The Klezmatics
| The Klezmatics | |
|---|---|
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The Klezmatics, early 2000s line-up. | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Klezmer |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Website |
www |
| Members | Matt Darriau, Frank London, Paul Morrissett, Lorin Sklamberg, Lisa Gutkin, David Licht, Richie Barshay |
| Past members | David Krakauer, Margot Leverett, Kurt Bjorling, |
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, 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.
Past members include 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 Romani virtuoso Ferus Mustafov, Israeli singers Chava Alberstein and Ehud Banay, American singer Arlo Guthrie, and Moroccan musicians The Master Musicians of Jajouka.
In Berlin, they worked with poet Allen Ginsberg. Trumpeter Frank London composed the score for Pilobolus Dance Theater's work, Davenen, which the band performed. 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).[1]
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.
Discography
- 1989 - Shvaygn = toyt (Piranha)
- 1990 - Rhythm and Jews (Piranha)
- 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)
- 2008 - Tuml = Lebn: The Best of the First 20 Years (Piranha)
- 2011 - Live at Town Hall (Klezmatics Disc)
See also
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Klezmatics. |
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