The Klezmatics. 40th anniversary world tour. Ecstatic Klezmer since 1986

The Klezmatics are one of the most iconic and adventurous groups in modern Jewish music. Since emerging from New York City’s East Village in 1986, they have led a global revival of klezmer, combining centuries-old Yiddish tradition with radical contemporary sensibilities.

For four decades, The Klezmaticshave brought their unique sound to audiences around the world, blending klezmer with jazz, gospel, punk, classical, Latin, and Balkan styles. Their music is rooted in Eastern European Jewish tradition but embraces a progressive worldview, tackling themes like human rights, antifundamentalism, diaspora, and cultural resistance. Their impact is unmistakable.

The Klezmatics are the only klezmer band to win a Grammy Award (Best Contemporary World Music Album for Wonder Wheel: Lyrics by Woody Guthrie).  Their music has been featured in films, television, theater, and dance, including collaborations with Tony Kushner (A Dybbuk), Pilobolus Dance Theatre (Davenen), and the scores of films by Pearl Gluck. Their songs have appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and HBO’s Sex and the City.

The Klezmatics have collaborated with a vast range of artists, including violinist Itzhak Perlman, Israeli star Chava Alberstein, gospel singer Joshua Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, poet Allen Ginsberg, Theodore Bikel, and more. Their Grammy-winning project with Woody Guthrie’s lyrics redefined the possibilities of Jewish-American musical storytelling.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, The Klezmatics are creating their most ambitious studio project in a decade: The New York Sessions, set for release in 2026. This album is a tribute to New York City’s cultural mosaic, global Jewish resilience, and the band’s own genre-defying legacy. To bring the album to audiences around the world The Klezmatics have embarked on a global tour. This year the tour features major European performances.

Show is a high-energy celebration of the band’s legacy and the future of klezmer!

Line-Up:
Lorin Sklamberg – vocals, piano, accordion
Frank London – trumpet, keyboard
Lisa Gutkin – violin
Matt Darriau – clarinet, saxophone, kaval
Richie Barshay – drums, percussion
Paul Morrissett – bass, tsimbl

Live: jewishfestival.pl