The Klezmatics

The Klezmatics take one of the wildest approaches to klezmer, the traditional dance music of the Eastern European Jews. Although their music is heavily influenced by the recordings of Abe Ellstein and Dave Tarras in the 1940s and 1950s, their lyrics comment on a wide variety of political and social issues and have led the group to be labeled "the planet's radical Jewish roots band."

The original members of the Klezmatics -- Dave Lindsay (bass), Rob Chavez (clarinet), Alicia Svigals (fiddle) -- were recruited through an ad in the Village Voice in 1985. Trumpet player Frank London of the Klezmer Conservatory Band joined the group soon afterward. Within a few weeks, the band was expanded with the addition of Lorin Sklamberg (vocals, accordion), Margot Leverett (clarinet), and David Licht (drums). Initially calling themselves "Hortzeplotz," they soon renamed themselves the Klezmatics, a play on words inspired by the rock band the Plasmatics.

Despite their off-the-wall approach, the Klezmatics are held in high esteem for their musical virtuosity. The group recorded two albums with classical violinist Itzhak Perlman, 1995's In the Fiddler's House and 1996's Live in the Fiddler's House. In 1998, they collaborated with Israeli vocalist Chava Alberstein on an album titled The Well. In 2006, the Klezmatics released Wonder Wheel, an album seven years in the making that features the late Woody Guthrie's lyrics over Eastern European, klezmer, Latin, Celtic, Afro-Caribbean, and folk-flavored music.

from Wikipedia:

The Klezmatics are a Grammy Award-winning American klezmer music group based in New York City, who have achieved fame singing in several languages, most notably mixing older Yiddish tunes with other types of more contemporary music of differing origins. They have also recorded pieces in Aramaic and Bavarian.

Personnel

Current members include composers Matt Darriau, wind instruments, and Frank London, on trumpet, Paul Morrissett playing bass and tsimbl cimbalom, vocalist Lorin Sklamberg on accordion, Lisa Gutkin on violin, and David Licht or Richie Barshay on drums.

Past members include Alicia Svigals, a founding member, David Krakauer, Margot Leverett, Kurt Bjorling on the clarinet, and David Lindsay on bass. In addition, Boo Reiners, Susan McKeown, Joshua Nelson, Chava ALberstein, and Aaron Alexander have frequently collaborated with the band.

History

The group formed in New York's East Village in 1986. They have appeared numerous times on television, including on the PBS Great Performances series, with Itzhak Perlman.

The Klezmatics appeared live, in June 2003, in collaboration with the Jenaer Philharmonie of Jena, Germany. They have also participated in cross-cultural collaborations, notably with the Gypsy virtuoso Ferus Mustafov, Israeli singers Chava Alberstein and Ehud Banay, American singer Arlo Guthrie, and Moroccan musicians the Master Musicians of Jajouka.

The Klezmatics' 20th anniversary concert took place at New York City's Town Hall on March 5, 2006. That event is included in the documentary chronicling the band's history and significance, The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground (2010).

Recordings

The Klezmatics have recorded for Rounder, Piranha, Xenophile, Flying Fish, and the now-defunct Jewish Music Group.

A recent album, Wonder Wheel, melds klezmer music with the lyrics of American folk icon Woody Guthrie. The album won a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary World Music Album. Another album of Guthrie material, entitled Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah, was released in August 2006. Guthrie's granddaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie, has appeared with them.