TOOMAI STRING QUINTET
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
The Toomai String Quintet brings its five player chamber lineup to Barbès: violinists Alex Fortes and Karla Donehew-Pérez, violist Kayla Williams, cellist Hamilton Berry, and bassist Andrew Roitstein. The program ranges across Latin American repertoire, with music by the Mexican composers Manuel Ponce and Samuel Zyman, Brazilian songwriter Gilberto Gil, and more. It is a focused evening from an ensemble that makes room for Brazilian popular music alongside Mexican classical work through its own arrangements.
Formed at Juilliard in 2007, Toomai is a New York based quintet of two violins, viola, cello, and double bass. The group explores musical traditions from around the world, creates string arrangements, and commissions new work, with a particular commitment to broadening the Latin American repertoire for string ensemble. Its programs have drawn from Cuban music, Brazilian choro, and samba, and it has arranged or commissioned more than 20 works by Latin American composers. Toomai has appeared with or through Carnegie Hall, Midori and Friends, 92nd Street Y, and the Juilliard School, and has worked with Cuban composer pianist Adonis Gonzalez.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.