Zebrina

 

The Toronto-based band Zebrina gets its exotic name from the Latin word for the plant popularly known as ‘wandering jew’.  Composed of Canada’s leading roots, folk, world, klezmer and jazz musicians, Zebrina brings together singular talents and a daring experimental, improvisational style.

 

Eastern melodies meet Western grooves is a harmonious experience akin to what writer Andrew Gilbert (Jazz Times) has described as “Ashkenazi roots music.” Mix that sound with an electric Miles Davis feel and you get Zebrina: moody and lyrical, lively and fresh. The band’s innovative compositions are deeply informed by boundary-breaking greats such as John Zorn’s Masada Project, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood’s spirit of jam-based improvisation, all of which inspire their dynamic live shows.  

 

Zebrina in the Press:

 

“The Desert Speaks shows that the ideas in Jewish jazz first put forth by Goldberg and expanded on by Zorn still have plenty of untapped potential.  Feldman and Co. are finding interesting new twists on this style with their Miles-meets-Masada alchemy.” — SOMETHING ELSE!

 

“[Zebrina] pushes klezmer’s piquant major-minor modulations as far afield as possible while never losing the music’s careening jazz band interactions. The possibilities tantalize." --THE TORONTO STAR

 

“If spirituality is a way of aligning with something bigger outside of ourselves, of transcending limits, Zebrina's music may be a shamanic catalyst, offering a way to do that…They're an exciting and provocative band, well worth exploring.” — PETER MARMOREK