Balkan Brass World

Sirba don’t aspire to be your conventional band, they rather use tuba instead of double bass, and mandolin instead of accordion. Margareta Schiller-Kleemann on tuba, and Michael Kleemann on strings, are the foundation on which Barbara Keil relies for her passionate, driving, soprano-saxophone, accompanied most imaginatively by Armin Tichai on percussion.

It’s the many different talents that make Sirba’s music full of surprises: they have the groove of a gipsy wind band, their polyphonic songs from the Balkans are combined with gripping solos. Sirba enchant their audience with tender love songs and melodic instrumentals, their driving rhythms continue far into suspenseful breaks. Sirba’s music comes straight from the heart, concentrating on klezmer, on the wild Balkans, then again on the rough beauty of their own interpretations. A bag full of fun.

Sirba line-up