A Chicago Klezmer band with a Balkan Twist
Balkano (rhymes with Volcano) is a Chicago-based sextet that melds the soul of traditional Klezmer, the energy of Bulgarian wedding music and the melodies of Turkish Gypsy music into an exciting original mix. The group was founded by bandleader and clarinetist Bryan Pardo as a vehicle to meld the influences of artists like Naftule Brandwein, Selim Sessler, Yuri Yunakov, and John Zorn into a new synthesis that mixes the Old World and the New. Since its inception in 2005, Balkano has played venues and events all through the Chicago area, including the Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, the historic Velvet Lounge and Uncommon Ground on Devon.