Beyond The Pale

Established in Toronto in 1998, the Canadian roots and world fusion ensemble Beyond the Pale incorporates influences spanning klezmer, jazz, bluegrass, Balkan and Romanian traditions, reggae, funk, and classical chamber music. Mandolinist Eric Stein, bassist Bret Higgins, guitarist Joshua Engel, and violinist Anne Lindsay formed the original configuration. Dutch clarinetist Martin van de Ven entered the group after Joshua Engel’s departure around 2000, and Serbian-born violinist Bogdan Djukic succeeded Anne Lindsay in 2001. Routes, the collective’s debut recording, appeared that year on Borealis and captured the Canadian Folk Music Award for Instrumental Group of the Year. Consensus followed in 2004, earning favorable notices while introducing Serbian-born violinist Aleksandar Gajic. In the ensuing period the ensemble maintained an active touring schedule, issued the acclaimed third album Postcards in 2009, and worked with legendary singer/actor Theodore Bikel, Canadian rapper and producer Socalled, the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir, vocalist Vira Lozinsky, the Creaking Tree String Quartet, and L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio. Borealis released the fourth studio album, the Canadian Folk Music Award-nominated Ruckus, in 2017.