San Francisco Tamburitza Festival February 17, 2012

Feb 17 7:30PM to 12PM, Feb 19 12PM to 8PM

For the past decade the Croatian American Cultural Center has annually showcased the best tamburitza music in California and presented nationally renowned orchestras. On President's Day weekend each February; the halls are filled with singing, dancing, and the music of the tamburitza. For two days the San Francisco Bay Area reverberates with a rich tapestry of tamburitza music, both traditional and contemporary. Tamburitza is the lutelike instrument at the heart of Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian music.

Tamburaski Orkestar Momci & the Jerry Grcevich Tamburitza Orchestra will be headlining.

Jerry Grcevich emerged in the 1990's as one of the world's finest tamburitza musicians. His music is imbued with the Romani (Gypsy) style of Janika Balaz. Working with all the instruments recorded sound-on-sound, he has achieved unheard of virtuosity in his recordings. Jerry spends several months each year recording and making music in Croatia with famed singers such as Zvonko Bogdan. As a singer-songwriter, he co-authored a song of immense popularity in Croatia, "Ne dirajte mi ravnicu"

By popular demand Momci will be returning to San Francisco. Led by Hall of Fame Tamburitza player, Ken Kosovec, Momci was formed in 1992, and now includes two generations of outstanding tamburasi who play and sing at the highest level in Balkan music. Ken Kosovec's son, Peter, is one of the amazing crop of young American primasi that have emerged in the past few years. As a Duquesne Tamburitzan, Peter's musical skills were showcased in live shows far and wide. As a singer-songwriter, he has several CDs of original songs.

Feb 17 - Tambura Kafana
7:30PM Jerry Grcevich Orchestra

Feb 19 - Concert, Dancing, Sing-a-Long
12PM - 8PM Jerry Grcevich Orchestra, Momci Tamburitza Orchestra, Novi Stari Tamburasi, Dalmacijo, Sidro, Slavonian Traveling Band

Official Website: http://www.CroatianAmericanWeb.org