Green Enough To Grow: Coming of Age at the Turn of the Millennium

Mark Zaden’s latest CD release, Green Enough To Grow, is an 11-song autobiographical account of the last two-and-a-half years of his life. But the stories Zaden tells could be anyone’s.

That’s what connects with audiences and why Green Enough is a powerful and touching statement about coming-of-age at the turn of the millennium.

Zaden’s songwriting on Green Enough juxtaposes a sensitive view of the human condition with a hard roots-rock edge. This is evident on standout cuts such as "Here In My Mind," "Gabriella" and “Jade.” Zaden also shows off his acoustic chops and soulful vocals on the plaintive “Making Other Plans” and the beautiful "Goodbye Avalon," which stunningly closes the recording.

“These songs look at relationships,” Zaden says. “Relationships to one another, to the planet and to life.”

Green Enough began to grow soon after the release of Zaden’s solid debut CD Six Is Fine in October of 1998. By January 1999, he was back in the Crib -- the Brooklyn, New York studio owned by long-time collaborator Nunzio Signore -- recording initial tracks and brainstorming ideas for the sound on Green Enough.

Zaden reassembled the Six Is Fine band, a seasoned group of musicians including Steve Logan on bass; Dave Johnson on drums and percussion; Mino Cinelo on percussion; Anthony Robustelli on keyboards; Signore on guitar and vocals; and Zaden on lead vocals and guitar.

Each musician has had major label experience, playing with luminaries such as Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Sting, Peter Gabriel, John Scofield and Brian McKnight, just to name a few.

Eschewing the “groovy kind of vibe” of Six Is Fine, Zaden desired a “more rockin’ vibe” on Green Enough. This evolution in sound produced a focused and crisp melodic pop rock CD -- the arrangements are inventive and hook-laden; the lyrics are insightful, intelligent and accessible.

“The players really dialed into my writing on this record,” Zaden says. “Over the years, we have all grown closer professionally and personally. When I go out on the road, these are the guys that I will take with me.”

Zaden says the recorded sounds of Vertical Horizon, Jimi Hendrix and Jellyfish influenced the sound of Green Enough. “Nunzio and I would share ideas on records we liked,” he says. “But when it came down to it, if we thought something felt right, we went with it.”

That philosophy gives Green Enough an organic feel, resulting in a classic recording that will grow and evolve with each listening.

“I want these songs to affect people emotionally,” Zaden says. “I want people’s hearts to swell when they hear them.”

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