Skyland by Arts for Social Cohesion / Guy Mendilow Ensemble

{What the band says}
In the winter of 2006, we took over Skyland Farm, a 17th century Berkshire farmhouse. In a whirlwind operation, the group transformed the old carriage house into a live mic room, the living room into a control room with cables running through the kitchen, and recorded this album. With living quarters upstairs and studio below, we could work as we wanted, no matter the hour. Turns out winter is an interesting time to be in a 17th century Berkshire farmhouse. One day, an ice storm knocked out the power and nearly sent us packing. Skyland’s wood stoves were the only heat source, and between takes we were stacking and stoking wood in all the rooms. We were on a tight budget, making the best of limited resources, doing all the engineering ourselves and making some fairly interesting decisions to have it all work. It was certainly a quirky, DIY experience, and involved a good bit of fun and experimentation.

{What the publicist says}
The music on "Skyland" challenges the concept of borders - both national and musical. Drawing from a life lived in Israel, South Africa, Brazil and the United States, Guy Mendilow breaks down musical boundaries with an inventive blend of Israeli peace songs and Sephardi cantigas tempered with Bahian street beats and Blues. 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 Ensemble create intricate textures with berimbaus, percussion, trancy jaw harps, and Mendilow’s award-winning overtone singing.

“This is, to folk, what Bela Fleck is to Foggy Mountain Breakdown. This is unusual and exciting.”
— Philadelphia Folk Song Society

“Guy Mendilow is quickly developing a reputation as a masterful, deeply passionate and sincere performer.” — Global Rhythm Magazine

The Guy Mendilow Ensemble (GME) weaves moving stories through riveting scores, narration and theatrically projected sand animation. GME productions center on true tales of choices people make as they negotiate thresholds, personal or historical. GME is especially intrigued by decisions animated by generosity and grace in the face of upheaval.

artsforsocialcohesion.org
guymendilowensemble.com