Joel Zifkin

Who is Joel Zifkin?

Joel Zifkin is a Canadian musician and songwriter born in Montreal on April 14, 1954. He is best known as a session and live musician for artists such as Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Richard Thompson. Zifkin has performed and /or recorded with the following artists among others: Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Philip Glass, Lou Reed, Townes Van Zandt, Rational Youth, Joe Dassin, Roma Baran, Elvis Costello, Wade Hemsworth, Pierre Marchand, Robert Charlebois, Les Colocs, Yaya Diallo, Joe Boyd, The Chieftains, Pat Donaldson, Ravens & Chimes, Hal Willner's Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited, among others. He also appeared in the film Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave and the documentary "Sing Me the Songs That Say I Love You: A Concert for Kate McGarrigle", directed by Lian Lunson.

His primary instrument is the electric violin.

Zifkin released the self-titled solo album Joel Zifkin in 2004, Five Songs More in 2008, and the singles "When Insanity Reigns It Pours" and "The Glow" in 2013, all on iTunes.