Lenka's latest CD, Fray - "yiddish ethno-jazz"



Fray : a fresh new sound…. Inspired by the soundscape of Toronto, Lenka has enlisted the talents of a unique assemblage of musicians rooted in diverse musical traditions for her fourth and most adventurous solo CD project Fray (”free”). Blending classical Indian, Egyptian, and Middle-Eastern music with North and South American styles, Fray takes Yiddish-based music into the world of global roots and rhythms, blending styles and transcending boundaries, thus carving a new space in contemporary world music for Yiddish culture. Fray (band) features members of Tasa, one of Canada’s leading Indo-Canadian world/jazz groups: Ravi Naimpally (tabla, darbuka), Alan Hetherington (drums, percussion), Ernie Tollar (flutes, saxophones), John Gzowski (guitars, oud), and Chris Gartner (bass; on recording, George Koller). Special guests include Roula Said (qanun, voice; George Sawa on recording); Kevin Fox (cello); Kinneret Sagee (clarinet) and Alexis Basque (trumpet, cornet). Since its release in September, 2010, Fray toured in Argentina, Quebec and Poland, and showcased in NYC in January, 2012 . The band will begin recording “Fray 2” in March, 2012, perform with Yair Dalal in Vancouver in February, 2012.