About Z

Chris Zanardi or “Z” is the founder of ZPortalStudios. Z is a musician, 

producer, audio engineer and video editor who has travelled the world playing or recording music.

From 2000-2015 Z Travelled all around the west coast touring as a guitar player for Five Eyed Hand, Chris Zanardi & The High Beamz, Freestone Peaches (Allman Brothers Tribute Band, Somethingfour and countless other bands as a guest artist. During this period Z released 6 albums and logged endless live show recordings. For a few years Z was technical director and audio engineer for Sacramento Channel 13 CBS live news.

In 2012 Z travelled to Jamaica and Haiti as a guitar player in a featured documentary and album JHAM 2012 for ARealPurpose.org.

In 2014 Z travelled to Nicaugaura for almost a month as a recording engineer in the jungles of Penas Blancas. This trip produced the documentary NUSAM 2015 for ARealPurpose.org. Z has collaborated, recorded or performed with

 Fareed Haque (Sting Joe Zawinul, Garaj Mahal) Stephen Perkins (Janes Addiction), Michael Manring, Eric Levy (Night Ranger, Garaj Mahal), James Whiton (Tom Waits,EMT), Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads), Cecil P’Nut Daniels, Asher Fulero, Derek Bodkin, John Harrington, Eric McFadden, Kai Eckhardt (John McGlaughlin, Garaj Mahal), Will Bernard, Peter Grant, Sean Rickman (Herbie Hancock, Garaj Mahal), Chinna Smith (Bob Marley), Prezident Brown, Liam Hanahran (Zero), Martin Jones (The Mermen) and many more! 

Conveniently located 1 mile off of HWY 50 in Pollock Pines. ZPortalStudios is only a hour East of Sacramento and about 3 hours east of San Francisco making it an ideal getaway for multiple recording days. ZPortalStudios features an assortment of instruments from electric and acoustic guitars to an drum set, percussion toys, electric bass, organs and keyboards.

The studio has an arsenal of tube microphones, amplifiers and also features Universal Audio pre-amps and compressors. The studio also offers an "hybrid green room" area with outdoor games, jacuzzi, horseshoe court, hikes, and awesome lookout porch.The studio allows for musicians to escape from the city noise and have a weekend recording get-a-way in the mountains.

Featured on the ARealPurpose Film JHAM 2012

Santa Cruz,CA