Café Z is held the third Saturday of each month in the Social Hall of Zion Lutheran Church.
The show begins at 7:00 pm.

The show begins with an open microphone that includes music, poetry, etc. Anyone interested in performing is encouraged to participate. The featured performer will take the stage at about 8:00 p.m. The $5.00 admission charge covers the show and light refreshments.

Eric Metzger
June 20, 2009

Eric has been a fixture in the north Jersey coffee house music scene for over 15 years. Honing his craft and sound in some of the best and worst houses in NJ and PA. His music paints pictures in time and emotion, mixing Cat Stevens like vocals with Neil Young's rawness, excitement and social awareness. Eric plays a Martin D35 Gibson J45, Strat and a Petillo custom. Eric's day job is as a prop man in film and TV (30 Rock,Old Dogs, Across the Universe, Sopranos, Law and Order, The Producers, Copland, Godzilla, etc)

Kathy Moser
Jan. 17, 2009

One upbeat, energetic songwriter and performer, who plays guitar and keeps a mean beat with her feet in a tambourine! Biography Kathy Moser is a songwriter, performer, teacher and social artist, working to bring positive change to the world through music. She performs regularly throughout the Northeast. Kathy has appeared at well known folk venues such as Club Passim and Godfrey Daniels, as well as colleges, churches, coffeehouses, prisons, and benefits too numerous to mention!. Known for her poetic lyrics, driving guitar style and goofy stage presence, her songs confront a variety of topics ranging from world peace to lawn mowers, dysfunctional families to shopping malls, drug addiction to the wisdom of trading in your car for a horse. Audiences leave her shows entertained and uplifted, thoughtful and motivated. With three CDs out already and a fourth one in the works, she is poised for bigger things.

Birdsong Project
Nov. 15, 2008

Birdsong Project features the songwriting of Laura (Bernstein) Birdsong, whose lyrics come from the heart and will reach you on a personal level. The music is a fusion of folk, rock, country and blues -- Americana. The band blends in harmonies and textures for a cosmic American experience. For the Cafe Z show Laura will appear with lead guitarist and collaborator, Bru Rossman. Both Birdsong and Rossman have been playing guitar since adolescence. Rossman is highly regarded for his leads and use of open tunings, while Birdsong is known for her fingerstyle. They will be showcasing their skills on 6 and 12 string acoustic guitars. Birdsong was surrounded by vinyl records as a child. Her dad played her Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Peter Paul & Mary and show tunes. Her babysitter bought her an Elvis Presley 45. Then came the Beatles... then came Joni Mitchell... But gee, wasn't Segovia something? Zappa, oh my... Then someone took her to a Dead Show and then to a bluegrass festival.... For Birdsong, the act of doing what she has wanted to do for her entire life makes being it a reality. Birdsong was born and raised in New Jersey and went on for higher education in D.C., Boston and N.Y.C. She has lived on the east coast all her life. She now makes her home in Montclair, NJ, where she met Rossman and the Project took root. This is Laura's third feature appearance at Cafe Z. She has also appeared this year with Birdsong Project at The Minstrel Coffeehouse, Indie Music Circus, Church Street Kitchen and Tierney's Tavern. An album is in the works....

It's What You Think
Sept. 20, 2008

If you wanted to define folk/bluegrass trio It's What You Think in one word, it would be harmony. The band's signature sound relies heavily on the seamless blending of vocalists Ellen Pluta and Sarah Riffel, along with guitarist/vocalist Dan Ortolani. In addition to playing guitar, often in the bluegrass "flat-picking" style, Dan also plays mandolin. The result is a lush, original , crowd-pleasing sound. Hailing from Mountainside, New Providence and Westfield, the band features fresh interpretations of popular folk songs and bluegrass standards. It's What You Think has headlined at many shows, coffeehouses and benefits locally and throughout the state.

Bronx Boy Jake
July 19, 2008

Performing under the stage name Bronx Boy Jake, Elliot Fischer was born in the Bronx, New York in 1952 and has been playing blues guitar since he was 16 years old. His favorite music is the delta blues from the 1920’s and 30’s. He has read extensively on the subject and taken workshops with expert blues guitarists. Elliot has tour ed the Memphis/Mississippi delta region, visiting the haunts of famous blues players, playing at clubs in Mississippi, and appearing on the famous radio show “The King Biscuit Flour Hour”. Elliot teaches a “History of the Blues” class at local adult schools.

