Stuart Patrick Jude Zender (born 18 March 1974) is an English bassist. He is best known as a former member of the band Jamiroquai.
Biography
Early life
Zender was born in Sheffield, England. He comes from a family with a musical background: Zender's father was a musician, his uncle was a flamenco guitarist, and his older sister participated in punk bands. His family relocated to Norristown, Pennsylvania, when Zender was seven years old. Zender initially played in pubs with a punk rock band, but he had creative differences with the band. He recalled being "stuck onstage, playing these little four-chord songs. I would always jazz the whole thing up and start doing solos and things like that, and they would just tell me to shut up." A spokesperson for the band said that Zender also expressed his desire to spend more time with his then-girlfriend Melanie Blatt and their new baby.
1998–present
After Jamiroquai, Zender had his own project with the British soul artist Don-E called AZUR, which signed a record deal with D'Angelo's label. However, the project was shelved and was then available on the Internet for a short time. He has also played bass guitar with other artists, including All Saints, Omar, Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo, Gorillaz, Samuel Purdey, Ms. Dynamite and Stevie Wonder.
In summer 2006, Zender became the musical director and bass guitar player for Mark Ronson. The release of the album Version in 2007 proved to be a larger success than first expected. He has played bass guitar for Ronson at events such as BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, Wireless Festival, Global Gathering, and Glastonbury, and festivals all over Europe, including Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. They were also special guests on Jay-Z's UK tour.
Having left the Mark Ronson band in 2011, Zender started his own record label, White Buffalo Recordings, and formerly ran the music publishing company Made Youth Inc.
Some of Zender's most recent work was with the band Leroi. Zender explained they were signed to Geffen Records in Los Angeles but that the deal fell through after the heads of the company, Polly Anthony and Jordan Shurr, who signed them, were made redundant.
In March 2023, Zender released the song "Happy Feelings", featuring Omar and Ana Tijoux, on all major streaming platforms.
In November 2024, Zender released the song "Run" (originally recorded in 2000) on all major streaming platforms under the alias LeRoi74.
Artistry
Zender has cited players such as Nathaniel Phillips, Stanley Clarke, Alphonso Johnson, Chuck Rainey, Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins, Verdine White, James Jamerson, Bernard Edwards, Paul Jackson, Hellmut Hattler as his influences.
Personal life
From 1998 to 2006, Zender and All Saints singer Melanie Blatt were in a relationship. They had one child together, born on 20 November 1998. Their relationship ended in 2006. In 2026, it was reported by BBC News that Zender had met his half-brother, singer Peter Cunnah of D:Ream, following Cunnah’s search for his biological father. The two subsequently spent time together discussing their respective musical careers.
Equipment
- 1x Warwick SZ Signature Bass 4-string.
- 1x Warwick SZ Signature Bass 4-string (Red one, saw live in Paris and Amsterdam for Mark Ronson).
- 1x Warwick SZ Signature Bass 4-string (White one, Zender posted the picture on Facebook).
- 1x Warwick "Iroquai Rug Bass" Streamer 5-string.
- 1x Warwick "The Chrome Ender Bass" Streamer Stage I 4-string.
- 1x Fender 1964 Precision Bass.
- 1x Warwick Streamer Stage II 5-string (used in 1995 live).
- 1x Alembic Epic 4-string (onstage backup bass guitar).
- 1x Warwick Streamer Stage I 4-string.
- Ashdown Engineering ABM Amplification.
- Ashdown Engineering SZ Funk Face Twin Dynamic Filter Pedal – Stuart Zender Signature Auto-Wah Pedal
Discography
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
! Release
! Accompanying artist
! Role
! Membership
! Year
|-
| Emergency on Planet Earth (except "When You Gonna Learn (Digeridoo)")
| Jamiroquai
| Bass
| Ex-Member
| 1993
|-
| "Serengeti"
| Jessica Lauren
| Bass
| Guest
| 1993
|-
| In Concert-582
| Jamiroquai
| Bass
| Ex-Member
| 1994
|-
| The Return of the Space Cowboy
| Jamiroquai
| Bass, Composer
| Ex-Member
| 1994
|-
| "Lost Souls" – Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality / Feel The Music
| Guru
| Bass
| Guest
| 1995
|-
| Travelling Without Moving
| Jamiroquai
| Bass guitar, Writer
| Ex-Member
| 1996
|-
| 19 ("Cold Shoulder")
| Adele
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 2008
|-
| Live from 6A – Late Night with Conan O'Brien
| Various
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| (unknown)
|-
| The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
| Lauryn Hill
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 1998
|-
| Black Angel
| Mica Paris
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 1998
|-
| Signs of a Struggle
| Mattafix
| Bass guitar, Keyboards
| Guest
| 2005
|-
| Best by Far
| Omar
| Bass guitar, Percussion, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Programming, Co-writer, Producer
| Guest
| 2000
|-
| Saints and Sinners
| All Saints
| Writer, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, Bass guitar, Percussion, Strings, Programming
| Guest
| 2000
|-
| Laika Come Home
| Spacemonkeyz vs. Gorillaz
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 2002
|-
| Version
| Mark Ronson
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 2007
|-
| Record Collection ("Somebody To Love Me")
| Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 2010
|-
| In Search of Better Days
| Incognito
| Bass guitar
| Guest
| 2016
|}
References
External links
- Stuart Zender on Myspace
- Interview with Stuart Zender on Warwick Forum