“Jay Elfenbein made his instrument roar, howl, slide and buzz… and he did so with virtuosity and flair.” – The New York TimesÂ
I’ve been working with Jay Elfenbein in the Macau Cirque band and he’s pretty damn incredible. I guess what first caught my ear is how he can switch from early music to jazz at the drop of a hat. A swingin’ bass man and very knowledgable music historian with a passion for early music. And he’s got that loveable New York charm to boot so he’s a real catch for Cirque. I’ve been learning a lot from him about approaches to music and interpretation which has been awesome.
“Jay Elfenbein, who many regard as the finest medieval and renaissance musician in New York City, is as well an astoundingly unique jazz player, and a composer of undeniable brilliance.”
THE IVORY CONSORT – founded by Jay Elfenbein
The Ivory Consort, founded and directed by Jay Elfenbein, is an ensemble that specializes in medieval music performed in an exciting and historically informed manner. For over ten years, they have brought ancient music to life on stage and over the radio with stunning clarity and brilliant improvisation. The Consort presents a fascinating mosaic of songs from the Golden Age of Spain, when Jews, Muslims and Christians forged a common musical language. With 10th through 13th century songs in Ladino, Hebrew, Arabic and Galician-Portuguese, the program provides a historical context for the intermingling of cultures before the 1492 Expulsion.
The Ivory Consort Jay Elfenbein (vihuela d’arco/vielle/rebab/psaltery/back-up vocals) “Jay Elfenbein made his instrument roar, howl, slide and buzz… and he did so with virtuosity and flair.” – The New York Times
