Portland construction crew, moonlighting as a multicultural band, releases debut album

Carpenters at Bondeko, a Portland-based construction company, often work with tape measures, chop saws, and electric drills. But on a recent night in Portland they got another tool: guitars, drums and accordions.

Also known as Bondeco, which loosely translates to “brothers” in the Central African language Lingala, the band convened at Mayo Street Arts to untwist their setlist two days before their album release show.

They start practicing singing. Namorie Keita from Guinea opens the curtain with a djembe solo.

Ylli Brekofca from Albania then joined with a long drag on the accordion.

Then Orson Horchler, born in the United States and raised in France, joined on guitar, and Horchler’s son Leo on drums, creating a raucous ensemble.

Having been playing and writing music since childhood, Horchler has worked to build a stronger immigrant music scene in Portland.

“I was surprised to see so many immigrant and world-class musicians around, but most of them could barely perform,” he said.

Among them was Brekofca, who had recently arrived in the United States from Albania without an accordion. Horchler found him and offered him a job in his contracting business, also called Bondeko.

He then recruited Keita into his band and business. Since then, they’ve done smaller shows, mostly around Portland.

Horchler says that multiculturalism is a core tenet of Bondeco’s identity, but that comes with some linguistic challenges. For example, Brekovka is still learning English.

“Four or five years later, I’m still trying to communicate with him about what the chorus and verse are,” Holchler said.

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Language barrier or not, Brekovka, or “Papa Iri” as Keita calls him, is Bondeco’s undisputed elder statesman. He is also the driving force behind much of the band’s music. About 70% of Bondeco’s repertoire are Albanian folk his songs, melodies that Brekovka has remembered for decades, ever since he first picked up the accordion at the age of ten.

Brekovka spoke in Albanian, as translated by her friend Dafina Pourti, also from Albania.

“Of course, he says he’s forgotten a lot over time,” Pruti said, translating. “He believes he may remember 200” Albanian folk songs.

Bulekovka added that he previously knew of nearly 400 people.

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He said he learned from them, partly because his options were limited. Growing up under a highly repressive communist dictatorship in Albania, he was not allowed to play foreign music.

Now in her 70s, Brekovka says she enjoys the opportunity to learn new genres and encourages groups to do the same.

“Come on, let’s do something new, fresh. Bring me a new song. I may not be able to sing it because it’s in English, but I think I’ll follow it,” Bulekovka said, adding that she was very excited about the new song. Learn styles and genres.

Some of the new styles are featured on the group’s debut EP, recorded in Albania last year, including a rendition of Manu Chao’s ‘Clandestino’ and an original song written by Horchler.

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Outside of Bondeco, Keita has had a successful music career of his own. Steeped in the traditional drumming style of the Malinke people of West Africa, he has performed and taught throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States, and has recorded music with a handful of other artists.

He said he loves playing in this band because each member has their own unique skills and knowledge.

“What I love is the diversity, and how we are connected, when we are playing, we are all connected,” said Keita.

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Keita said part of the group’s strong bond, whether on stage or in the field, came from their shared experience of living far from home.

“We all live here as immigrants, so we support each other,” he said. “We support each other in the hard times and we support each other in the good times.

Blending musical traditions from other parts of the world, Horchler says, is a way to mirror the changing cultural influences in the Portland metropolitan area.

“And this is what Bondeco stands for to me, kind of multicultural living in southern Maine today,” he said.

Horchler said his dream is that one day he, Keita and Brekofca will be able to quit their day jobs and pursue music full-time.

But for now, they’ll be back in the neighborhood not far from the concert venue this week to finish remodeling their kitchen.

Ali Snyder

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maine public