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The Klezmatics
American klezmer music group From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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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.[citation needed] In addition, Boo Reiners, Susan McKeown, Joshua Nelson, Chava Alberstein, and Aaron Alexander have frequently collaborated with the band.[citation needed]
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History
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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.[citation needed] Violinist Lisa Gutkin came from a predominantly Celtic background before joining the band.[citation needed]
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.
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Recordings
The Klezmatics have recorded for Rounder, Piranha, Xenophile, Flying Fish, and the now-defunct Jewish Music Group.[citation needed]
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
- 1989 – Shvaygn = toyt (Piranha Musik)
- 1990 – Rhythm and Jews (Piranha Musik)
- 1995 – Jews with Horns (Flying Fish)
- 1997 – Possessed (Xenophile)
- 1998 – The Well: Klezmatics with Chava Alberstein (Xenophile)
- 2003 – Rise Up! Shteyt Oyf! (Rounder)
- 2004 – Brother Moses Smote the Water (with Joshua Nelson & Kathryn Farmer; Piranha Musik)
- 2006 – Wonder Wheel (Lyrics by Woody Guthrie) (JMG)
- 2006 – Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah (JMG)
- 2008 – Tuml = Lebn: The Best of the First 20 Years (Piranha Musik)
- 2011 – Live at Town Hall (independent release, double album)
- 2016 – Apikorsim (World Village)
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See also
References
External links
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