DAVID BUCHBINDER (trumpet, fluegelhorn, composer, cobandleader) is a multi-talented, trumpeter, composer and cultural inventor who brings a spirit of intensity and inquiry to everything he does. He leads numerous music groups, composes for concert, theatre, film and television, presents large-scale performance projects, and has toured extensively in North America & Europe. Along with his involvement in the Bulgars, he leads the world jazz ensemble ODESSA/HAVANA whose debut CD was released in November 2007 to great audience and critical acclaim on John Zorn's Tzadik label. He also leads his own eponymous JUNO & National Jazz Award-nominated Ensemble. He has been co-presenting projects with his wife, dancer, musician & actor Roula Said, titled IMAGINE THE SOUND of PEACE and the music and dance series FEAST of the EAST. David is also the composer/creator/producer of the SHURUM BURUM Jazz Circus, a unique music-centered extravaganza featuring movement artists from the worlds of circus and modern dance that did a critically acclaimed run at the Distillery Historic District in October 2004. David has composed the scores for seven feature films, the animated short Stone of Folly which was awarded the Cannes Film Festival Prix du Jury, and for theatre and modern dance. Recent and current compositional projects include the score for the Canadian features Whole New Thing and A Stone's Throw, a collaboration with playwright Jason Sherman. David just wrapped up music for a VisionTV series titled Ralph Benmurgui: My Israel, and is working with the Soulpepper Theatre Company on an upcoming production of The Dybbuk.
DAVID WALL (vocals, percussion, composer, co-bandleader) is a Toronto- based award-winning composer and singer. He has written scores for a long list of film, television and experimental projects, working with collaborators such as Andrew Munger, Jamie Kastner, the Canadian Film Centre, YAP Films, Bruce Mau Design and Simcha Jacobovici. His career as a singer has included fronting The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir and The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band. He has written a large catalogue of songs in many genres including a #1 song for rock band Big Sugar ("The Scene"). More recently he has studied Cantorial and traditional Yiddish music and has worked extensively with pianist Marilyn Lerner. This year sees the filming of an experimental opera project with film maker John Greyson which furthers last year's video installation Fig Trees that has toured across Canadian festivals to wide acclaim.
PETER LUTEK (tenor & soprano saxophone, clarinets) is a Canadian musician, born in 1962. He was formally trained as a classical and avant-garde bassoonist, has been soloist with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa) and the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and was a first prize winner in the CBC Talent Competition in 1981. Mr. Lutek is also a self-taught composer, improvisator, saxophonist and sound engineer. He has performed with New Music Concerts, and the Freddie Stone Ensemble, and was a founding member of the 40 fingers saxophone quartet. Mr. Lutek currently performs with The Flying Bulgars, Barry Romberg's RALE, and the Avi Granite:6.
VICTOR BATEMAN (double bass) is a bassist, vocalist and composer, active in many different areas of music. Upon arriving in Toronto from Vancouver in 1981, he became part of the musical community centered on Queen St. West in the 80s and has since developed into a formidable instrumentalist with an intimate knowledge of a wide variety of musical styles. He has written music for film, radio, and concert ensembles, as well as his own bands. He plays bluegrass, folk and country with groups like The Good Brothers and Quartette, blues and jazz with artists like Amos Garrett, Chris Whiteley and Laura Hubert, folk music with Ken Whiteley, Jackie Washington, and Eve Goldberg, improvisatory music with CCMC, Jean Derome, and Lori Freedman, as well as contemporary concert music and opera by Anthony Braxton, Wende Bartley and Nic Gotham. Victor has written music for film, dance, and television, leads his own groups, and teaches improvisation.
MAX SENITT (drums) is a professional musician that is experienced, proficient and knowledgeable in many genres of music, however, his interests have taken a definite focus in "Latin" music over the past years. He has studied with the likes of Jorge "Papiosco" Torres, Enrique Pla, Jose Manuel Sanchez, Mark Kelso, and Rick Lazar and has travelled to Europe, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, New York City, and Cuba. Max is the leader of his own group: Max Senitt y Sus Amigos, and a member of the award winning Latin alternative band Plan C. He can also be found performing regularly with a variety of artists, including, The Cafe Ole, Nick "Brownman" Ali, Alexis Baro Sextet, Gary Morgan and Panamericana, Lady Son, La Mezcla, David Buchbinder and two-time Juno award-winner Hilario Duran.
TANIA GILL (piano) is a Toronto pianist, composer, arranger, and improviser known for her versatility and originality. She is a member of The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Andrew Downing's Melodeon, The AIMToronto Orchestra, the See Through Trio, chamber jazz ensemble Runcible Spoon and bands Saint Dirt Elementary School, Deep Dark United and Blah Blah 666. She leads the The Mighty Gill Show and the Tania Gill Quartet with Lina Allemano, Pete Johnston and Mark Segger. Tania has worked extensively in Canada's jazz and improvised music scenes with musicians including Anthony Braxton, Phil Dwyer, Jean Martin, Gordon Downie, The Rheostatics, Dave Clark, Dione Taylor, Justin Haynes, Chris Gale, Alexis Baro, Victor Bateman, Brodie West, Jean Derome, David Mott, Jesse Zubot, Rob Clutton, Jake Langley, Johnny Favorite and One Step Beyond. Tania has worked as an arranger for Ron Davis, John Millard and Runcible Spooon among others. She teaches music at Humber College and taught in the Cultural Studies department at Trent University. She studied classical piano at the University of Victoria, has a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto and has attended the Banff Centre for the Arts.