Zak currently plays solo and tours with RACHEL HARRINGTON. He's known to play gigs with WILLY MASON, MIKE GRIGONI, HOLLY O'REILLY, THE WATSON TWINS, CASEY NEILL and BUELL & HIS STRINGLICKERS.
Influences
Thelonius Monk, Bill Frisell, Sam Bush, John Hartford, The Swan Silvertones, Leonard Cohen, John Doyle, Doyle Lawson, Prince, Nina Simone, The Band, Buell Neidlinger, Hamilton De Holanda, Tim O'Brien, Janes Addiction, Willy Mason, The Smiths...
Sounds Like
American roots, dirty granges, flatpicking, big vocal ranges, evil grooves, tight harmonies... lots and lots of lonley little birds and humble songs that ain't got no fancy words.
"FILLED WITH LOVE, LONLINESS...(SONGS) LIKE A FAVORITE PHOTO YOU TAPE TO THE FRIDGE BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU HAPPY WHEN YOU SEE IT" -Performing Songwriter
"RICHLY CHIMING MANDOLIN" - Paste
"ALL MANNER OF TUNEFUL SORROW..." -Guitar World, Acoustic
"AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF MODERN ROOTS MUSIC" - Dirty Linen
Zak Borden is a picker, songwriter and singer of American roots music. He has clocked tens of thousands of road miles in the US and Europe and worked with leading purveyors of traditional and contemporary acoustic music. He has proved his versatility having toured, recorded with and co-produced roots-rocker Casey Neill, worked with songwriter Willy Mason, Bluegrass Grammy nominee Kate MacKenzie, folk diva Tracy Grammer, with Celtic players Martin Hayes, Hanz Araki and the late Johnny Cunningham and has collaborated closely with first call Jazz/classical bass master Buell Neidlinger (Cecil Taylor, Everyone else). In the last year, Zak has nearly doubled his discography as a sideman and now he's sorting though a big backlog of his own instrumentals and songs for release.
Zak was born amidst the folk music scare in Cambridge, Mass where he was exposed to all kinds of roots music. His uncle played in New Mexico's Last Mile Ramblers (with Junior Brown). His sister plays banjo, a cousin that tours the world rockin', His grandfather built guitars and fiddles and his songwriting aunt worked and played at the renowned Longview Recording Studios. But things became critical at 16, when one midnight in July he witnessed two members of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys playing on the street....in other words...Zak had no choice.
In addition, Zak is a sought after instructor having taught at major camps and festivals including a faculty spot at The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. instruction@zakborden.com
Zak performs solo, with Rachel Harrington and sometimes Darren Smith, Willy Mason... spread the word.
11/14 - THE ORIENTAL THEATER - Denver, CO 11/15 - THE ORIENTAL THEATER - Denver, CO 11/16 - BAR DELUXE - Salt Lake City, UT 11/18 - GRIZZLY ROSE - Boise, ID 11/19 - THE TRACTOR - Seattle, WA 11/20 - ALADDIN THEATER - Portland, OR
Just curious, Zak, was Richard Greene one of Monroe's players you heard on the street? I remember the goosebumps he left on me; hey, I was just talkin' to those goosebumps today!!! Yeah, they're still with me!!
Hey, hey Zak, thank you for being friends that way. I saw some vids of Ms. Harrington and you singin together just right here, around the corner. I hope you'll be in Europe once again. Maybe we could refresh the friendship. Well, and the good taste comes from people like you. Thank you for the music. Keep on pickin.
Zak, Wow! You and Rachel put on a most excellent show @ Blue Waters :-). It was great visiting with you 2. Hope you guys get caught up from all the globe trotting. Glad you enjoyed the photos, Dave's shot is a classic. Best wishes -Cliff
Hi Zak, thanks to Rachel and yourself for coming down to play for us at TwickFolk. It was a great evening of music and song. Hope the rest of the tour goes well! Best wishes, Gerry, (+ Sue, Paul, Jutta)
Hey Zack, shame to hear you're not coming to Ireland. I'll be in Spain the end of June, but would like to see you guys. Maybe next time. Or if you have a few days after you're gigs consider heading west. It's not that far. Alright man, all the best.
Thanks for the note, Zak. Yes, it'll be great to see you again. It's been so long. Be good to catch up and play some music together. Looking forward to it! Rachel
