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The Klezmatics

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Klezmatics are an American klezmer group from New York. The group began in 1986 in the East Village, with Frank London, Lorin Sklamberg, Margot Leverett, Alicia Svigals, David Licht and David Lindsay at the first rehearsal. Klezmer is the traditional music of the Eastern European Jews, and the Klezmatics became known above all by combining old Yiddish songs with contemporary music from all kinds of sources. They also sang in Aramaic and Bavarian. The members come from different worlds. One played jazz with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, another bluegrass and Celtic music.

Music and breakthrough

Their albums include Shvaygn = Toyt from 1989, Rhythm + Jews from 1991, Jews With Horns from 1994, Possessed from 1997, The Well from 1998 and Rise Up! Shteyt oyf! from 2002. In 2006 came Wonder Wheel, with lyrics by Woody Guthrie from his archive. The group worked with among others Ferus Mustafov, Chava Alberstein, Arlo Guthrie and the Master Musicians of Jajouka, and with the poet Allen Ginsberg in Berlin. In 2010 the documentary The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground was released.

Influence

The line-up includes clarinet, trumpet, accordion, violin, bass and cimbalom. The Klezmatics showed that klezmer is not a museum piece but a living music, which belongs alongside rock and jazz. In this way they play a special role in the world music of the 1990s.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Doyna and notice the clarinet and the violin that make the melody sound like singing. Can you hear how those instruments make the melody sound like a human voice?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: ArtistsKlezmer