The Klezmatics’ 40th anniversary album, We Were Made For These Times, reached No. 1 on the World Music Charts Europe in May 2026.
The American klezmer ensemble, the only Grammy-winning band in the genre, developed the album around themes of protest, faith, joy, and solidarity. Its songs draw on immigrant history, shared memory, and current debates over immigration, labor, and belonging.
Founded in New York City’s East Village in 1986, The Klezmatics have expanded klezmer and Yiddish music through connections with punk, jazz improvisation, gospel, and world music influences. Over four decades, the group has connected tradition with social justice themes and cross-cultural collaboration.
May 2026 Chart
- The Klezmatics (USA) – We Were Made For These Times – Asphalt Tango Records
- Souad Massi (Algeria) – Zagate – Backing Track
- BCUC (South Africa) – The Road Is Never Easy – Outhere Records
- Cheikh Ibra Fam (Senegal) – Adouna – Cumbancha
- Tinariwen (Mali) – Hoggar – Wedge
- Kareyce Fotso (Cameroon) – Gwa – Contre-jour
- Daughters Of Donbas (Ukraine/Canada) – Songs Of Stolen Children – Self Released
- Mariana Sadovska & Vesna (Ukraine/Germany) – You Should Live! – CPL-Music
- Nuevos Rios (Colombia/France) – Nuevos Rios – ZZK Records
- Raül Refree & Maria Mazzotta (Spain/Italy) – San Paolo Di Galatina – Galileo
- Fauna (Sweden) – Taiga Trans – Glitterbeat
- Dub Colossus (UK/Ethiopia) – Dub Will Keep Us Together – Real World
- Stelios Petrakis (Greece) – Lyric – Buda Musique
- Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy) – Il Mito – Ponderosa
- Divka (Canada) – Folk Fatale – Self Released
- Las Hermanas Caronni (Argentina/France) – El Espacio Del Tiempo – Les Grands Fleuves
- AySay (Denmark) – Mal – V2
- Tehrani Drom & Parisa Karimi Molan (Canada/Iran) – Unveiled – Lulaworld Records
- Amsterdam Klezmer Band (The Netherlands) – Diaspora – Asphalt Tango Records
- Ablaye Cissoko & Constantinople (Senegal/Canada) – Estuaire – Ma Case
More information at https://wmce.de
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central