- country:USA
- region:North America
- style(s):Gypsy, Jazz
- label:Piranha
- artist posted by:Tractor-Beam
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“The Klezmatics aren’t just the best band in the
klezmer vanguard… they rank among the best
bands on the planet. Jewish traditional music is just
the starting point for songs that jump, rock and
swing-sometimes all at the same time.” –Time Out
New York
The Klezmatics are world-reknown superstars of
the klezmer world. They erupted out of New York
City’s East Village in 1986 and revitalized klezmer
for the new century. Their klezmer is one steeped
in Jewish spiritualism and Eastern European
tradition while incorporating more provocative
themes such as social rights and anti-
fundamentalism with eclectic musical influences
such as gospel, punk, and Arab, African, and Balkan
rhythms. Over the course of nearly twenty years,
they have released six albums of wild, spiritual,
provocative, reflective, and ecstatically danceable
music, forever redefining and transcending
traditional labels.
The Klezmatics have collaborated with numerous
musical luminaries such as Arlo Guthrie, classical
legend Itzhak Perlman, Israeli icons Chava
Albertstein and Ehud Banay, Ben Folds, beat legend
Allen Ginsberg, avant-garde experimentalist John
Zorn, The Master Musicians of Jajouka (a 4,000 year
old Moroccan rock ensemble), Nubian Egyptian
percussionist Mahmoud Fadl, and KosherGospel
singer Joshua Nelson. Their collaborations have
extended to numerous theatrical, film, dance, and
television projects, including Pulitzer Prize Winning
playwright Tony Kushner’s A Dybbuk and It’s An
Undoing World. The Klezmatics have reached
millions through performances and features on Late
Night with David Letterman, PBS’ Great
Performances, BBC’s Rhythms of the World, BBC’s
John Peel Show, various NPR programs (A Prairie
Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, New
Sounds Live andSoundcheck), CBS Nightwatch, FOX
After Breakfast, MTV News, and Sex in the City.
Additionally, their song “NY Pscho Freylks” is a
theme song for Air America Radio’s The Al Franken
Show. They have performed in over twenty
countries at some of the most storied venues and
renowned festivals worldwide, including Central
Park Summerstage, Carnegie Hall, Pirineos Sur
(Spain), Colours of Ostrava (Czech Republic),
Pohoda Festival (Slovokia), Jazzsomer Graz
(Austria), and the Heimatklänge Festival (Germany),
amongst many others.
The Klezmatics have garnered numerous awards
and accolades throughout their career, including a
GLAMA (Gay and Lesbian American Music Award),
The German Critics Award (twice), and have topped
the Billboard world music charts on numerous
occasions.
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