Radoslov Lorkovic & Lee Zimmerman

Radoslav Lorković has taken on an unusually broad musical spectrum and refined it into his distinctive piano style. His tenure on the R&B and folk circuits has culminated in five critically acclaimed solo recordings and numerous appearances on the recordings of and performances with artists including Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, Ribbon of Highway: Woody Guthrie Tribute, Greg Brown, Richard Shindell, Ellis Paul, Ronny Cox, Dave Moore, Andy White, and Bo Ramsey. His thirty year touring career has led him from the taverns of the upper Mississippi River to the castles of Italy, The Canary Islands, The Yup’ik villages of Alaska, The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. He had picked up Tex-Mex and Zydeco accordion as well. In 1990 he made his solo recording debut.

Born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1958, Lorković’s initial exposure to music can be attributed to two grandmothers. Antonija, his maternal Grandmother, sang him Croatian, Slovenian and Czech folk songs since birth. His paternal grandmother Melita Lorković, a internationally renowned classical pianist. After this blend of central European musical influences Radoslav moved to the United States at age six. He had a foothold on a classical music career, but became facinated with the styles of boogie-woogie greats such as Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Freddie Slack etc.... Touring at age 20 with Bo Ramsey drove Lorković deeper to the core of the blues. The music of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Little Walter shifted Lorković’s focus to the basics as he began to draw from the styles of Otis Spann and Pinetop Perkins. Several years later Lorković and Ramsey joined forces with Greg Brown adding musical authenticity to his deep Iowa Roots. At this time Lorković was simultaneously brushing up on his classical heritage and looking south to the polyrhythmic sounds of Professor Longhair and James Booker.

Six CDs later, Lorković currently tours the world regularly appearing at prestigious events such as the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, WOMAD, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa folk festivals, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival,Mountain Stage, Prairie Home Companion, eTown as well as a litany of Italian castles and villas.

Lee Zimmerman is a Cellist / Vocalist / Songwriter /Luthier and Builder. A fourth generation Montana native, Lee lives on the Fathead Reservation near Flathead Lake in Western Montana. Lee fell in love with the cello at the age of eight and was graced with an elegant woman childhood teacher who became a major artistic influence in his life. As a child he loved the study of

classical music and the deep discipline the cello brought to his life but hungered for the the free improvisation and freshness missing in the classical world. Embarking upon a long journey of pop and rock music and a flirtation with many instruments and styles, he continued classical study at the University of Montana and Rocky Mountain College. He has played symphonic and

chamber music and in numerous small ensembles and groups and does collaborations in performance art, dance, multimedia and film. A hand injury in 1978 turned his focus to a 30 year career in artisan home building. A major life trauma brought him home to the cello in 1996 and the music of his soul. The cello became the vehicle of personal healing and spiritual practice. The isolation of small town living and a strong sense of ensemble inspired him to become one of the pioneer cellist- singers and electronic loop composers. His music today is an eclectic mix of classical technique, soaring improvisation, and a bit of shameless whimsy. Influenced by early music and chant to J.S. Bach and the courtly dances of 16th century europe, to jazz and

Astor Piazzolla’s tango neuveau, to Bobby Mcferrin and R.C. Nakai and cellists David Darling and Eugene Friesen. The song of cityscapes and the dreams and weather of Montana’s vast landscape play major roles in his music. His first teacher continues to inspire and guide him in the way of living the artist’s life, whether it be building modern electric- acoustic cellos or living spaces or performing looped sound from cello and voice. Great gratitude to her and current teachers Eugene Friesen and Steven Katz. His performance diversity has taken him from New York City to the straits of Southeast Alaska, Holland to Turkey to Bali, to Nashville and Austin. He has been featured at the Bumpershoot Festival, New Directions Cello Festival and the winter Cellobration at the University of E.Washington.