KlezFactor has been providing Jews and Non-Jews alike Klezmer and
Klezmer-fusion since 2004. KlezFactor’s first album, The Golem of
Bathurst Manor, has garnered critical and audience acclaim and was
hailed by Wholenote Magazine as “daring and creative.”
Their second
album, Klezmachine, has received not only great reviews, but has
received radio play on CBC Radio 1 and CBC Radio 2, as well as charting
as high as 1 on University radio stations in Ontario. Klezmachine has
been featured in podcasts from Spain, the USA, and Portugal, and the
album has been played on radio in Canada, the USA, France, Argentina
and Russia.
KlezFactor has also just completed their first tour of the US east
coast, playing to enthusiastic audiences in Boston, Philadelphia and
New York. The highlight of the tour was playing the City Winery's
Klezmer Brunch in New York City!
Members of KlezFactor have also recently been seen on the Showcase TV
program, Kenny vs. Spenny, playing some Klezmer for the show entitled
"Who's the Better Jew".
KlezFactor has performed all over Toronto, notably at Toronto’s
venerable jazz venue, The Rex Hotel, as well as numerous smaller clubs.
KlezFactor is a regular band at the popular “Bella, Did Ya Eat?” Brunch
at the Free Times Café and they have performed a set of original music
at the Ashkenaz Festival at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre in 2006 and
2008. Also in the summer of 2008, they performed at the Niagara Folk
Arts Festival in St. Catherines, Ontario. They have also performed at
several City of Toronto events including Wintercity 2007, and the
city’s “Tuesday Night Live” summer festival in 2006 - 2008 at the
1500-seat Barry Zukerman Amphitheatre at Earl Bales Park.
Led by accomplished reed-player and composer Mike Anklewicz, KlezFactor
features exciting young musicians with diverse musical backgrounds,
including progressive jazz musician Ali Berkok (keyboards) who leads
Arkana Music; world music fusion artist Jaro Dabrowski (guitars); rock
and jazz bassist Tony McKnight; world music fiddler Jaron Freeman-Fox; eclectic cellist Erika Nielsen; and jazz, funk and rock drummer David MacDougall.