Klezska!

Klezska! combines Klezmer/Jewish/Israeli/Mediterranean & Original melodies with traditional Old School Ska/Rock Steady & Reggae rhythms and arrangements. The music is very jazzy in the sense that the musicians take a lot of creative solos and improvisations while the powerful beat and rhythms of the Ska, Rock-Steady & Reggae keeps you moving. It’s music for your head and your feet.

Ska was created by fusing Boogie-Woogie Blues, R+B, Jazz, Mento, Calypso and African rythyms. Ska became the first truly Jamaican music and by the 60s all the vocalists were swarming to the studios to record their songs to this infectious new beat. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe are just a few of the names who came to record this new music. This also coincided with the whole islands excitement about Jamaicas independence in 1962. The core musicians included Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Jerry Haynes, and Jackie Mittoo who together in May 1964, formed The Skatalites. Several of the original members are still together as they continue to tour from Europe to Japan. In the 1970’s, the Ska slowed down into what became Rock-Steady and eventually Reggae. What’s interesting is how the Jamaican and specifically Rastfarian story parallels much of the history and story of the Jews. From slavery to redemption and from Klezmer to Ska, Klezska! Is trying to bring this musical and cultural blend to the world.

Alex Kontorovich - Clarinet, Alto & Baritone Sax:

Alex Kontorovich was born in Voronezh, Russia, an Eastern European city south of Moscow which is currently the home of a large Neo-Nazi movement. He and his family settled in New Jersey in 1988, and he became involved with music soon thereafter. Throughout high school, Alex played mostly jazz and classical saxophone, performing with various All-State and Tri-State groups at venues including the Village Vanguard and Birdland clubs in NYC. In college, Alex returned to his roots by picking up the clarinet and co-founding the Klez Dispensers, a critically acclaimed klezmer ensemble. Alexs recording, touring, and performance credits run a gamut of styles, from a classical saxophone trio, symphony orchestras, and wind ensembles, to big bands, blues and swing, and hard bop ensembles. More recently, he joined several of King Djangos projects, including the Roots and Culture Band, and has been playing ska and reggae ever since.

Harel Shachal – Alto/Soprano Sax:

Also an New School graduate, Harel is an Israeli national who brings an exciting flavor and level of play to Klezska. The leader of his own successful group, Ha’Nistar, Harel’s influences range from Charlie Parker to the famous Egyptian singer Oum Kulsum. Harel brings the sounds and emotions of the Middle East into the klezmer melodies and the Jamaican rhythms. His mastery of his horn is evident as his solos are both precise and emotional at the same time. Harel recently began his teaching career as the musical director for the New School’s Middle-Eastern Ensemble.

Nick Balaban - Keyboards:

A graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, Nick has roots in many types of music including Blues, Jazz, Funk, World and Jamaican Music of all types. As the daytime musical director for the childrens TV show "Blues Clues", Nick brings a wonderfully playful level to the group and his wide experience with Jamaican Music. Having toured with Reggae superstars, Culture throughout Europe and Japan, Nicks jazz influence makes the Ska reminiscent of The Skatalites which is the roots of all reggae music.

Cedrick Im Brooks - Tenor Sax:

A seminal contributor to the development of Jamaican arts and culture, Brooks has been at the center of the process that has produced such world-acclaimed composers and musical artists as Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Toots Hibbert and Ernie Ranglin. In the course of this career, he has complemented such luminaries as Donald Byrd, Max Roach, Olatunji, Roots Anabo, Dexter Gordon, Woody Shaw, Byard Lancaster, Odean Pope and Tooty Heath of the Heath Brothers and, most recently, the Skatalites. He is best known for his hit Money Maker, Im Flash Forward, Groundation (First Rastafari Triple Album), From Mento to
Reggae, United Africa and Light of Saba. His most recent album, A noh nutt’n, is a favorite of New York and European DJs. Brooks is the founder and artistic director of Journey to Africa, Inc., (JTA) an organization dedicated to education, research and preservation of African musical art forms with its Journey to Africa Heritage Showcase at the umbilicus of the journey.