The Klezmatics
Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Music Center at Strathmore

The Klezmatics erupted out of New York City’s East Village in 1986 and revitalized klezmer for the new century with music that is steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality all the while incorporating contemporary themes, such as human rights and anti-fundamentalism, with eclectic musical influences including Arab and African, Latin and Balkan rhythms, along with jazz and punk.

In the course of over twenty years they have released nine albums of wild, spiritual, provocative, reflective and ecstatically danceable music, forever redefining and transcending traditional labels. The Klezmatics have collaborated with numerous luminaries including folk hero Arlo Guthrie, classical legend Itzhak Perlman, Israeli pop icons Chava Alberstein and Ehud Banai, beat poet Allen Ginsberg, the Master Musicians of Jajouka, the Ben Folds Five and Kosher Gospel singer Joshua Nelson.

Their work has extended to numerous theater, film, dance and television projects, including Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tony Kushner’s A Dybbuk and It’s An Undoing World and Pilobolus Dance Theatre’s Davenen. The Klezmatics have reached millions through performances and features on CBS’s "Late Night with David Letterman", PBS’ "Great Performances," the BBC’s "Rhythms of the World," and "John Peel Show," various NPR programs ("A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor," "New Sounds Live" and "Soundcheck"), CBS’s "Nightwatch," FOX’s "After Breakfast," "MTV News" and "Sex and the City." Additionally, their song “NY Psycho Freylekhs” was heard regularly on Air America Radio’s "The Al Franken Show." They have played 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 (Slovakia), Jazzsomer Graz (Austria) and the Heimatklänge Festival (Germany).

The Klezmatics have garnered numerous accolades throughout their career, including a 2006 Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary World Music Album" (for Wonder Wheel: Lyrics by Woody Guthrie), a New York Jewish Music Award ("Best Klezmer Band of 2006") a GLAMA (Gay and Lesbian American Music Award) and the German Critics Award (twice) and have topped the Billboard's World Music charts on numerous occasions.


Instrumentation
Lorin Sklamberg - vocal, accordion, guitar
Frank London - trumpet, keyboards
Matt Darriau - clarinets, sax, kaval
Lisa Gutkin - vocal, violin
Paul Morrissett - bass, tsimbl
Richie Barshay - drums

Discography
Rise up! Shteyt Oyf!
Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Wonder Wheel: Lyrics by Woody Guthrie (World Music Grammy)
Brother Moses Smote the Water
Rhythm + Jews
Jews with Horns
Possessed
A Collaboration with Chava Alberstein
In the Fiddler's House (with Itzhak Perlman)
Shvaygn=Toyt