The Klezmatics
The Klezmatics, circa 2005.
The Klezmatics, early 2000s line-up.
Background information
GenresKlezmer
Years active1986 (1986)–present (present)
MembersMatt Darriau, Frank London, Paul Morrissett, Lorin Sklamberg, Lisa Gutkin, David Licht, Richie Barshay
Past membersDavid Krakauer, Margot Leverett, Kurt Bjorling, Alicia Svigals, David Lindsay.
Websitewww.klezmatics.com

The Klezmatics are an 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.[1] They have also recorded pieces in Aramaic and Bavarian.

Personnel

Current members include composers Matt Darriau, alto saxophone, clarinet, and kaval, and Frank London, on trumpet and keys, Paul Morrissett playing bass and tsimbl cimbalom, vocalist Lorin Sklamberg on accordion and piano, Lisa Gutkin on violin and vocals, and David Licht or Richie Barshay on drums.[2]

Past members include David Krakauer, Margot Leverett, Kurt Bjorling and Michael Lowenstern on the clarinet, Alicia Svigals on violin, 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.[1] They have appeared numerous times on television, including on the PBS Great Performances series with Itzhak Perlman.[3] They have collaborated with the Romani virtuoso Ferus Mustafov, Israeli singers Chava Alberstein and Ehud Banay, American singer Arlo Guthrie, and Moroccan musicians The Master Musicians of Jajouka.[4] In Berlin, they worked with poet Allen Ginsberg.[5] Trumpeter Frank London composed the score for Pilobolus Dance Theater's work, Davenen, which the band performed.[6] The members come from different musical backgrounds. Drummer Richie Barshay plays jazz with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Violinist Lisa Gutkin came from a predominantly Celtic background before joining the band.

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).[7] Five years later, they recorded a 25th anniversary CD at the same location.

The Klezmatics at the 2013 world music Festival "Horizonte", Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Koblenz

Recordings

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

Wonder Wheel, released in 2006, showcased lyrics by American folk icon Woody Guthrie, selected by the band from the Woody Guthrie archive. Although the music draws primarily from a wide range of Americana, not klezmer, the album won a Grammy[8] in the category of Best Contemporary World Music Album. Another album of Guthrie material, with music drawn from the band's more usual Yiddish, Eastern European Jewish music roots, Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah, was released the same year. Guthrie's granddaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie, has appeared with them. Other key collaborations include the music to Tony Kushner's adaptation of The Dybbuk, ""A Dybbuk: Between Two Worlds”",[9] The Well: Klezmatics with Chava Alberstein[10] in which poetry by several prominent Yiddish poets was set to music, and Brother Moses Smote the Water with Jewish gospel-style singer, Joshua Nelson.[11]

Discography

Track # Title
1Ershter Vals
2A Glezele Vayn
3Tantst Yidelekh
4Russian Shers
5Bilovi
6Dzhankoye
7Ale Brider
8Czernowitzer Bulgar
9Mazl Tov, Zeydns Tants
10Schneider-Zwiefacher
11Rebns Khasene / Khasene Tants
12Di Zen Vet Aruntergeyn
Track # Title Notes
1Shprayz Ikh Mir
2Kolomeyke
3Moroccan Game
4An Undoing World
5Mizmor Shir Lehanef (Reefer Song)Mizmor Shir Lehanef is the first Yiddish anthem written about marijuana.
6Shvartz Un Vays (Black and White)
7Lomir Heybn Dem Bekher
8Sirba Matey Matey
9Mipney Ma
10Beggars' Dance
11Shnaps-Nign
12Interlude
13Dybbuk Shers
14Fradde's Song
15Der Shvatser Mi Adir (The Black Benediction)
16Hinokh Yafo
17Mipney Ma (reprise)
18Eyn Mol
  • 1998 – The Well: Klezmatics with Chava Alberstein (Xenophile)
  • 2003 – Rise Up! Shteyt Oyf! (Rounder)
Track # Title
1Klezmorimlekh mayne libinke
2Kats un Moyz
3Loshn-Koydesh
4Tepel
5I Ain't Afraid
6Di Gayster
7Yo Riboyn Olam
8Bulgars #2
9Barikadn
10Davenen
11St. John's Nign
12Hevil iz Havolim
13Makht oyf!
14Perets-Tanst
15I Ain't Afraid (English edit)
Track # Title Notes
1Eyliyohu Hanovi2:38
2Elijah Rock9:17
3Ki Loy Nue6:40
4Shnirele Perele
5Walk In Jerusalem
6Go Down Moses
7Moses Smote The Water
8Oh Mary Don't You Weep
9Didn't It Rain
10Ale Brider
Disc # Track # Title
11Man In A Hat
12Bobe Tanz (feat. Margot Leverett)
13Dzhankoye
14Rhythm / Jews With Horns Medley: Fun Tashlikh / Fisherlid (feat. David Krakauer)
15Dybbuk Suite: Mipney Ma / Beggars' Dance / Shnaps-nign / Di Gayster / Fradde's Song / Der Shvartser Mi Adir / Hinokh Yafo / Mipney Ma
16Di Krenitse
17St. John's Nign
18Brother Moses Suite: Eyliyohu Havnovi
19Brother Moses Suite: Elijah Rock (feat. Joshua Nelson)
21Davenen
22I Ain't Afraid (feat. Adrienne Cooper)
23Gonna Get Through This World (feat. Susan McKeown)
24Holy Ground
25Moroccan Game
26Hanuka Gelt
27Medley: Lolly Lo / NY Psycho Freylekhs
28Shnirele, Perele
29Ale Brider
210Tepel
  • 2016 – Apikorsim (World Village)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 218. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  2. "Members". The Klezmatics. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  3. Heckman, Don (December 2, 1995). "TV Reviews : Itzhak Perlman, Klezmer Fiddler". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  4. JLifeOC (April 2, 2013). "Nostalgic But New | JLife OC". Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  5. Pettet, Simon (May 6, 2017). "Allen Ginsberg & The Klezmatics, Berlin, 1993". The Allen Ginsberg Project. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  6. "Klezmer Ensemble with Grammy award-winning trumpeter-composer Frank London of the Klezmatics | McIntire Department of Music". music.virginia.edu. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. "The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground". IMDb. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  8. "Mazel tov! Klezmer band wins Grammy for world music". www.thevillager.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  9. Brantley, Ben (November 17, 1997). "THEATER REVIEW; A 'Dybbuk' Foresees 'The Martyred Dead'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  10. "A New Tap on Yiddish Tradition". Los Angeles Times. May 10, 1999.
  11. Wall, Alix (April 15, 2005). "Klezmer-gospel combo pumps up Pesach". Jweekly.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
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