Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band

The Klezmer music of Eastern European Jews is turned into a springboard for the turbo-charged performances of the Toronto-based Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band. Under the leadership of trumpet player David Buchbinder, the group has earned a reputation for taking a fun-filled approach to this traditional music. The Beat described the band's musical approach as "...mixing the pinpoint precision of a symphony orchestra with a saloon air of unabashed abandon." The musicians of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band represent backgrounds in contemporary R&B and rock. Accordion player Sasha Luminsky spent three years with the Soviet Army Orchestra, while, drummer Bucky Berger spent seven years with the Toronto-based punk band Rough Trade. While the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band's three Juno-nominated albums feature the lead vocals of Adrienne Cooper, Cooper was recently replaced by Dave Wall, a former gospel, soul and R&B singer who had worked as a solo artist and with the Bourbon Tabernacle Choir. The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band's third album, Fire, was recorded during a May 1996 performance at Toronto's Music Gallery; Tsirkus followed in 1999. ~ Craig Harris