Ensemble Mezze is Miriam’s current Mediterranean music ensemble, based in Minnesota. Ensemble Mezze specializes in compelling, evocative and lively music from across the Mediterranean region.
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The word Mezze is a selection of small dishes served in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Balkans, and as such, the Ensemble’s performance provides a feast of music traveling from Spain, across North Africa, through the Middle East, Israel, Turkey and up into Greece and the Balkans. We’ll hear songs sung in Spanish, Ladino, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Rom and Turkish. The group’s musicians include Miriam on accordion and the Arabic qanun zither, Rachel Milloy on vocals and percussion with guests joining.
Ensemble Mezze recently performed a commissioned evening’s concert at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis as part of their 416 Commission Series, and at the Worthington MN International Festival.
The ensemble members bring long histories and experience with this diverse repertoire to the group. A well-established ethnomusicologist, composer, and founder of The Minnesota Global Arts Institute, band leader Miriam has a long history of working cross-culturally with her music. She has performed Arabic, Turkish, Israeli and Yiddish music for over 20 years. Miriam and vocalist Rachel Milloy co-founded Ensemble Mezze, later bringing in the other musicians into the group. She teaches World Musics at Hamline University. Other artists in the group have histories with Flamenco and other related Mediterranean music, such as Greek/Balkan Romani (Gypsy) and Sephardic music as well as Argentinian Tango, Balkan & Latin Percussive music.
To contact Miriam for performances and residencies: mbg421@me(dot)com
Miriam Gerberg 