KlezCalendar

Founded in 1979 in Israel by Shlomo Deshet and Ori Beanstock, Esta combines World Music, Rock, and Jazz into a powerful, energetic new sound to crosses genres, styles and borders. Esta which was an instrumental band for more then 18 years, is joined by vocalist Yarona Harel.

Coming from Israel, itself a crossroads and melting pot for Jews from all over the world, it is natural that Esta embodies the variety of ethnic musical influences. The band members are all first generation Israelis, raised on their parents’ musical heritage from Bulgaria, Iraq, Poland, Iran, Romania, Syria, Russia, and Turkey. Inspired also by the 1970s progressive rock, Esta’s music traverses myriad soundscapes - acoustic instruments dance with electric, a cappella vocals complement a symphony of sounds.

With this background, the band has created a rich, hot musical "stew" simmering with Mediterranean, Balkan, African, Asian, Celtic and Western flavors. The musical polyglot, pairing bagpipes and zornas, may be why Esta was proclaimed "Israel's most original instrumental band."

Esta has performed in prestigious festivals and respected venues throughout Europe, Israel and the US. Esta performed for U.S. President Clinton at a White House reception in honor of Israel's 50th Anniversary.

After the performance, President Clinton said, "I'd also like to ask that we give a special word of appreciation to the people who provided all that wonderful music which got us in the right frame of mind. ESTA, this band, thank you very much. If you could hang around here for a month or two, I think we might get some things done. You'd keep us all in a very positive frame of mind."

Besides performing at the White House and touring extensively in the U.S., Esta has played at such notable venues as Peter's Gabriel's WOMAD (World Music Festival) in Italy, Dranouter Folkfestival in Belgium, Radio France in Paris, the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Israel, New Music Seminar in New York City, and Festival L'Art De La Paix (The Art of Peace) in Belgium. The band has shared the stage with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Noa, The Chieftains, Sinead O'Connor, Stanley Jordan, L. Shankar, and Cheb Mami. Esta's debut album, released by MCI Records, was greeted with critical acclaim. In 1996, Esta gave two sold out performances at the world-famous Blue Note club in support of their U.S. debut album Mediterranean Crossroads (Newance Records/Musicrama), which was produced by Esta and Producer/Engineer Steve Boyer (Grammy Award winner for Eric Clapton's MTV Unplugged Album).

Press Highlights

"The Israeli quartet Esta, with its chopsapoppin' technique, articulate melodies, and blatant disregard for generic distinctions, suggests Zappa on the Orient Express... Esta boasts impressive collective technique... and world-ranging curiosity." The Village Voice

"Esta works bagpipes, bouzoukis, zornas and other idiomatic instruments into a very hot and smart rock format." The New York Press

"Esta’s high-spirited modal excursions dissolved boundaries and embraced ethnic sounds from Israel and Iraq to Ireland and Scotland." New York Newsday

"ESTA is on to something big... Esta has created a unique experimental sound." Paper Magazine

"Israeli instrumental quartet Esta cooks its musical stew. Their sound simmers with Balkan, African, Asian & Celtic influences & blends Mediterranean folk with American style jazz & rock rhythm." Washington Post

KFAR Jewish Arts Center is an independent, non-denominational organization serving Chicago's Jewish community with contemporary Jewish arts presentations and programs that simultaneously enrich and celebrate our culture. KFAR is dedicated to stimulating, promoting and producing the next generation of Jewish expression. Visit our website at kfarcenter.org