KlezCalendar

Two of Portland's most unusual and exciting bands, Zhok Therapy and
Okbari, will be featured in a double bill at One Longfellow Square on Friday, February 15th. Zhok Therapy performs traditional and new music with influences ranging from Balkan dance music to jazz. Okbari performs traditional Armenian and Turkish music. Zhok Therapy will also be performing a solo concert the following night at the Saco Coffeehouse.

Zhok Therapy is the unruly alter-ego of Maine's well-known klezmer band, the Casco Bay Tummlers. Zhok Therapy still has one toe in the klezmer tradition, but has expanded their repertoire to include Greek, Balkan, and Middle Eastern music. Adding further influences from jazz and blues, their deep grooves and improvisations are both innovative and well rooted in a rich and varied ethnicity. "Zhok Therapy will remedy whatever ails with their cross pollinations." The band will be joined by special guest Mark Tipton, on trumpet, for these two performances. Tipton is an immensely gifted improvisor and composer who has recently returned to Maine after a number of years in New York City. The other band members are: Carl Dimow, flutes and guitars, Steve Gruverman, clarinets and saxophone, Julie Goell, bass and vocals, Hayes Porterfield, percussion.
(A zhok, by the way, is a type of Jewish and Middle Eastern rhythm.)

Okbari performs Armenian and Anatolian folk music, as well as traditional folk and contemporary songs from the Greek, Arabic and Balkan traditons. Okbari is Amos Libby and Eric LaPerna. Libby is a dynamic performer on oud, (a middle eastern lute), and voice. LaPerna is a gifted and inspired percussionist. Okbari was formed in 1995 and has released four recordings. In this unique performance, Okbari will present a suite of Ottoman classical compositions along with Turkish and Armenian folk songs inspired by their recent journey to Turkey. Okbari will appear with special guest violinist Michael Gallant (of the late Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian Middle East Ensemble.)