Klez-Edge foto: Arjen Veldt Klez-Edge is a new group, an offshoot of Klezmokum, the klezmer, Sephardic, Balkan jazz group put together by composer/pianist Burton Greene back in 1989. Klez-Edge is focused on Jewish, Balkan and other Semitic folk musics that lend themselves to the swinging qualities of new jazz. The material also has that “Balkan Swing” quality--compositions in odd time signatures like 9/8,10/8, 11/8 etc. This has been enhanced with our many sided vocalist Marek Balata. The emphasis here is in extended improvisations and Klez-Edge is a quintet of instrumental music.. Marek’s voice is mainly used as an instrument, both as a soloist and as a blend with the ensemble. The musicians are: Marek Balata - (Krakow, Poland), instrumental vocals Roberto Haliffi - (Tripoli, Libya), drums and N. African percussion Larry Fishkind - (New York), tuba Burton Greene - (Chicago), piano or keyboard Perry Robinson - (New York), clarinets (Guest artist) Lior Kuperberg - (Tel Aviv, Israel), tenor and soprano saxophones (guest artist) Larry Fishkind, and Roberto Haliffi have been mainstays of Klezmokum for almost 20 years.. (I call them a “Rolls Royce rhythm section”.) Perry Robinson and Burton Greene are original members of the downtown New York avant garde jazz scene since the mid 60’s. They have played together at different times and in all kinds of combinations since 1965. They are each on over 50 recordings of their music, with performances all over Europe and the USA during the past 45 years. Marek Balata is a true musical phenomenon, a vocal virtuoso. He wears so many different musical “hats”.. Recently he was the soloist of a Catholic oratorio with a symphony orchestra in Chicago, and shortly afterward put on his yarmake to join us with the series of concerts in synagogues and Jewish culture centers.. He can also scat like hell on a trad bebop tune, or take it as far out as the rest of us. Lior Kuperberg is the latest addition to the Klezmokum family.. he has distinguished himself with his personal, warm sound in many ensembles all over Europe during the past 10 years. Klez-Edge has a new CD just out on the Tzadik label of John Zorn. The CD is called “Ancestors, Mindreles, NaGila Monsters. It combines the best of traditional klezmer and other Jewish and Balkan musics with avant jazz improvisations, the classics, and with a strong dose of whacky humor as well! See Klezmokum Discography. "The music on Ancestors, Mindreles, NaGila Monsters radiates out of the mindful integration of several identifiable musical idioms within the same performance spectrum... This music is a densely comprehensive expression of a belief in peace and blessings. Greene's bold statements are not growing any less iconoclastic, just more powerful." CD Review in All About Jazz by Lyn Horton, July, 2008. Klez-Edge Booking Information: Burton Greene Email: greeneburton@cs.com Telephone: +31 (0)20 6250087 Postbus 16610 1001 RC Amsterdam The Netherlands