The Klezmatics
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The Klezmatics is an American klezmer music group based in New York City.
Current members include Frank London (trumpet/composer), David Licht (drums), Paul Morrissett (bass, tsimbl), Lorin Sklamberg (voice/accordion), Matt Darriau (wind instruments/composer), and Lisa Gutkin (violin); and past members include Alicia Svigals (violin), David Krakauer (clarinet), and Margot Leverett (clarinet).
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. Their lyrics are sung in English and Yiddish. They also recorded pieces in Aramaic and Bavarian (Schneider-Zwiefacher on Shvaign = toyt).
The Klezmatics appeared live, in June 2003, in collaboration with the Jenaer Philharmonie of Jena, Germany. They have also participated in cross-cultural collaborations, most notably with the Palestinian musician Simon Shaheen.
They have released CDs on the Rounder, Piranha, Xenophile, Flying Fish, Klezmatics, and Jewish Music Group labels. Additionally, a few members of the group appeared on the klezmer-inspired track "Stephen's Last Night in Town" from the Ben Folds Five album Whatever and Ever Amen.
Their most recent album, Wonder Wheel, melds The Klezmatics' unique take on klezmer with the English lyrics of American folk icon Woody Guthrie. The album won a GRAMMY in the category of Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Another album of Guthrie material, entitled Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkahaudio, was released via JMG in August 2006.
The Klezmatics' 20th anniversary concert took place at New York City's Town Hall on March 5, 2006.
[edit] Discography
- 1989 - Shvaygn = toyt (Piranha)
- 1992 - Rhythm and Jews
- 1995 - Jews With Horns (Flying Fish)
- 1997 - Possessed (Xenophile)
- 1998 - The Well: Klezmatics with Chava Alberstein (Xenophile)
- 2002 - Rise Up! Shteyt Oyf! (Rounder)
- 2004 - Klezmatics with Joshua Nelson & Kathryn Farmer: Brother Moses Smote the Water (Piranha)
- 2006 - Wonder Wheel (Lyrics by Woody Guthrie) (JMG)
- 2006 - Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah (JMG)
