Born: 1956
Birthplace: Detroit, MI

Gender: Female
Race or Ethnicity: White
Occupation: Musician

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Avant-garde harpist

Zeena Parkins is one of few musicians to take the harp into the realms of the avant-garde, and is certainly the best known. Long active in the New York alternative music scene, she has worked in projects with Elliot Sharp, Tom Cora, and Fred Frith. Her most widely-visible work has been done in the early 2000s with singer Bjork.

Sister: Sara Parkins (musician)
Sister: Margaret Parkins (musician)

    University: BA Fine Arts, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

    The Black Sheep Vocalist (1982)
    News From Babel Harpist/Accordion (1983-86)
    Cobra Harpist (1984-86 and 1992)
    Skeleton Crew Vocalist/Multi-instrumentalist (1985-87)
    Fred Frith Vocalist/Multi-instrumentalist (1985)
    No Safety Harpist (1987-95)
    Elliot Sharp Harpist/Keyboardist (1987-98)
    Owt Harpist/Keyboardist (1989-90)
    Carbon Harpist/Slabist (1990-96)
    Third Person Harpist (1990)
    Jim Staley Harpist (1990 and 1995)
    Keep The Dog Harpist (1991)
    Marc Ribot Harpist (1992)
    David Shea Harpist (1992-97)
    Psycho-acoustic Harpist/Multi-instrumentalist (1994-86)
    Chipfarm Vocalist/Multi-instrumentalist (1994)
    Gate Harpist (1994)
    The Gangster Band Multi-instrumentalist (1995-)
    Ikue Mori Harpist/Keyboardist/Accordion (1995-97 and 2004)
    Hole Harpist (1995)
    Zeena Parkins and Chris Cutler Harpist (1996)
    John Zorn Harpist (1996-98)
    Fear No Fall Harpist (1997)
    Yoko Ono Harpist (2001)
    Bjork Harpist/Keyboardist (2001)
    Anthony Braxton Harpist
    Zeena Parkins

Official Website:
http://www.zeenaparkins.com/

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