Black Ox Orkestar

Black Ox Orkestar has been reinventing non-nationalist traditions of Jewish music since its formation in a Montreal living room in the summer of the year 2000. Seven years of intense activity saw them deeply ensconced in the Montreal music scene, working with many collaborators and performing regularly, from New Year’s dance shows to benefits for Algerian and Palestinian refugees. Original members Scott Gilmore (vocals, cymbalom, piano, guitar & percussion), Gabriel Levine (clarinets, guitar), and Jessica Moss (violin) are now joined by Stéphane Diamantakiou (double bass, electronics). The band places themselves in an artistic and political lineage that embraces a diasporic Jewish identity, a politics of solidarity with migrants and exiles, a multilingualism inspired by Yiddish modernism, and an approach to tradition as a springboard for musical and lyrical experimentation.

In its first seven years, Black Ox released two albums on Montreal indie label Constellation: Ver Tanzt? (2004) and Nisht Azoy (2006), with original bassist Thierry Amar. Following a 15-year hiatus, the band reunited in the pandemic summer of 2020, impelled by an invitation by a journalist from left-leaning magazine Jewish Currents to be the subject of a feature article introducing this groundbreaking band to a new generation of listeners. Their full-length album Everything Returns (2022) picked up right where they left off a decade-and-a-half ago: an entrancing collection of brooding vocal-driven originals (sung primarily in Yiddish) and roiling interpretations of diasporic instrumentals, delivered with distinctive takes and timbres that once again showcase the band's unique sound and sensibility. The quartet, with new member Stéphane Diamantakiou, is currently at work on its fourth album.

Live Dates & Events

Artist Photos

For high-resolution downloads, click here

Contacts & Links

Booking enquiries North America:
Ian Ilavsky at Constellation

Booking enquiries EU:
Giorgio Salmoiraghi at Swamp Booking

Press enquiries UK & North America:
Lauren Barley at Rarely Unable

Press enquiries EU:
Ed Benndorf at Dense Promotion