Arkana Music

Arkana Music is a jazz quartet devoted to exploring new directions in improvisation. Based on the creations of pianist Ali Berkok, the band is continuously building a strong and diverse body of highly energetic music. Their debut album, Hyprovisation, was released in February 2007, to a packed house at the Rex Hotel and Jazz Bar in Toronto. The beginnings of the band lie in collaborations between Ali and saxophonist Mark Laver, which took place at the Banff Centre For The Arts in 2005. Here, Ali and Mark were introduced to a world of techniques other than those of traditional jazz.

The beginnings of the band lie in collaborations between Ali and saxophonist Mark Laver, which took place at the Banff Centre For The Arts in 2005. Here, Ali and Mark were introduced to a world of techniques other than those of traditional jazz. Shortly thereafter, while working in Hong Kong, Ali started working on the initial pieces for the band. The original line-up saw Ali and Mark joined by drummer Jake Oelrichs (Run With The Kittens), bassist Gord Mowat (Dust Poets). Together they draw on a wealth of experience to sometimes disguise, sometimes eliminate the line between composition and improvisation