In recent years, Klezmer music has experienced a revival in Germany, Poland, Israel and some American cities. Three recordings show a reliable picture of the current Klezmer scene. Klezmer is Jewish music of European origin (Central and Eastern Europe.
For a great sample of what’s out there, The Rough Guide to Klezmer Revival (RGNET1203CD, 2008) includes some of the best known artists in the new Klezmer category. The album features German Goldenshteyn, popular Israeli singer Chava Alberstein in a collaboration with with the top U.S. Klezmer band, The Klezmatics, Joel Rubin Ensemble, Brave Old World, Di Naye Kapelye, Giora Feidman, Sid Beckerman & Howie Leess, The Zmiros Project, Konsonans Retro, Kharkov Klezmer Band, Steven Greenman, Yale Strom with Hot Pstromi & Klassj, Veretski Pass, Budowitz, Klezmer Conservatory Band, Andy Statman, the prolific Frank London with his Klezmer Brass All-Stars feat Kol Isha and Merlin Shepherd Kapelye.
She’koyokh Klezmer Ensemble – Sandanski’s Chicken
London-based She’koyokh Klezmer Ensemble has a CD titled Sandanski’s Chicken (ARC Music, 2008). The lively band includes British, American and Zambian musicians, who specialize in Eastern European music. For Sandanski’s Chicken, the band focuses on the folk music from the Balkans, including Greece and Bulgaria. Most of the material is Klezmer music, although there are also Gypsy (also known as Roma) pieces.
One of the artists featured in the Rough Guide compilation has a full album available, released in 2007. Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi released Borsht with Bread, Brothers – Klezmer (ARC Music). Violinist and composer Yale Strom traveled throughout the former Eastern Bloc countries in 1981, searching for unknown, unpublished Klezmer and Yiddish tunes. A year later, back in the United States, he formed Hot Pastrami. The original members of the group, Fred Benedetti and Jeff Pekarek, still play with Yale today.
Because Yale Strom travels between San Diego and New York City every month, Hot Pstromi includes members on the East coast (Peter Stan, David Licht, Sprocket and Norbert Stachel) and one more West coast member, Tripp Sprague. In addition to Yale, singer Elizabeth Schwartz performs with both ensembles. Unlike other Klezmer acts who recreate the music of the past, Storm’s band combines Klezmer with Gypsy, jazz, classical, Balkan and Sephardic influences.
Buy the CDs:
- In North America: The Rough Guide to Klezmer Revival, Sandanski’s Chicken, and Borsht with Bread, Brothers
- In Europe: The Rough Guide to Klezmer Revival, Sandanski’s Chicken, and Borsht With Bread Brothers
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
