Elameno Quintet

Dynamic playing and virtuosity meet in this young ensemble of world-class musicians. Since the members of Elameno Quintet first met and jammed together in the summer of 2007, they have come together in the summer from International music careers to compose, arrange and tour as a quintet. The range of their solo careers and musical studies translates into new and exciting material and lively energy on stage.

Rebecca Kleinmann, flute and vocals
Rebecca Kleinmann steeps her ears in corners of the world ranging from Jazz clubs in NY, Flamenco gatherings in Spain, to pubs in Ireland, Milongas in Buenos Aires, and parades in Brazil.. Her debut album, “Raio de Sol” displays the range of her musical passion. Josef Woodard (Downbeat/ Santa Barbara Independent) writes: “a fine and ambitious self-produced CD with a far-ranging cast of musicians... a diverse but somehow unified Brazilian-cum-flamenco-cum-Latin-jazz sound.”

Rebecca became enchanted with Jazz and Brazilian music while studying with David Baker and Marcos Cavalcante at The Indiana University School of Music. Since moving to California in 2001, she has performed and collaborated with extraordinary musicians including Jovino Santos Neto, Roy McCurdy, John Heard, Josh Nelson, Randy Tico, and Lionel Loueke. Rebecca currently maintains a busy touring schedule as a performing and recording artist. Her favorite artistic projects include her World Jazz Quintet, her Trio da Luz, and Elameno Quintet.

Tobias Roberson, percussion
Tobias Roberson is a virtuoso percussionist specializing in Middle Eastern and Balkan music. His innovative approach and style have been well documented on a plethora of recordings, from movie soundtracks to the Bellydance Superstars DVD. He can even be heard on good old fashion vinyl, as well as his several cds.

Tobias has worked with many belly dance performers including Rachel Brice, Fat Chance Belly Dance, Ultra Gypsy, Suhaila Salimpour Dance Company, and Hahbi'Ru. He is also a member of The Toids and Stellamara and has worked with the Eastern European vocal ensemble Kitka as well as the Arabic folk ensemble Helm.

In addition to offering weekly classes in the Bay Area, Tobias travels extensively in order to perform and teach workshops. His dynamic teaching style combines theoretical meticulousness with pure fun. His patient approach, combined with plenty of tough love, ensures that everyone, no matter how experienced or inexperienced, transcends a boundary or two during his class.

Tobias Roberson grew up poking under rocks in the mountains of Santa Barbara. He began his percussion training at age 14 with the UC Santa Barbara Middle Eastern Ensemble and has since studied in Egypt and Turkey. In addition to music, Tobias practices yoga and contemplates his navel.

Myra Joy, cello
Myra Joy set down the violin at the age of six, demanded (politely, I'm sure) a cello, and has been playing and performing ever since. After a brief period spent running around N.Y. city studying experimental theatre and some time spent attempting to learn how to be a trapeze artist, she completed her B.M. in cello performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied with Jean-Michel Fonteneau.

Myra's debut album of original works: Myrajoy, violoncello, features her new-traditional band, Babes in The Woods. Myra loves exploring musical genres and has collaborated with many musicians and ensembles including The Black Brothers, KITKA, Hamed Nikpay, Hans York, Carlos Oliveira and the pickPocket Ensemble.

Miles Jay, bass
Miles Jay’s strong musical foundation in Jazz and Classical music, combined with his extensive performance experience in the musical traditions of the Middle East, have made him one of the most uniquely qualified double bassists in the World Music scene today. At age 26, his performance experience has taken him around the world, from Cairo to Oslo, Dubai to Dakar, Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. These performance credits include Youssou N'Dour, Fathy Salama, Naser Shama (Iraq), the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Ross Daly (Greece), Trygve Seim (Norway), Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and 'Weird' Al Yankovic.

Miles began playing the electric bass at an early age, and picked up the double bass in his high school jazz band. In 2002 he studied North Indian Classical Music at Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s college in San Rafael, California. At the same time, he joined the touring ensemble of Lebanese violinist Georges Lammam, beginning his professional performance experience in Arabic Music. In 2004 he graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received a BA in Ethnomusicology.

Dusty Brough, guitar
Dusty Brough is an inventive nylon string guitarist as well as a creative composer. His musical style is completely unique, seamlessly weaving Jazz, Brazilian, Flamenco, and Classical. He has performed and or recorded with artists such as: Jesse Cook, Cerro Negro, Robin DiM