Kalinka

Formed in 2009, Kalinka, a Santa Barbara-based acoustic quintet, offers a unique rendering of Old World tunes. They are joined by their shared love of such diverse music as Jewish klezmer, gypsy, vintage jazz, French musettes, Fellini film scores, and Eastern European and Israeli folk dances. Kalinka offers an inspired yet fresh “roots” music. Their blend of instruments brings to mind a wedding scene in Eastern Europe complete with delirious dancing. They are inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt, Louis Armstrong, composer Nino Rota, and various klezmer, gypsy, and Balkan bands.

Kalinka was a featured band at the 2012 Topanga Canyon Banjo and Fiddle Folk Festival and at the 2012 Old Time Fiddler's Festival in Goleta. They will perform in December 2012 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Kalinka has also been a featured band at the Santa Barbara Jewish Festival, Ojai Earth Day Celebration, the Santa Barbara French Festival, and the Santa Barbara Solstice celebration. They frequently play for the Santa Barbara New Music series. Kalinka has online fans in countries that include Bulgaria, Russia, Greece, Algeria, France, Turkey, and Tunisia.

Violinist Nicole McKenzie is conservatory-trained, with a background in blues and jazz as well as classical. She also loves folk dancing. Clarinetist Fred Nadis is a former tuba and trumpet player in jazz, punk and alt rock bands and the author of two books on the quirkier side of American popular culture. When not playing accordion, Jon Brady teaches piano and ukulele. Ann Chevrefils has played upright bass in jazz and bluegrass groups, and creates floats and sculptures for the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade. Phil Taylor is an accomplished guitarist who performs with the UCSB Middle Eastern Ensemble and the group Oso Street Outreach.