For over a decade Toronto's Beyond the Pale has been making its distinctive brand of boundary-busting Eurofolk fusion. The sextet mixes Klezmer, Balkan, and Romanian styles with an eclectic range of North American influences, their diverse musical and cultural backgrounds intersecting in a shared impulse to push the boundaries of contemporary acoustic roots music into new realms. Their exuberant live performances range seamlessly from raucous dance rhythms to intricate chamber-folk dynamics, taking audiences on an invigorating musical ride with stunning virtuosity and thrilling arrangements. Beyond the Pale has performed at festivals, theatres, and clubs across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, including the Governor Generalís Performing Arts Awards, NY's Carnegie Hall, and the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, Poland.
The group has just released its long-awaited third CD "Postcards" (Borealis, 2009), following up on their multi-award winning live CD ìConsensusî (Borealis, 2004). Postcards showcases the bandís characteristic versatility, traversing a vast and exotic musical landscape bound by no particular idiom but shaped by many. The group's previous two CD releases met wide critical acclaim and earned honours from the Canadian Folk Music Awards (Best Instrumental Group), Toronto Independent Music Awards (Best World Music Group), and Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Songwriting Competition (Best Instrumental Composition). The band is already at work completing another CD project, featuring their unique program of reinterpretations of music by Mozart, originally commissioned by CBC radio.
Beyond the Pale features Bret Higgins (bass), Bogdan Djukic (percussion, violin), Aleksandar Gajic (violin, viola), Milos Popovic (accordion), Eric Stein (mandolin, mandocello, cimbalom), and Martin van de Ven (clarinets). They are frequently joined by such guests as NY's Alex Kontorovich, Montreal's Josh "SoCalled" Dolgin, and Israel's Vira Lozinsky.
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Eric Stein is a multi-instrumentalist (mandolin, bass, cimbalom, guitar) and a leading figure in Toronto's Jewish music scene. He is founder and leader of the innovative klezmer/world fusion group Beyond the Pale, with whom he has performed across North America and released two award-winning CDs. Though deeply studied in klezmer music, Eric's eclectic tastes and background in rock, funk, & American roots music are always evident, particularly in his genre-bending original compositions. Eric performs with a number of other artists, including SoCalled, Hu Tsa Tsa, Toronto Mandolin Orchestra, The Meat, and more. Eric is a regular faculty member at Montreal's annual KlezKanada Festival and frequently leads workshops and lectures on klezmer music. He has also performed as orchestral soloist with a number of chamber groups and symphonies, including National Arts Orchestra, I Musici de Montreal, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Toronto Philharmonia, and others. He is a graduate in history from McGill University (BA, MA). |
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Two words best describe the bass-playing of Bret Higgins: rock solid. A founding member of the band, Bret is the pulse at the heart of Beyond the Pale’s music, driving the group with his impeccable timing, muscular presence, and oh-so funky groove. His background in jazz and improvised string music broadens the palette of musical ideas at play in BTP. Bret studied at Humber College and has performed/recorded with a number of other artists, including Hilario Duran, Lee Pui Ming, Tony Quarrington, and Yale Strom. Bret is also founder and leader of the Mirobolus String Trio, and has received grants for composition and sound recording from the Ontario Arts Council. |
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A unique stylist, Martin brings fire, elegance and humour to his performance of klezmer music with Beyond the Pale. On both clarinet and bass clarinet Martin’s explosive solos can rouse an audience to a frenzy, but he’s also an extremely sensitive player, providing perfectly subtle ensemble parts to support the group. His daring original compositions carve new musical territory, rooted in traditional folk styles but informed by Jazz, Classical, and New Music. A mainstay of the Canadian klezmer scene for well over a decade, Martin is a former member of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and is a frequent performer and instructor at klezmer music festivals around the world. He has published two instructional volumes of his klezmer transcriptions and has composed and performed music for many film, television, theatre, and dance productions. Martin is a graduate of Queen’s University (M.Mus). |
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Milos is known for his masterful technique, astounding virtuosity, and eclectic tastes. An exceedingly intense performer, when Milos gets into the “zone” his focus is unmatched, producing fiery and highly inventive solos. His broad musical palette encompasses traditional folk styles, classical music, jazz, and much more, resulting in a truly singular style which frequently shatters expectations of what the accordion is capable of. Beginning on accordion at age 8, Milos completed music college in his native Belgrade, Serbia, before moving to Canada in 1990, thereafter earning a degree in classical accordion at University of Toronto (B.Mus). Milos has won a number of contemporary new music competitions.
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Bogdan’s passionate virtuosity and electrifying stage presence make him a fan favourite at Beyond the Pale live shows. A captivating performer in every sense, Bogdan’s magnetic personality and infectious joy in playing music radiates to both the audience and his bandmates. His background in classical music combines with a deep affinity for folk music to create the perfect blend of precision and soul. A former winner of three national violin championships in his native Yugoslavia, Bogdan came to Canada in 1999 and has since had extensive performance experience in klezmer, classical, Mariachi, Latin and Serbian folk music. Bogdan is also a member of the touring violin stage show Bowfire, the jazz fusion group The Blokk, and the Mirobolus String Trio.
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Beyond the Pale’s associate violinist, Aleksandar Gajic brings a distinctive personal style and interpretive nuance to Beyond the Pale’s music. Alekasandar has a distinguished career in classical, chamber, and symphonic music, but also bears a deep affinity for folk and world music. In his native Yugoslavia Aleksandar was a member, soloist, and concert master with a number of the country’s leading orchestras, including the Belgrade Philharmonic and both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras of Radio and Television of Serbia. Aleksandar was also first violinist for seven years in the renowned and prolific Bellotti String Quartet. Since arriving in Canada Aleksandar has performed with a number of leading ensembles in the Toronto area.
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