|
|
The word "Kef" refers to that spirit and energy shared by a group of people in celebration. It is a state of being, an intangible quality approaching ecstasy, often engendered by musical experience. Kef is a Turkish concept and term that has become naturalized across the Balkans throughout the former domain of the Ottoman Empire. That same cultural force left an indelible mark on the music of Balkans. Today, Slavs, Roma and a multitude of other ethnic groups – even Americans – play and dance to music that is an amalgam of Turkish influences and indigenous regional styles.
Kef, the band, has been performing for dancers, festivals, cafes and bars since 2007. Our music is a sampling of the regional genres found across the Balkans, from Bulgarian wedding music to Serbian brass band, from 1960s radio-style orchestrations to melody/drone-based village music. Most of our repertoire comes from the folk tradition, learned from recordings or directly from notable musicians in the Balkan music community. Each of us brings a unique aspect to the music stemming from the diversity of our individual musical experiences and aesthetics.
Band Members:
 |
Nisha Calkins-Godfrey
Nisha, like most cellists, has a strong background in Western classical music. After many years in scholastic symphonies and string orchestras Nisha took advantage of the opportunies available to her while majoring in music at the University of Oregon. Joining Mark Levy's East European Folk Music Ensemble gave her new challenges to expand her cello skills and the University's gamelan courses greatly broadened her understanding of music. Since finishing her degree Nisha has continued to study gamelan as a member of Gamelan Sari Pandhawa and in 2008 travelled to Bali to attend the Cudamani Summer Institute. Her role as cellist in Kef has evolved from melody voice to being the center of the rhythm section covering the bass lines and occupying that unique role that only the cello can fill. |
 |
Alex Lowe, trumpet
Alex began playing trumpet as a 6th grader back in 1991, and he hasn't
put it down since. In high school, after experiencing several band
camps and honor bands, he won the principal trumpet position with the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra
for the 1999-2000 season. Then, as a student at the University of
Oregon through 2004, he studied trumpet with George Recker, and played
in a variety of UO ensembles, including the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, Oregon Wind Ensemble and various brass ensembles. Additionally, he has made appearances with the Eugene Symphony and Oregon Mozart Players. With the Cottage Theater, he has been in the pit orchestra for a number of musicals, including 1940's Radio Hour, Fiddler on the Roof, Marley & Scrooge, Sugar and Chicago.
Some time after graduating from the UO, Alex met Bari, who invited him
to play Balkan music with Cody, Sharon, Nisha and Ken. Since then, Alex
has played with the East European Folk Music Ensemble, and has attended several East European
Folklife Center Balkan camps. In addition to performing with Kef, Alex currently plays lead trumpet in Blue Skies Big Band. |
 |
Sharon earned her master's in music education at Oregon State
University and is a certified Music Specialist currently teaching in
three Eugene elementary schools. A multi-instrumentalist and singer
with a wide range of musical interests, she is a founding member of Accordions Anonymous and Sweet River, and also performs a variety of music in different styles with many local musicians. |
 |
Cody Simmons, trumpet and truba
Cody's interest in the wider world of musical possibilities available
to the trumpet began early in his studies. Noting the limited range of music most musicians seem content with – or for that matter, aware of – Cody has sought to explore the myriad of genres beyond classical and jazz in which the trumpet has a natural place. Balkan music – Romani brass bands and Bulgarian modern instrument ensembles, in particular – has become the focus of his interest after many years of study, beginning with the East European Folk Music Ensemble. In addition to Kef, Cody also plays repiano cornet with the Oregon Brass Society British Brass Band and occupies the solo chair in Blue
Skies Big Band. |
 |
Ken is skilled on many instruments, including drumset, tabla, djembe,
doumbek, guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, and voice. He has
performed with musicians as diverse as reggae zydeco pioneer Ras Cloud, hereditary
musician or griot Mapate Diop, legendary Zimbabwean singer Thomas
Mapfumo and country superstar Ferlin Husky. Ken has played in the UO East
European Folk Music Ensemble, and currently plays with the Surfonics, Calango (Brazilian music), Facelift (jazz/rock), Chibuku (with African/Polynesian guitarist Paul Prince) and the Klezmonauts
(klezmer). |
|
|
 |
Jamie Webster, vocals
Jamie holds a master's degree in interdisciplinary ethnomusicology
studies in addition to bachelor's degrees in music education and vocal
performance. She is currently completing her dissertation for a
doctoral degree in musicology and ethnomusicology at the University of
Oregon. In addition to singing, Jamie has a background in keyboards, which
has provided a means for funding her thirteen years of university training.
She keeps a busy schedule as a piano teacher for young children, and also plays
organ and piano for various Protestant churches on Sundays. Jamie has performed
with a number of Slavic and East European ensembles
around the U.S. including the Karamfil Singers (Chico, CA); The Polish
Lira Ensemble, Slavic Projection Folk Ensemble and Balkanske Igre
(Chicago, IL); and Balladina Folk Orchestra (Eugene, OR). Jamie has been a frequent participant in the EEFC's Balkan camps, and in 2006 and 2007 she acted as the vocal instructor for the singers in the UO's East European Folk Music Ensemble. |
 |
Bari studied classical clarinet with Richard Faria for three years to earn a
Bachelor of Music at Ithaca College in NY. She then put down her clarinet for a time
and meandered to the West Coast to pursue a master's in environmental
studies at the University of Oregon. She rediscovered her love of music
when she joined the East European Folk Music Ensemble where she met up
with cellist, Nisha, and trumpet player, Cody. Bari has played in
numerous pit orchestras, symphony orchestras, and wind ensembles. She is currently persuing a master's in education at Ithaca College in New York for the purpose of teaching French at the high school level. |
|