BARBEZ

BARBEZ
Barbez takes place in a sun-struck phantasm: Kurt Weill swims the length of a
still pond, underwater the Residents are refurbishing their home, Erik Satie and
Mussorgsky descend from above to lie in the grass and sip wine. Shapes emerge from
the flowering trees and a Russian wedding dance ensues. Provoked by such musics as
Slavic folksong, Argentine tango, post-war classical, and pre-MTV punk, Barbez
wrings these disparate worlds into the bandÕs own unique soundscape.
The group began five years ago, with members whose backgrounds were in
dance, rock, jazz, electronics, and avant-garde classical. Comprising this Brooklynbased punk chamber ensemble are: voice/dance Ksenia Vidyaykina, guitar Dan
Kaufman (Sulfur), marimba/vibes Danny Tunick (Bang on a Can All-Stars),
theremin Pamelia Kurstin (Geggy Tah, the Kurstins), palm pilot/electronics/bass
Dan Coates, and drums John Bollinger. Barbez draws its unusual instrumentation
into a haunting, original sound that can evoke everything from Swans and P.J.
Harvey, to Lotte Lenya and Eastern European folk music.
The band has completed two albums, both engineered and mixed by Martin
Bisi, and is hard at work on its third. Frequent collaborations with other musicians,
both live and in the studio, have included Eszter Balint, Nils Frykdahl (Sleepytime
Gorilla Museum), Anthony Nozero (Drums and Tuba), and the Lonesome Organist.
This fall they wrote and performed music for Chang in a Void Moon, by legendary
avant-garde director and MacArthur genius grant winner, John Jesurun. They will be
going out for their third national tour this spring to support the release of their
forthcoming record. Barbez is also a constant, vibrant part of the New York music
scene, and shared the stage with such performers as Cat Power, godspeed you! black
emperor, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and the Angels of Light.
Contact:
Dan Kaufman (718) 384-6940
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.barbez.com
Mailing address:
548 Driggs Av. #4,
Brooklyn, NY 11211