The Communique

Issue date: 4/29/04 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Paul Adams J.T. Yenter plays bass in Dr. Z´s Experiment. The band started from the Jass Trio at Kirkwood.

Media Credit: Paul Adams Ben Franklin plays a fast beat on the drums during a recent concert at Tornado´s in Cedar Rapids.

Media Credit: Paul Adams Playing lead guitar, Ryan Phelen was the one who brought the band back together in August of 1999.

Mixing jazz, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, rock and blues, Dr. Z's Experiment is one of the most eclectic bands visiting the area. Their mixed melodies intrigue crowds of a wide range of ages in bars packed shoulder to shoulder.

Dr. Z's Experiment includes Ryan Phelen on lead guitar, Ben Franklin on drums and J.T. Yenter on bass.

Their story starts in 1998 at Kirkwood where the trio started playing together in the jazz combo. It was here they met assistant professor Ray Salucka, had a lot of influence on the young men, especially Yenter.

Yenter said Salucka gave him the understanding of the importance and dedication it takes to become powerful with your instrument. "Those years were very fertile at Kirkwood where we met many instructors who taught us key mechanics in not only learning music at an AP level but playing as well," said Yenter.

Salucka said he thought Yenter wasn't being challenged to his full potential so he assigned Yenter tougher music to play.

Although Yenter struggled early on he bounced back becoming the great musician he is now. "It took a lot of practice time and dedication to get me at this point," said Yenter.

Lead guitarist Phelen said his mother taught him to read music at a young age. "I've always been around it. It's hard not to get yourself involved," he said. His outstanding skills on lead guitar correlate to his playing and reading music since the fourth grade.

The band was together for almost a year after Kirkwood before going their separate ways. They got involved with other local groups such as Subject to Change and Greener.

Phelen was the persistent member who brought Dr. Z's Experiment back together in August of 1999.

The band members hoped with the progress they made since splitting up, Dr. Z's Experiment would take off creating a sound so intense it would radiate in every musical genre. One example of their variety is the song "Satin Doll."

"The key idea is to try and incorporate every style of music, not just one," said Yenter.

Performing live is something Dr. Z's Experiment does especially well. They aren't a band that plays the same 20 songs at a gig. It's important to the band to always mix it up and try new styles which allows the group to play a different assortment of songs from week to week. They especially try to develop their vocals making unique harmonies.

When sitting down to think of creative band name, the trio came up with Dr. Z's Experiment. Phelen said the "Z" is an example of trying every assorted style they know from A-Z. Yenter said the word "Experiment" is self-explanatory; experimenting with certain styles and later mixing them are what the band is all about.

"We would much rather play live every night than put out a CD that mildly touches base on our live performance," said Franklin. "Many Cedar Rapids bars are full of mainstream touch tunes and cheesy karaoke. Tornado's (near Czech Village), The Irish Democrat, O'Malley's and Mahoney's are a few in Cedar Rapids that steadily have live performances."

Phelen, Yenter and Franklin are pushing hard to have their first album out this summer. The "Self Titled" album will consist of 11 creative beats with one additional hidden song.

See Dr. Z's Experiment
Every Wednesday
Green Room
Iowa City
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Every Thursday
Tornado's Grub & Pub
Cedar Rapids
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

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