Æ
Æ (Aurelia Lucy Shrenker and Eva Salina Primack) has been performing as a duo for a year. Aurelia and Eva have performed together in Europe, New York, and California and have just finished the preliminary sessions for their debut CD. Though the duo is relatively new, the two women bring together a deep knowledge of different vocal traditions, and create something new and daring with each song they sing together.
They have chosen the name Æ (the joined a and e, officially pronounced “ash”) because it represents something of a dual nature — not singular, not plural, but exactly two. They primarily perform a cappella but enjoy accompanying themselves on dulcimer, accordion, and Georgian panduri. In addition to their upcoming CD, Æ recently contributed to the soundtrack of The Great Soviet Eclipse, the newest film produced under the auspices of the Museum of Jurassic Technology and the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Information. Æ’s work is rooted in folk culture and never falls short of being visceral and provocative — in their music, the exuberance of youth and the reverence of ancient tradition coincide. Visit www.aesings.com and www.myspace.com/aesings.
Balkan Express Boston
BALKAN EXPRESS BOSTON is a group of enthusiasts from Boston area who perform at festivals, dance parties, and celebrations of Balkan music and culture in Massachusetts. Our members are experienced musicians who used to perform in the countries of former Yugoslavia, and we have kept the spirit of diversity and beauty of Balkan Music ever since we moved to the U.S. We specialize in Sevdah music from Bosnia, and music from Serbia and Macedonia: our fans describe us as a group that plays “good old original songs”.
Balkan Express Boston always tries to perform the songs that will reveal the musical spirit of the Balkans, and present the beauty and variety of Balkan harmonies, rhythms, and lyrics. Our goal for each performance is to take the audience on a musical journey in the land of genuine Balkan music, passionately expressing the spirit and culture that was, is, and will be with us for long time to come. Members of the band are: Zakira Šemić-Šuka (vocal), Slobodan Mitrović (accordion and vocal), Dragan Petakov (drums), David Golber (clarinet), Dzevad Imširović (bass guitar), and Zoran Matić (guitar and vocals).
Beth Bahia Cohen
BETH BAHIA COHEN is of Syrian Jewish and Ukrainian Jewish heritage. Inspired at a young age by the sounds she heard at family gatherings, she later studied with master musicians from Hungary, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. She currently performs with several groups including Ziyiá and Orkestra Keyif. Beth has been performing solo concerts called “The Art of the Bow” and has a new solo CD called “Weaving the Worlds”. For more information or bookings, contact Beth at <beth_AT_bethbahiacohen_DOT_com>.
Black Sea Hotel
BLACK SEA HOTEL emerged in Brooklyn in the spring of 2007. The quartet invokes the shimmering, angelic harmonies made famous by Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, even as they create their own inimitable gutsy sound, with driving, rhythmic vocals and harmonies saturated in a sonic playground. Solo or two-voiced village songs are rethought to accommodate the dimensions of a quartet, arrangements written for large choirs are transformed for four voices, and the quartet composes their own unique arrangements. With deep reverence to other arranging styles in the canon, they’ve found new ways to use melody, harmony and rhythm to tell ancient stories. Black Sea Hotel has recently released their first CD, self-titled Black Sea Hotel. It’s available on CD Baby. Info about upcoming gigs and more can be found on our myspace page, and the group can be reached at <info_AT_blackseahotelusa_DOT_com>.
Boston Sevdah
The Cultural Artistic Society (“Kulturno Umjetnicko Drustvo” or KUD) BOSTON SEVDAH will be celebrating two years of existence in April 2009. It was created as a vital part of Bosnian Community Center for Resource Development, Inc.’s program “Heritage”, whose mission is to preserve traditions and culture within the Bosnian community in Massachusetts, along with our publication “Izvor”.
BOSTON SEVDAH has four major groups, each run by its self-appointed leader:
Our KUD has already had 6 public performances, each one bringing over 400 people together. The KUD Boston Sevdah is a member of Sevdah North America, Inc.
Divi Zheni
DIVI ZHENI (“Wild Women”) is a women’s Bulgarian chorus and band none of whose members come from Bulgaria–except for director Tatiana Sarbinska, Bulgarian folk singer and teacher extraordinaire. Formed in 2000, Divi Zheni has performed concert and dance music–ranging from traditional village style to choral arrangements–at festivals, concerts, and dances in the Boston area, Connecticut, New York, and Bulgaria. More information.