Circle Round the Sun
May 17, 2008

On August 20, Café Z will return with featured act Circle ‘Round the Sun, a duo composed of Jay Wilensky and Marie Trontell, two very accomplished artists who teamed up after meeting at the Café Z last year. Their return as a duo is much anticipated and should prove to be a stellar evening of music and song.

Slight Imperfection
April 19

Cafe Z is pleased to announce the April 19 performers; Slight Imperfection. SLIGHT IMPERFECTION is Odarka and Redentor (a.k.a. Red), a singer/song-writing duo blending musical genre of traditional Celtic, folk, rock and roll and all in between. Odarka is on vocals, Celtic harp and percussion with Red, on guitar and vocals. Songs and music are carefully arranged, crafted of life experiences and mythic tales, with plenty of poetic license. The melodies can be traced back to grass roots of American folk with Celtic flavor, 50s innocence, 60s pop and classic rock and roll. Odarka Polanskyj Stockert (www.odarka.com) an accomplished harpist, classically trained, yet folk minded, plays an eclectic repertoire with Celtic and Ukrainian / Eastern European overtones, and has been performing since the 80s, when she spent her summers in Ireland competing in the Irish harp competitions, hallmarks of the modern renaissance of the Irish Harp. Redentor Jimenez, having minimal formal musical training, learned the art form from listening and observing various artists to formulate his own songwriting and performing style. Red fronts the original NJ based band, RED REYNE (www.reyneonline.com) who performs in the tri-state area.

Dennis Young
March 15

Dennis Young is a self-taught musician who started playing drums at an early age from which his curiosity led him to other instruments that included marimba, percussion, keyboards, guitar, and vocals. He composes his own music and his compositions combine influences from rock, jazz, dance, folk, and world music while incorporating unique rhythms and colorful musical textures to create his own original music. As an added bonus, everyone will receive a free CD of Dennis' latest release "Shadow" when they pay the $5.00 cover charge.

Ken Galipeau
Feb. 16

Ken Galipeau, a storyteller for over 13 years, is a collector of stories, songs and poems that touch our hearts and funny bone. He has performed in schools, libraries, church, storytelling festival, parties, etc. He has been the featured storyteller at numerous Tellabrations in NJ including Crosswicks, Jersey Shore and Morristown. He has presented a storytelling program at the NJ Storytelling Festival for the last 11 Years. Ken is also a favorite festival, coffeehouse and concert performer. Ken performs for people of all ages and accompanies himself on guitar, drum, and piano and sings a cappella.

Joe Giacoio & Carla Ulbrich
Jan. 19

Laible Ben Moshe
Oct. 20

Spearheading one of the latest trends in Jewish music, Laible Ben Moshe’s music is highly diversified and spans the range from country, folk, blues and rock to chazonos in a very original form. Laible is a virtuoso guitarist and the lead vocalist of the BAAL T’SHUVA BOOGIE BAND, which he founded 15 years ago. Before that he was known as Michael Loren, a highly successful and sought after entertainer on radio and television. In Florida, he appeared in the Jewish Vaudeville Theatre and in the major hotels such as the Fountainbleu, Eden Rock and Palm-Aire Hotel. Laible has also opened for such notable acts as Jackie Mason and Shlomo Carlebach, who made a major impression on him. But it wasn’t until he traveled to California where he appeared at Disneyland and on international cruise ships , that Laible met up with an outreach program that changed his life. He took focus and his music crystallized into a classical Jewish Folk-Rock Sound. What took Laible a lifetime of travel and spiritual quest is revealed in his latest release "Wellsprings II- The Day Is Gonna Come"- a highly diversified and soulful album, which can be found at most Jewish bookstores and heard on WFMU."I’ve always wanted to give an audience more than they expected," Laible said. "Before, I was more entertainment. Now, I want to give them more of a message. I’m trying to light a spark of godliness in people."

Lisa Argentieri
Sept. 15

September’s featured performer is Lisa Argentieri.  Lisa Argentieri is a guitarist and singer from Freehold, NJ. She performs rock, country, and pop tunes with a uniquely expressive style.  With a goal of becoming a full-time solo performer, she is currently building a repertoire of her favorite songs. Lisa began playing the guitar five years ago and secured her first paying gig in 2005 at the Café Allure in Howell, NJ. She performed three times a month for one year. Currently, she is performing at the Cornerstone Café in Freehold. Lisa also performs in Phoenix Arizona at an annual fund raiser for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She’s also performed at Cunningham’s in Spotswood, The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, her parents 50th Wedding Anniversary,
and various open mic nights throughout New Jersey.

