GENRE BENDING REIMAGINGS OF FOLK POLYPHONY
Singer/guitarist Andrea Kuzmich’s signature style is to tickle the listeners’ senses into an irresistible, groove-driven experience. Mixing her 30 years of expertise in Georgian and Ukrainian vocal polyphony with her background in jazz and contemporary improvisation, Andrea (voice, guitar) teams up with the raw driving improvisational skills of some of Toronto’s finest, to unleash an elemental folk energy in performances. But don’t expect to just sit back and take it in. In true folk form, she’ll find a way to invite you in on the celebratory musical affair.
Andrea recorded music for her first EP in September 2025, to be released as singles over the first few months of 2026.
For more info, audio and video or to contact, see Andrea’s Electronic Press Kit.
Please follow Andrea on Instagram to keep track of the eclectic musical projects she’s involved with
Andrea first made her mark in the music scene as a versatile Toronto singer with performance, leadership and/or composition/arranging roles in classical choral, Congolese gospel, South Indian singing and drumming, vocal jazz (both big band and small ensembles), as well as contemporary improvised new music.
Yet, perhaps drawn by a musical thread from her Ukrainian heritage, her professional development got sidetracked early on by the mystique of traditional vocal polyphony – first Georgian, then Ukrainian. She went on to lead the Kosa Choir (2023-) and co-found Kalendar (2013-) and Sing with Ukraine (2022-), while also becoming recognized as one of Canada’s foremost practitioners and scholars of Georgian polyphony (Ori Shalva (2020-) ZARI (2003-2018), and Darbazi (1995-2013).
Now based in Toronto, Andrea intuitively weaves this rich diversity into unique arrangements of traditional ritual and lyrical songs from Eastern Europe, her own originals, and spirited reinterpretations of standards. Her performances are fresh and groove-oriented, “drawing her listeners into a world of sensuality” (Rudy Blair Entertainment Media).
Another project to come out of Andrea’s recent musical explorations at the Tranzac is POLYPHONICA: an electro-acoustic project born from the collaboration between Andrea and electronic musician and jazz keyboardist Daria Morgacheva. By weaving ritual and lyrical songs from Georgia and Ukraine with live looping, keyboards, and improvised vocals, the group creates a distinctive fusion of beats, soundscapes, folklore, and song. Their music evokes the ancient traditions of communal gatherings to celebrate cosmic events like solstices, seasonal changes, and personal milestones. Click the image to jump to POLYPHONICA’s playlist on Soundcloud.
As an award winning singer, a teacher, an ethnomusicologist, and music facilitator, Andrea has performed in and/or recorded with numerous ensembles and choirs throughout Toronto: from Whitney Smith’s Big Steam Band to the conventional SATB Choir of Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church; from the contemporary improvised new music of the Element Choir and vocals she provided for the soundtracks of The Witch and The Tall Grass, to the traditional folk music (see above). She can be heard on Veryan Weston’s “Make” (2017); Tanya Tagaq’s “Retribution” (2016); DoVira’s “DoVira” (2016); Kalendar’s “Sichen” (2016); ZARI’s “ZARI” (2008); Whitney’s Smith Big Steam Band’s “Swing’s Mistress” (1998); movie soundtrack “The Witch” (2015); documentary soundtrack “What is Love” (2016), among others. She has worked and performed with many of Toronto’s finest musicians, including Maryem Tollar, Bernie Senenski, Kevin Malon, Alex Samaras, Christine Duncan, and many others and has also played and/or shared the stage with international greats like Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Dave Holland, Christine Jensen, Maryna Krut, Lena Bloch, and others.
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