Album Notes

Fishtank offers a unique musical experience--and a rollicking good time! From the smokey cafes of Bucharest to the Gypsy caravans of yesterday, this band evokes the spirit of a past age and the sounds of tomorrow.

Fishtank is a lively and unusual ensemble consisting of violin, saw, accordion, shamisen, flamenco guitar, bass, percussion and voice. Rumanian folk music forms the bulk of the material, with a healthy helping of Flamenco, Swedish folk music, Klezmer, other folk sources and original songs.

Audience reaction to our hastily formed ensemble been extremely positive.
Their first fill length CD was released in November 2005.

Fishtank Ensemble offers a unique blend of up-tempo Gypsy, Balkan and klezmer tunes and original compositions. The arrangements are always surprising, and include instruments from many countries, such as the Japanese shamisen.

The Gypsy violin of Fabrice Martinez is the backbone of the sound, and has to be heard to be believed.

The band also features the voice of the talented and beautiful Ursula Knudson, "The Swedish Nightingale" (or is that Jenny Lind?), who when she isn't playing the saw or violin, sings everything from cabaret to art song.

Other members of this band include:
Aaron Seeman (Duckmandu) - the famed punk rock accordianist
Kevin Kmetz - otherwise known as the Last Shamisen Master
Douglas Smolens (el douje) - flamenco/ gypsy jazz guitarist extraordinaire.
Glenn Allen - Upright Bass Maestro

There is nothing ordinary about this band!