“The glory of what [Mendilow] does is finding a common ground among different cultures. And that’s what makes his music so exciting.” 

— Jewish Advocate

     “The buoyant, life-affirming, sweetly acoustic music of Israeli-born Mendilow incorporates influences from across the Middle East, Africa, South America and beyond. It's a folk music of hope and affirmation, sophisticated in its delivery but easily accessible to listeners anywhere. ” 

— Chicago Tribune  

 Led by Israeli composer/performer Guy Mendilow, this spirited quintet breaks down musical boundaries with an inventive blend of Israeli and Sephardi tempered with Bahian street beats and Blues. “Mendilow is no dilettante,” writes the Boston Phoenix. “He learned the music of these countries by living and working there — so when he sings … he knows what he’s talking about.”

Performing in Hebrew, Arabic, Ladino, Portuguese and English, the band skillfully fuses tradition with a contemporary sound. Alongside lush vocal harmonies, woodwinds and strings, the five members of the Guy Mendilow Band create intricate textures with berimbaus, percussion, trancy jaw harps, and Mendilow’s award-winning overtone singing. The group’s appeal reaches far beyond world music audiences only. As Rich Warren, host of WFMT- Chicago’s nationally syndicated Midnight Special, remarks: “We normally don't offer ‘world’ music, but Guy and his band offered a delicious taste of it. Their musicianship, versatility, and originality were most impressive. Our audience left raving about their talent and the sound of their music. They were mesmerizing.”

The group’s message is coming through loud and clear. The Guy Mendilow Band performs in theaters such as New York’s Tribeca PerformingArtsCenter and at some of the US’s most established festivals like the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival,the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Chicago World Music Festival and Musikfest. Mendilow’s innovative workshops, residencies and teacher trainings, focusing on improvisation as a tool for communication, have led to ongoing collaborations with cutting-edge international social justice organizations like Seeds of Peace and to invitations to present at schools and conferences across the United States and Brazil.

The Guy Mendilow Band is now touring its third album, Skyland (released September 8^th, 2009), throughout the United States andCanada.