We welcome new members. If you are not quite ready to join the chorus, you can take lessons with Tatiana to learn singing technique. If there is enough interest, a class might be arranged. Contact: Tatiana at
Dünya
DÜNYA (the Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Greek word for “world”) is a non-profit, educational organization located in Boston. Its goal is to present a contemporary view of a wide range of Turkish traditions, alone and in interaction with other world traditions, through performance, recording, publication and other educational activities. One of our main interests has been producing concerts and CD productions which brought Greeks and Turks together. As a result of this one of our most significant successes have been the international release of our recent production of the first CD where Greek and Turkish Cypriots presented traditional music from Cyprus together! Due to the success of this project we were recently invited to NPR’s “Here and Now with Robin Young” and PRI’s “The World” to discuss the project on the air.
This past Summer our bi-communal band also performed in Famagusta and the concert attracted both Turkish and Greek Cypriot audiences. Since DÜNYA’s Traditional Cypriot Music Ensemble has members that live outside of the US, in this program we’ll bring you a smaller version of our band, however with the same spirit of “friendship”, which made our project possible.
Visit DÜNYA’s website, www.dunyainc.org.
Grachanitsa
In 2000, a group of folk enthusiasts from the Boston area started exploring the rich heritage of folk dancing and music from different parts of the former Yugoslavia. The ensemble is led by Djordje Koldžić, a former soloist with the Branko Krsmanovich National Folk Ballet of Serbia. Grachanitsa dancers are folk dance enthusiasts from around the world, hailing members from the Balkan region, the United States, and Canada. Today, Grachanitsa has become known throughout the Northeast for its original choreographies, elaborate costumes, perfected style and attention to detail. Beginner’s dance lessons are offered on Tuesdays at 7:15pm at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Cambridge. For more info please contact <gracanica_DOT_boston_AT_gmail_DOT_com>.
Horo Na Pesen
The phrase “HORO NA PESEN” describes a Bulgarian village tradition of dancing to a song, rather than to instrumental music. Traditionally there are two small, tight groups of singers; at Balkan Music Night we stretch the definition a bit, inviting EVERYBODY to join in the singing (“the band is Us!”) and sometimes having instruments accompany the singers.
Get a head start on learning the songs! Words and music to “Oj Strumo Nevesto”, and Words and music to “Nazad Nazad”.
Kadife
KADIFE is a New York-based band performing mostly repertoire from the traditions of Southern Albania. Kadife is Eva Salina Primack (accordion, voice), Catherine Foster (clarinet, voice), Demetri Tashie (laouto), and Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska (percussion). Our violinist is Jesse Kotansky, who won’t be able to join us at Balkan Night because he’ll be either in Istanbul or Skopje. Poor thing...
A native of Santa Cruz, California, Eva Salina Primack has been studying, performing, and teaching Balkan music for most of her life. She has traveled and performed internationally, worked with many well-known Balkan and American musicians, and currently lives in Brooklyn. In addition to her work with Kadife, Eva performs with (Æ, also performing at Balkan Night 2009), Slavic Soul Party!, the Italian balkan/jazz project Opa Cupa, Which Way East, and Seido Salifoski’s Romski Boji. Past collaborations and projects include work with Edessa, Tzvetanka Varimezova, and KITKA
Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska has been a student of dumbek (darabouka, tabla, however you want to call it) for about 15 years. She has studied dumbek under several notable teachers — Souhail Kaspar, Susu Pampanin, and Seido Salifoski among them. She has also studied Latin Conga to deepen her sense of rhythm and complexity. She has been performing in New York City area in various styles, from Rebetiko (Greek traditional) with Eros Taksimi, American Tribal bellydance with Rockabelly and Kassar, off-Broadway bellydance show Goddessdance with Jehan Kamal, to rather Eurocentric group, Karpathos, at the New York Renaissance Faire and Southern Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
Catherine Foster has been playing and singing Balkan music for 30 years. She has toured internationally and recorded with the Yuri Yunakov Ensemble and Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band, and can be heard on the Ansambl Mastika CD “Gde si, Bre?” In addition to Kadife, Catherine is a founding member of Kavala Brass Band and the vocal ensemble Urban Women Village Songs.