Lisa also plans on releasing a CD of original music next summer.

Christine DeLeon
June 16

Raised in Northern New Jersey, Christine has always had a deep dedication to music. In fact, very first memories of her childhood were of being captivated by the sounds coming from the radio. Both her mom and grandmother handed down an artistic drive and ability that fostered that curiosity. Upon discovering the joys brought through singing, she gravitated toward her family's church where she was a member of the children’s choir. Throughout adolescent years, Christine dove full force into any music program she could find while cultivating her skills becoming accustomed to sharing her affinity for song with large and small audiences alike. At the age of 14, she began to teach herself to play guitar as a means of accompanying herself. It was around the age of 17 that she began songwriting.

As an adult, Christine came upon the chance to lead song and play guitar at many churches which led to her much loved part time position as Cantor at Holy Trinity Church in Hackensack, New Jersey.

After devoting much of her time to expanding her songwriting skills, she recently felt ready to share her own songs and so she began the quest for performance opportunities. An internet search of local open mics brought her to the Folk Project where she remains an enthusiastic member and performer.

Liz Pagan & The Judeo-Christians
May 19

From primitive old-timey music, through the 50’s Folk Revival repertoire, to contemporary singer-songwriters all the way to the fringes of rock and roll. “Liz Pagan and the Judeo-Christians definitely falls into the rock side of folk,” said lead singer Liz Pagan. “We’re the jam band of New Jersey folk music.” Pagan and her cohorts Dave Kleiner, Bill Meyer and Dave Sherman bring their brand of folk-music-with-a-beat to Café Z on Saturday, May 19. The Judeo-Christians met through the New Jersey folk music organization the Folk Project. “We’ve been playing together in basements and living rooms for more than a decade, and over the past few years we’ve begun to morph into a more formal unit,” Pagan said. The band’s music ranges from originals penned by Pagan’s husband, Dave Kleiner, to “folk Top Forty” by artists such as Nancy Griffith, Steve Earle and Richard Thompson. The band members come from varied musical backgrounds. Kleiner is a well-known singer-songwriter with three CDs to his credit. He has played lead guitar for many bands. Current projects include Big Jeff and his Middle-Sized Band, a line-up popular with the pre-school crowd. As a couple, Kleiner and Pagan have headlined at folk clubs throughout the northeast, and opened for such national acts as the Austin Lounge Lizards and The Kennedys. Basist Bill Meyer is at home with a wide variety of music – jazz, classical, folk-rock. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, and is known for his Norwegian wit. Adding the “Day-O” to the Judeo-Christians is Dave Sherman on rhythm guitar and vocals. Sherman spreads much of the jam on the Judeo-Christian musical sandwich, with his vast repertoire of classic 70’s folk rock – including a substantial dose of the Grateful Dead. As part of the duo Sherman & Siehl, he played at innumerable venues throughout New Jersey. Sherman provides strong vocals and an infectious beat. “What we call ‘the Dave Sherman Rhythm’ is a great to dance to,” said Pagan. Sometimes the group works with a drummer “But Café Z is an acoustic place,” said Pagan, “So we want to keep it on the softer side. Plus, it’s hard to keep a drummer. They always want to get paid because they’ve got all that equipment to haul around, and folk gigs don’t pay well.” And the name of the band? “We’ve worked under several band names, usually based on the name of whoever got the gig – The Dave Sherman Experience, Bill Meyer and Friends. Since my last name is Pagan. ‘Liz Pagan and the Judeo-Christians’ just came naturally.”

Rich Deans
April 27

An alumnus of the New York/New Jersey club scene, singer-songwriter Rich Deans has shared the stages of the Bottom Line, CBGB’s, The Bitter End, The Stone Pony and various other venues with national and local acts including, The Smithereens, The DB’s, Primus, Level 42, Kate Jacobs and The Marys. Rich has also been a staff songwriter for ABC/Dunhill, Laurel Canyon Music, Dreena Publishing and Castle Hill Music. His song “Blue Eyes and White Lies”, written for Kim Carnes, was chosen by Billboard Magazine as album cut “pick hit” and his composition “Tiger on The Lawn” was recorded by Paul Cotton of the country-rock band POCO for his solo record. Recently, his composition “Don’t Dig My Grave Too Deep” was recorded by Pat Wictor on his excellently reviewed "Waiting for the Water" release. And the recent release by Hope Machine includes a stirring version of Rich's "You Can Count On Me."

Back to top