Fri 6/26 @ 8PM

Teiku is a creative jazz ensemble, founded by Detroit percussionist Jonathan Barahal and Chicago pianist Josh Harlow who had the idea of using their respective Jewish-Ukrainian ancestors’ distinctive Passover songs as the basis for jazz compositions. They formed Teiku after meeting in the Detroit jazz scene and discovered the confluence of their separate family histories. The word “Teiku,” they share in their bio, is a Talmudic acronym that more or less means “unanswered question,” which describes duo’s process of musical and spiritual searching and discovery. Barahal and Harlow added bass clarinetist Jason Stein and bassist Jaribu Shahid to help fulfill their unusual mission.

The ensemble released a self-titled album in 2024, and recently their second called Klang, which draws from sources such as rare manuscripts, voice recordings, memories of late-night ritualistic chants and melodies from the wider community. “Five of Klang’s six tracks represent the same Passover song/liturgical text, with each becoming a completely distinctive and unique melody when filtered through regional and family variations,” they say.

Teiku performed in Cleveland in 2019 at a Mechanic Street House concert, a series hosted by Lynn Phares and Joel Elvery in their Ohio City living room. And they’ll be back there again this week on Friday June 26. “It’s Joel’s favorite of all our concerts,” they say.

Doors opens at 7:30 with the concert at 8. It’s a suggested donation of $25 which all goes to the musicians. To get more information or to reserve your spot go to team@mechanicstreetmusic.com.