BAKLAVA EXPRESS
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Baklava Express comes to Barbès as a New York City cross-cultural ensemble led by award-winning composer and oud player Josh Kaye. The group’s instrumental set centers on Kaye’s original music, drawing together Ashkenazi and Mizrahi liturgical material, Ottoman classical music and folk traditions from across the Mediterranean. Rather than treating those sources as a medley of styles, the band works through compositions shaped by their meeting points, with room for both old-world melodic references and contemporary motion. The listing identifies Kaye on oud and composition, alongside Daisy Castro on violin, James Robbins on bass and Jeremy Smith on percussion.
Brooklyn-based Baklava Express has appeared at the Brooklyn International Music Festival, the Greek Jewish Festival and the Nyack Jazz Festival, and its music features on Conor Mcfinn’s animated short Ariel. Its 2023 debut album is Dávka, with Sababa listed as a forthcoming follow-up. The group is known for music rooted in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions, with the listing emphasizing a shared musical language without vocals. Brooklyn Magazine described Kaye’s quintet as using “mostly Arabic instruments and scales with quick-paced modern twists.” Other reviewers have called the music “a harmonious blend of East and West” and said, “This mystically equipped musical train is on a perfect roll.”
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.