David Buchbinder

David Buchbinder is a Canadian-American trumpeter, composer, producer, and multidisciplinary performance creator whose work spans jazz, klezmer, and cross-cultural music projects. He has led ensembles including the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and David Buchbinder’s Odessa/Havana.

Career Ensembles and recordings Buchbinder founded the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band in Toronto and served as its bandleader; the ensemble became associated with the revival and reinterpretation of klezmer music in Canada and performed internationally.

Festivals, artistic direction, and multidisciplinary performance Buchbinder helped found Toronto’s Ashkenaz Festival and served as its founding artistic director at Harbourfront Centre, helping establish the festival’s artistic vision.

Composition and production Buchbinder composes for his ensembles and has written music for film and television.

He also composed the score for the animated short The Stone of Folly (directed by Jesse Rosensweet). The film received a Prix du Jury at an international film festival, and Buchbinder was recognized at the ASIFA-East Animation Awards for excellence in soundtrack composition.

Published writing Buchbinder’s writing appears in the anthology What We Talk About When We Talk About Dumplings (Coach House Books). He also contributed an opinion article to the Toronto Star.

Selected discography David Buchbinder Shurum Burum Jazz Circus (2005)

David Buchbinder’s Odessa/Havana Odessa/Havana (2007) Conversation of the Birds (2017)

Nomadica Dance of the Infidels (2015) Tsirkus (1999)

The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band was nominated for a JUNO Award in the World Beat category in 1992.

The Canadian Encyclopedia notes that David Buchbinder's Odessa/Havana were named the Canadian Folk Music Award's World Group of the Year (2008).

Buchbinder received the William Kilbourn Award (Toronto Arts Awards) in 2016.

Buchbinder was a contributor to Yiddish Glory, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.