Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Bingham.
Hi Zach, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I moved to Columbia in 2006 to be near some musician friends who were living here. One of the first things I did was introduce myself to everyone at the Jam Room recording studio, a place where I’ve always found myself active either as a session guitar player, recording engineer, or as a teacher through their Midlands Audio Institute. Another thing that happened to me early on was discovering the old Speakeasy down in Five Points. I met so many people at the Speakeasy that would cement my decision to pursue music in Columbia. To this day I still have a working relationship with many of the people I met there. I’m trying now to be as versatile and musically diverse as possible by playing straight-ahead jazz, traditional and modern blues, being a sideman to bands ranging from modern country and rock to neo-soul, and offering my services as a session player on anything that comes my way. I have also branched out into producing and am really excited about getting to work with the best musicians in Columbia on making their vision come to life in the studio. This summer (2025) I’m working on composing music for a duo record with the venerable Robert Gardiner while also preparing to participate in a concert with his SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble in September.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. Being a musician comes with many struggles and plenty of hard work. I will say I believe in being prepared for anything so that when opportunity does arise you are able to capitalize on it. Sometimes that means long days and late nights working on various skills that might not seem immediately useful. Usually the biggest challenges are external. Where is the next opportunity coming from, that sort of thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Mostly I am a guitarist and I love to work as a sideman. I really enjoy bringing people’s vision to life with my interpretation on the guitar. I also perform as a leader occasionally, mostly singing old blues standards. I have also written a little in the past and am currently writing some original music for a jazz project that should be released soon. As I’m getting older I find it’s easy to parlay my team-first sideman attitude into studio production work and so now I’m trying to build a reputation as someone who can help other musicians record and release their own music. I’d say that in response to the last question I don’t like to see myself as set apart. I enjoy the communal aspect of music making and would never intentionally seek any kind of spotlight. I guess that in itself is what could make me a unique hire haha.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Playing the guitar. It’s all I’ve wanted to do since I was very young.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jamroomstudio.com
- Instagram: @zachaxe
