Guy Mendilow Band
Biography
Lisa Schaffer
Performance Arrangements: Quintet
Dynamic Blend of Israeli and Sephardi Tempered with Bahian Street Beats & Blues
Offering:
Offering:
- Captivating Concerts
- Vibrant Family Performances
- Inventive Educational Workshops & Residencies
"The buoyant, life-affirming, sweetly acoustic music of Israeli-born Mendilow incorporates influences from across the Middle East, Africa, South America and beyond. It's a folk music of hope and affirmation, sophisticated in its delivery but easily accessible to listeners anywhere." — Howard Reich/Chicago Tribunes
"The Guy Mendilow Band embodies world music at its best." — Diana Nollen/The Cedar Rapids Gazette
"The glory of what [Mendilow] does is finding a common ground among different cultures. And that's what makes his music so exciting." — Jewish Advocate
Captivating Concerts
Led by Israeli composer/performer Guy Mendilow, this spirited quintet breaks down musical boundaries with an inventive blend of Israeli and Sephardi tempered with Bahian street beats and Blues. "Mendilow is no dilettante," writes the Boston Phoenix. "He learned the music of these countries by living and working there — so when he sings...he knows what he's talking about."
Performing in Hebrew, Arabic, Ladino, Portuguese and English, the band skillfully fuses tradition with a contemporary sound. Alongside lush vocal harmonies, woodwinds and strings, the five members of the Guy Mendilow Band create intricate textures with berimbaus, percussion, trancy jaw harps, and Mendilow's award-winning overtone singing. The group's appeal reaches far beyond world music audiences. The Guy Mendilow Band has been winning over audiences from many spectrums because the strength of the group lies in offering audiences a highly accessible, yet refreshingly different international sound, creating cross-cultural connections between listeners and the band's far-off homes. As Diana Nollen writes in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, "You needn’t speak Hebrew, Portuguese or Ladino to understand Mendilow's music. It flows through expressive vocals and instruments exotic and familiar."
The group's message is coming through loud and clear. The Guy Mendilow Band has been making an impact in theaters such as New York's Tribeca Performing Arts Center and at some of the US's most established festivals like the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Chicago World Music Festival and Bethlehem Musikfest.
Vibrant Family Performances
Everyone becomes part of the music-making in the Guy Mendilow Band's family concerts! Through colorful songs, stories and games, the Guy Mendilow Band transports families on an ear-opening interactive adventure to the places Guy has called home — including Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Israel and the United States. Families meet such fascinating instruments as overtone singing, the munnharpa (jaw harp) and Peruvian cajon (box drum), along with languages and joyous songs from distant lands. It's an exhilarating, international tour de force.
Inspiring Residencies and Workshops for Children and Adults
The Guy Mendilow Band offers a range of thoughtfully conceived educational programs that give participants tools to make their own music and promote effective communication and team building through musical improvisation.
The group’s robust educational offerings make it attractive to venues seeking strong outreach. Mendilow’s innovative workshops, residencies and teacher trainings, focusing on improvisation as a tool for communication, have led to ongoing collaborations with cutting-edge international social justice organizations like Seeds of Peace and to invitations to present at schools and conferences across the United States and Brazil.
The Guy Mendilow Band’s mission is to advance cross-cultural communication by pursuing excellence in musical performance and innovation in educational programming.
Led by Israeli composer/performer Guy Mendilow, this spirited quintet breaks down musical boundaries with an inventive blend of Israeli and Sephardi tempered with Bahian street beats and Blues. "Mendilow is no dilettante," writes the Boston Phoenix. "He learned the music of these countries by living and working there — so when he sings...he knows what he's talking about."
Performing in Hebrew, Arabic, Ladino, Portuguese and English, the band skillfully fuses tradition with a contemporary sound. Alongside lush vocal harmonies, woodwinds and strings, the five members of the Guy Mendilow Band create intricate textures with berimbaus, percussion, trancy jaw harps, and Mendilow's award-winning overtone singing. The group's appeal reaches far beyond world music audiences. The Guy Mendilow Band has been winning over audiences from many spectrums because the strength of the group lies in offering audiences a highly accessible, yet refreshingly different international sound, creating cross-cultural connections between listeners and the band's far-off homes. As Diana Nollen writes in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, "You needn’t speak Hebrew, Portuguese or Ladino to understand Mendilow's music. It flows through expressive vocals and instruments exotic and familiar."
The group's message is coming through loud and clear. The Guy Mendilow Band has been making an impact in theaters such as New York's Tribeca Performing Arts Center and at some of the US's most established festivals like the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Chicago World Music Festival and Bethlehem Musikfest.
Vibrant Family Performances
Everyone becomes part of the music-making in the Guy Mendilow Band's family concerts! Through colorful songs, stories and games, the Guy Mendilow Band transports families on an ear-opening interactive adventure to the places Guy has called home — including Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Israel and the United States. Families meet such fascinating instruments as overtone singing, the munnharpa (jaw harp) and Peruvian cajon (box drum), along with languages and joyous songs from distant lands. It's an exhilarating, international tour de force.
"Children's early music experiences shape the rest of their musical lives. It is a privilege — and a responsibility — to give children our highest. Drawing upon our training as music education specialists and teacher trainers, we strive to create the most engaging, interactive and educationally sound concerts for young audiences." — Guy Mendilow
"Guy has the ability to make an impact...he brings awe and excitement to the children. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Guy perform and like the children, have been inspired and intrigued by what he has to share both musically and culturally." — Mary Schofield, Bright Horizons Family Solutions World Headquarters, Watertown MA
Inspiring Residencies and Workshops for Children and Adults
The Guy Mendilow Band offers a range of thoughtfully conceived educational programs that give participants tools to make their own music and promote effective communication and team building through musical improvisation.
The group’s robust educational offerings make it attractive to venues seeking strong outreach. Mendilow’s innovative workshops, residencies and teacher trainings, focusing on improvisation as a tool for communication, have led to ongoing collaborations with cutting-edge international social justice organizations like Seeds of Peace and to invitations to present at schools and conferences across the United States and Brazil.
"His expertise with musical innovation, talent and knowledge are definite strengths — but most of all his energy and encouraging style! He should just keep sharing this with everyone — he is fantastic!" — New Jersey Montessori Administrator’s Council, Parsippany NJ
The Guy Mendilow Band’s mission is to advance cross-cultural communication by pursuing excellence in musical performance and innovation in educational programming.
"They were mesmerizing…Their musicianship, versatility, and originality was most impressive. Our audience left raving about their talent and the sound of their music."
— Rich Warren, nationally syndicated broadcast, The Midnight Special/Folkstage, WFMT Chicago
"Guy Mendilow is quickly developing a reputation as a masterful, deeply passionate and sincere performer." — Global Rhythm Magazine
"This is, to folk, what Bela Fleck is to Foggy Mountain Breakdown. This is unusual and exciting." — Philadelphia Folk Song Society
