Rebekah Wolkstein, violin
Drew Jurecka, bandoneon, violin
Robert Horvath, piano
Joe Phillips, double bass
Founded in 2013, Payadora Tango Ensemble performs an expansive repertoire that draws from the height of Buenos Aires’ Tango tradition, including compositions and arrangements by De Caro, Pugliese, Troilo, and Salgan, to the masterful, contemporary sounds of Astor Piazzolla and beyond. Drawing from each member’s eclectic backgrounds in Classical, Jazz, Latin, Eastern European folk music, and improvisation, Payadora’s performances exude technical virtuosity, playful spontaneity, and rhythmic vitality.
Highlights from Payadora’s past performances include sold-out shows at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Music Festival at Heliconion Hall, the Lula Lounge, the Jazz Bistro, and many more. Their debut at 2018’s Ottawa Chamberfest was met with standing ovations and calls for encores, a reception immediately repeated at the Indian River Festival (PEI) and in Prince Edward County (ON). In one of their many collaborative appearances, they performed a symphony show with the London Symphonia in March of 2017, as well as in a sold-out concert with the Hannaford Street Silver Band at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Toronto, in October 2017. Their 2nd CD, Volando, was met with glowing reviews (“superstar group”, the WholeNote, February 2018, “Highly, highly recommended”, the Great Dark Wonder, January 31, 2018). Other media appearances include a featured performance on Ethnic Channels TV and a Spanish-language interview on “Voces Latinos” (chha 1610am) radio.
In the summer of 2019 they will travel to BC for appearances in the Vancouver Island MusicFest and Vancouver’s Music in the Morning, and return to Ontario to appear in festivals in Parry Sound, Collingwood, & Stratford.