Demetri Tashie’s love of Greek music and dance began at a very early age. As an adult, he developed a passion for the folk music, rituals, costumes and crafts associated with the varied regional cultures of rural Greece. Besides playing music and dancing, Demetri travels frequently to Greece and makes documentaries on various folk rituals and celebrations of village life. Demetri has an extensive folk instrument collection, and lectures on these instruments as well as many other aspects of Greek folk culture. In addition to teaching Greek Folk Dance, he is a judge at the various Folk Dance Federation competitions held on both coasts of the US. Demetri’s Greek Folk Ensemble performed at the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage in November of 2008. In addition to Kadife, Demetri performs with Beth Bahia Cohen, the Greek Folk Ensemble, and Astoriani.
Kalin Kirilov & Friends
KALIN KIRILOV teaches Music Theory at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He received a PhD in Music Theory and a MA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Folklore from the University of Oregon. Mr. Kirilov obtained a BA from the Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. His current research focuses on the classical and traditional music of Eastern Europe. Mr. Kirilov’s dissertation, “Harmony in Bulgarian Music,” traces the development of harmonic languages in Bulgarian music, starting from the earliest examples of triadic harmonizations and concluding with the incorporation of modern jazz harmony. A master of multiple instruments, Mr. Kirilov has performed extensively in Bulgaria and Western Europe. In 2003 and 2005, he toured the United States with Ivo Papazov, founder of the Balkan jazz style and recipient of the 2005 BBC audience award in the world music category.
Ludo Mlado dancers
(2007 info)
LUDO MLADO is a semi-professional dance group based in Boston, MA. Its Bulgarian choreographer, Petre Petrov, is a former professional dancer from the Bulgarian State Ensemble “Rodopa”. By training dancers and doing performances at cultural events in Boston and elsewhere in the US, the group endeavors to preserve and spread awareness of the rich dance traditions of Bulgarian and the Balkan people.
Menada
MENADA is a local band that performs at various events playing Macedonian and Balkan music throughout New England. Members of the band are: Corinna Snyder (vocal), Dimitar Mičo Grčev (vocal), Henry Goldberg (drum), David Golber (clarinet), Milenko Tanasijević (keyboard), and Goran Popovski (guitar). With the sounds of the Oro and Čoček, they will bring you for a moment to the hilly Balkan party ambiance.
Mladost
(2008 info)
The MLADOST Folk Ensemble will take you on tour to the corners of the earth. Join us in an exploration of the different cultures and ethnicities of the world, learning of each through song and dance. The members of Mladost draw their inspiration from the life of Conny Taylor, co-founder of Boston’s Folk Arts Center of New England, and their dances from folk dance experts around the world, combining both in extraordinary performances selected for their style, footwork, and presentation. Look for Mladost in performance or contact us to have us appear at your event!
Pajdaši
PAJDAŠI (“buddies, friends”) is a Boston-based group of musicians who have come together to share the joy of learning and performing Croatian village and popular folk songs, as well as dance tunes. They will warm up your heart with a drmeš or a polka and will touch your soul with wistful ballads. Always ready for that beat, Pajdaši have a great time with great music and with each other! For more information about Pajdaši, contact Mari at <mari_young_AT_comcast_DOT_net>.
Panayotis League
PANAYOTIS ("Paddy") LEAGUE spent much of his childhood in the Greek immigrant community of Tarpon Springs, Florida, where he was first exposed to the traditional music of Kalymnos and the other Dodecanese islands. Years spent living and traveling throughout Greece have given him rare insight into the dance music of the eastern Aegean, and today he is one of the few musicians specializing in the tsambouna, violin, and laouto music of Kalymnos and western Crete. He also plays Turkish and Cypriot music with Dunya, and is at the forefront of his generation of performers of Irish traditional music. Panayotis is Lecturer in Modern Greek Studies at Hellenic College in Brookline, and performs regularly for concerts, festivals, weddings, and other community events throughout Greece and the Greek diaspora. Visit his website.
Rakiya
RAKIYA is named for the fiery fruit brandy which is popular in the Balkans, and mentioned in many songs. Though it is sold in stores, the best rakiya is home-made, and this particular batch was brewed secretly in a cold, dark basement in Brighton. Rakiya plays Rom and Balkan songs and dance tunes. Rakiya consists of Dean Brown (guitar), Colin Ferguson (keyboard, accordion, dumbek), Dave Golber (clarinet), Heather Lee (vocals), Alan Mattes (sax), Tim McNerney (bass), Grant Smith (drums, percussion), and Patrick Yacono (clarinet, vocals, keyboard). For more information, see www.rakiya.com; contact Rakiya at <ddeanbrown_AT_comcast_DOT_net>.
