omnichord
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	No Man's Land, Tzadik
Associated acts	News from Babel, Skeleton Crew, Keep the Dog, Cosa Brava, John Zorn, Ikue Mori
Website	www.zeenaparkins.com

Zeena Parkins is an American harpist active in rock music, free improvisation, and jazz. Parkins plays standard harps, as well as several custom electric harps; she also plays piano and accordion. She is currently a guest faculty member for composition courses at Mills College.

Born in 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, she studied at Bard College and moved to New York City in 1984.

Her work ranges from solo performance to large ensembles. Besides standard and electric harps, her work also incorporates Foley, field recordings, analog synthesizers, samplers, oscillators and homemade instruments.

She has done several solo recordings and has also recorded or performed with Björk, John Zorn (including in Cobra performances), Elliott Sharp, Ikue Mori, Butch Morris, Tin Hat Trio, Jim O'Rourke, Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Lee Ranaldo, Nels Cline, Pauline Oliveros, Anthony Braxton, Matmos, Yoko Ono, Christian Marclay, Courtney Love's band Hole and others.