Tucker Zimmerman - Music By River Words By Ear Tucker Zimmerman

"To celebrate Tucker’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes, Big Potato are issuing a new unheard collection of his material titled Music By River Words By Ear,consisting of songs recorded with fellow forgotten legend Dave Evans and Tucker’s son Quanah on guitar and Geert Waegman on fiddle and Jef van Cool onbass.Recorded in 2002, these timeless tunes mark the first chapter of Zimmerman in the 21st century.The one overriding similarity between the twoZimmerman’s (Bob) is their masterful and distinctly American poetic sensibilities.Believe me, if you like the music made in 1969, you’ll love these.”-Jon ‘Mojo’Mills Shindig! Magazine.On my last visit to Tucker in the Belgian countryside, I picked my tea, as previously, from Marie-Claire’s great tray of assorted blendsand was invited to choose my mug for the week.I apparently selected ‘Dave’s mug’ and was drinking ‘Dave’s English tea’.I felt very pleased, sat there withTucker and his wife, next to the warm stove.Dave Evans is on this album.Why tell that story? Well Tucker's work is tied up with - and of equal importance to -his domestic life.His beloved wife and friends.This doesn't undermine his craft.I would say the opposite, that it affirms it and makes it uncompromised.Surehe could have been a wealthier man or more well known, but that is not the fuel.When in their home, next to the stove you feel a level of purity.That’s whatfuels his work.“We’re all so delicate & fragile it’s beyond belief” is a line from the spine tingling beauty of ‘It’s Beyond Belief’.It sits near the end of this strongset of songs, written by the 60 year old Song Poet as he casts his eye over what it is to be alive.The sentiment articulates the soul of this collection.Tuckerundoubtedly took a brief break from recording whilst - among other things - setting up baseball in Belgium and raising a son.But his life in art just went on andstill goes on, either alone or with friends.He built his own studio in 1971 and owns a guitar so there really is no stopping him.In this environment he has madesome of his classics, the self titled (Black Album) stripped back minimal beauty from 1971 & Word Games, his electronic album from 1983.Music By RiverWords By Ear was also made in this environment.A wooden studio, in a wood, nestled on a little hill.Tucker & I curated this album pretty easily as it is clearly asession, a collection, an album.I believe a very different album than any he's released before.His sixty year old voice in fine form, mature, passionate,heartbreaking and strong.We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.-Nick Holton “Zimmerman conjures up a kind of Arcadian folk surrealism that is utterly hisown” MOJO Andrew Male