Joel Zifkin (born April 14, 1954) is a Canadian musician and songwriter. His primary instrument is the electric violin and he is best known as a session musician and live performer.

Career

Zifkin has performed and/or recorded with the following artists: Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Richard Thompson, 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, Chaim Tannenbaum, 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 (1980) and the documentary "Sing Me the Songs That Say I Love You: A Concert for Kate McGarrigle", directed by Lian Lunson (2013). 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.

Selected credits