The Klezmatics

The Klezmatics
Name	The Klezmatics
Background	group_or_band
Origin	New York City
Genres	Klezmer, Yiddish folk music, Jewish music
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Island Records, Elektra Records, Piranha Records, Rounder Records
Associated acts	Chava Alberstein, Itzhak Perlman, Theodore Bikel, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

The Klezmatics are an American klezmer band formed in New York City in 1986. They became central figures in the late 20th-century revival of klezmer and Yiddish culture, performing internationally at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and festivals including Ravinia Festival and Lincoln Center Festival. The group has collaborated with artists from diverse traditions, recorded critically acclaimed albums, and received awards including a Grammy Award.

History

Formed amid the downtown New York City music scene alongside groups like The Band, Patti Smith Group, and ensembles from the Loft jazz era, the band drew inspiration from archive collections like the Yiddish Theatre repertoire and the recordings of Naftule Brandwein, Dave Tarras, and Sidel Belarsky. Early residencies in the East Village connected them with artists from Greenwich Village and institutions such as BAM and Museum of Jewish Heritage. Touring circuits included stops at Olympia (Paris), South by Southwest, and WOMAD Festival, while recording collaborations linked them to labels like Island Records and Piranha Records. Over decades the ensemble navigated line-up shifts, the evolving downtown avant-garde, and the resurgence of interest in Yiddish language and Jewish liturgical music across North America, Europe, and Israel.

Musical Style and Influences

Drawing on a lineage that includes Naftule Brandwein, Dave Tarras, and the Klezmer Conservatory Band, the band's sound blends traditional klezmer modes (freygish, misheberakh) with influences from jazz, rock, Reggae, World music, and contemporary classical music. Their arrangements reflect study of sources such as the Victor Records 78s, manuscripts from the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, and the work of Abraham Zevi Idelsohn. Influences cited by members include Bela Bartok, Duke Ellington, John Zorn, Miles Davis, Leonard Bernstein, and songwriters like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Performance practice integrates instruments from klezmer revivalists and avant-garde players associated with Downtown music and scenes centered on venues like The Knitting Factory.

Albums and Notable Recordings

Their discography spans independent and major-label releases including albums on Rounder Records and Island Records. Notable recordings include a tribute to Woody Guthrie lyrics set by contemporary composers, collaborations with Chava Alberstein and a project featuring texts by Allen Ginsberg and Pablo Neruda. Releases received coverage from outlets such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Village Voice. Their recordings draw repertoire from the Yiddish theatre canon, reinterpretations of songs by Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon, and original compositions influenced by interpreters like Itzhak Perlman and Theodore Bikel.

Collaborations and Projects

The ensemble has worked with a wide array of artists and institutions: vocalists Chava Alberstein, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, poets Allen Ginsberg, Adrienne Rich, and musicians Itzhak Perlman, John Zorn, Greg Cohen, and Marc Ribot. They have performed at cultural institutions including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, and festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival. Projects include musical settings of texts by Woody Guthrie, compositions commissioned by Jewish Music Institute, and cross-cultural collaborations with artists from Mizrahi music and Sephardic traditions. Educational work has involved residencies at Yale University, Columbia University, and community programs connected to Jewish Community Centers.

Awards and Recognition

Their accolades include a Grammy Award in categories recognizing world and traditional music and nominations from institutions like BBC Music Awards and critics' circles such as The Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop. They have been recipients of grants and fellowships from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. Reviews and honors have appeared in The New Yorker, Billboard, and on broadcasts by NPR and BBC Radio 3.

Band Members and Lineup Changes

Over time the band's roster has included musicians associated with prominent scenes and ensembles: reed players and clarinetists influenced by Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras; accordionists and pianists with ties to Yiddish theatre orchestras; rhythm section players versed in jazz and rock idioms; and guest artists from classical and world music backgrounds. Members have performed with acts such as John Zorn’s projects, The Klezmer Conservatory Band, and artists appearing at venues like The Bottom Line and CBGB. Lineup changes reflect cross-pollination with musicians from Brooklyn’s improvisation community and international klezmer players from Warsaw, Kiev, Budapest, and Tel Aviv.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The group's influence extends to the global klezmer revival, inspiring ensembles in Eastern Europe, North America, and Israel, and affecting repertoires in institutions like the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and curricula at conservatories such as Mannes School of Music and Juilliard School. Their fusion projects broadened audiences for Yiddish song and contributed to renewed interest in Ashkenazi traditions, while collaborations bridged communities linked to Jewish diaspora cultures, American folk revival, and contemporary experimental scenes centered on New York City. Their work is cited in scholarship published by presses associated with Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press on topics including musicology and ethnomusicology.

Category:Klezmer groups