A blend of klezmer (Eastern European Jewish Instrumental folk music), jazz and rock, featuring catchy tunes, groovin' beats and some of Toronto's best up-and-coming musicians.

10 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Judaica, JAZZ: World Fusion



Details:
Formed in Toronto in 2004, KlezFactor blends rock, jazz, klezmer and classical chamber music for a modern fusion of musical worlds. Led by saxophonist/clarinetist Mike Anklewicz, KlezFactorâs debut CD, âThe Golem of Bathurst Manorâ has been met with critical acclaim, and is being heard around the world. It has been called âdaring and creativeâ, and has garnered interest from a variety of sources. KlezFactor has received radio airplay on the internet radio station âRadio Free Klezmerâ, and on traditional radio stations in the United States and Siberia, Russia. They have also had their music included in dj tagadaâs dj sets in Paris, France, and in a short promo video for Jewish Mayhem Magazine.

KlezFactor has performed all over the Greater Toronto Area, with shows at the Renaissance Café, the Tranzac Club, The Bagel, and Markham Theatre. They have been a regular addition to the Free Times Caféâs âBella, Did ya Eat?â Brunch, and in June 2006, KlezFactor played to over 600 people at the Zukerman Amphitheatre at Earl Bales Park. They also make their debut at one of the worldâs largest Klezmer festivals, Ashkenaz, in 2006, playing a set of all-original music. In 2007, KlezFactor performed for the first time at The Rex, Toronto's premiere jazz venue. Their original work shows influences of John Zorn, John Lurie, The Klezmatics, as well as European jazz artists Bojan Zulfikarpasic and Louis Sclavis.

Current band members include:

Mike Anklewicz - saxophones, clarinet
Ali Berkok - piano, keyboards, melodica
Jaro Dabrowski - guitar
Ben Plotnick - violin
Craig Saltz - bass
Max Trefler - drums