The LAB Orchestra is a New Music Super Ensemble that plays Compositions and Real Time Composition by the Conductor, Composer and Musical Director, Dr. Stephen Horenstein with creative contributions from the players.

This orchestra of new generation musicians plays a unique music, full of energy and risk-taking, based on unusual notation and gestures from the conductor, as well as their own creativity.  The group is build from a range of instruments: percussion, winds, and electric…breaks barriers and full of surprises!  Built on a tradition of the creative large ensemble (Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, Charles Mingus, Charles Ives), the music portrays a journey through new vistas of sound, rhythm and energy.

 “A high energy experience which leaves you riveted to your seat!”

The Lab Orchestra:

*Bobby Zankel -alto saxophone

Tal Abraham, trumpet

Eyal Netzer- tenor saxophone

Bob Trachtenberg –  baritone saxophone, bass clarinet

**Reut Regev-trombone

Gil Saadah-  trombone

Tom Klein- cello

Milton Michaeli-piano, keyboards

David Michaeli – acoustic bass, electric bass

Haim Peskoff-drums

Stephen Horenstein- conductor, soprano saxophone,

Bobby Zankel

The Brooklyn born composer/alto saxophonist first began attracting national attention

around 1971, while a student at the University of Wisconsin as a member of the Cecil Taylorʼs “Unit Core Ensemble”. Downbeat described Zankel as “a skillful young altoist with a powerful

music at his fingertips”. Zankel was combining his performing and research with Taylor while

working with master drummer George Brownʼs quartet that featured the brilliant under

appreciated organist Melvin Rhyne. His “underground” reputation grew on the New York “Loft Scene” (73-75), where he performed with the likes of William Parker, and Ray Anderson. He

continued his apprenticeship with Taylor working in his large group which at times included

Jimmy Lyons , Hannibal , David S. Ware, and Andrew Cyrille. In 1975, Zankel moved to

Philadelphia to raise his family and to expand his artistic vision without heed to commercialism or the trends of the times.