Choban Elektrik is Balkan Psychedelic Jazz-Rock

The band played their first gig as "Electric Balkan Junkyard" in August 2011. Soon afterwards the band changed their name to "Electric Balkan Garage". After recording a full-length CD and performing at the NY Gypsy Festival at Drom in September 2011, the band decided on yet another name. "Choban Elektrik" is the new and final name, and will appear on the upcoming debut CD, to be released in May 2012.

Jordan Shapiro, Dave Johnsen and Phil Kester have been playing music together for 10 years. Jordan and Dave toured for years in the Frank Zappa tribute band "Project/Object", performing in Europe and every corner of the US with numerous Zappa alumni. Jordan and Phil played in various different bands together for almost 10 years. Phil and Dave have also played many gigs as a drum/bass duo, performing under the name "Quisqueya Duo". The seeds of "Choban Elektrik" were sown when Jordan joined the "Quisqueya Duo" for shows as a trio. Jordan brought in some Balkan folk tunes he recently had learned at the EEFC Balkan Music and Dance Workshop. About a year later, after learning a dozen more of these tunes, the three musicians decided it was time to form a band dedicated only to performing the Balkan folk music.

The band brings to the music a fresh and unique approach to Balkan folk music. On the upcoming debut CD, the Hammond Organ and Fender Rhodes keyboard are the most prominent instruments heard, though the Fender Rhodes is often treated with heavy amounts of effects, giving it an electric guitar-like sound. Loops, tape echo, heavy reverb, filters, and modulators all give the recording a sound not usually heard on Balkan folk recordings.

The repertoire is made up of traditional folk tunes and songs from the mainly the southern Balkans, including Albania, Greece, Macedonia and Bulgaria. On the upcoming CD is the debut recording of "Steve's Gajda", composed by Raif Hyseni, a well known Albanian accordion player/bandleader living in New Jersey.