Shining Moon
SHINING MOON is a group of musicians from the Boston area playing and singing some of their favorite tunes from the Balkans and beyond. They are also performers with other local groups. Members are Dean Brown, Colin Ferguson, Heather Lee, Dana Sussman, David Traugot, Brian Wilson, and Patrick Yacono. Contact: Dean Brown at <ddeanbrown_AT_comcast_DOT_net>.
Skordaliá
(Skor · da · liá) n. 1. A zesty garlic dip. 2. A zesty Greek band. Dean Lampros (sandouri), Joe Teja (oud, guitar), Panayotis League (violin), and Benan Şimşek (percussion) bring you a lively mixture of dance tunes from the Greek islands and Asia Minor. Visit us on the web at www.zestygreekmusic.com.
Ta Dilina
Our name, TA DILINA (“The Sunsets”), was inspired by that much-anticipated time of day when Greeks put behind themselves a day’s worth of labor and head for the local Taverna (club). There they join hearts and souls in a spirited celebration of life’s trials and joys as expressed in the verses and notes of songs that harold the spirit. These songs have come to represent all that is Greek musical passion. They are dance songs, and they are as varied as the regions of their origins – but they have one thing in common: they are true classics recognized by every generation. We have been performing these songs since our formation in 1975 and, though the faces of this group have changed during the three decades, our commitment to this powerful music remains true. The group has performed at clubs, weddings, concerts, dedication ceremonies, political rallies, and church festivals throughout the years!
The Other Georgia
THE OTHER GEORGIA is Jim Desmond, David Gillman, and Joel Sindelar, a Massachusetts-based trio singing close harmony from the Georgia of the Caucasus Mountains. For more info: <dgillman_AT_alum_DOT_mit_DOT_edu>, 781/643-4939.
Trei Arcuși
TREI ARCUŞI, with Miamon Miller (violin), Becky Ashenden (bass & santuri) and Chuck Corman (kontra & guitar) plays the folk music of the Carpathian Mountains and Greece. From Romanian învîrtitas to the dance cycles of the Hungarian tánzház, Trei Arcusi is delighted to bring their Transylvanian village music to the Balkan Night festivities.
Contact Miamon Miller at: <miamon_AT_sover_DOT_net>.
Turgay Ertürk & Friends
TURGAY ERTÜRK was born and raised in Ürgüp, a small town in Central Anatolia, Cappadocia, Turkey. He started playing saz (baglama) at the age of fifteen. A master saz player and singer, he performs Turkish village music for listening, dancing and entertainment. He also plays ud, yayli (bowed) tanbur, and kemenche for Turkish classical (Ottoman) and urban folk music. His debut CD, “Turkish Village Music with Saz”, is available tonight at the Folk Arts Center table. For information or bookings e-mail <turgay_erturk_AT_hotmail_DOT_com>.
Zdravets
ZDRAVETS, Boston’s friendly neighborhood Balkan band, has been performing at concerts, dances, festivals, parties, etc. (including radio and television in Bulgaria) since 1989. Most of its repertoire of traditional dance music and unaccompanied singing is from Bulgaria, with occasional forays into neighboring countries. Zdravets holds a monthly Saturday dance party and concert in Arlington, MA. For more information, bookings, or to be placed on Zdravets’s mailing list, visit their website: www.zdravets.com, e-mail <zdravets.music_AT_gmail_DOT_com>, or call 617/964-2003.
Zornitsa
ZORNITSA (“Morning Star”) is reported to be America’s first performing group of men who sing traditional and urban Bulgarian songs. Under the direction of Tatiana Sarbinska, the group has been performing mainly music from south-western Bulgaria and Macedonia since 1993 in the Boston area, other US cities, and Bulgaria. We are proud to congratulate our director, Tatiana Sarbinska, on the release of her new CDs, which are on sale at the FAC booth in the lobby. Tonight, Zornitsa presents selections from several regions of Bulgaria for your listening enjoyment. For further information, e-mail <Jonathan_DOT_Young_AT_comcast_DOT_net>
