As every year for the past four decades, the Kazimierz district of Krakow will, for a few days, unite Jewish music in its most diverse and unexpected forms. Kuzmir, every day filled with the hustle and bustle of the city, will then be transformed, sounding with passion, love, respect for tradition, but also the great need to create something new. In addition to the long-standing friends of the Festival and their frequent returns, which mean for us increasing more with every year, we will also host musicians from all corners of the world, who will bring to Krakow their own unique perspective on Jewish music.

We will also be delighted to see the comeback of the man who revolutionized klezmer music, staying at the same time so close to its roots – Frank London. The artist will present his critically acclaimed project “Chronika” and will also play with the band of the outstanding American clarinetist Michael Winograd, presenting music from David Tarras’s groundbreaking TANZ album with klezmer pieces, to celebrate the 70^th  anniversary of its release. A different story will be told by the instrumentalists led by the accordionist, Jarosław Bester. Together with an Israeli cellist and vocalist, Maya Belsitzman, they will perform Yiddish songs composed by the legendary bard from Kazimierz, Mordechaj Gebirtig, arranged by Bester.

Another comeback at the Festival will be made by cantors’ performance at the Tempel Synagogue. Nissim Sa’al, Shimi Miller (a son of the recently deceased master of the cantorial art Benzion Miller) and Israel Rand will come to Krakow. These cantors will perform accompanied by a choir from Jerusalem, led by maestro Yossi Shwarz, and accompanied by Menachem Bristowski. The absolutely brilliant musicians of the Ziryab Trio: Taiseer Elias, Nassim Dakwar and Zohar Fresco will remind us of the beauty of Middle Eastern music in its purest form. Another equally fascinating experience will be the joint performance of two extraordinary personalities – an Israeli multi-instrumentalist Dudu Tassa with Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead) and their accompanying orchestra, including vocalists from Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Tunisia.

During this year’s edition of the Jewish Culture Festival, we will also be remembering  the outstanding Greek-Jewish rebetiko singer, Roza Eskenazi, and the pieces from her repertoire will be performed by a Hungarian singer Veronika Varga and the Greek oud player Andreas Andreou. As every year, there will be myriad of opportunities to dance! A unique atmosphere will be provided, among others, by the  Mała Orkiestra Dancingowa, led by Noam Zylberberg, and Boom Pam, with hits by Aris San and other Greek classics that once reigned in clubs all over the Levant. The Festival space will also be filled with the sounds of young Polish improvisers and representatives of the independent scene during the Nachum concert, dedicated to the work of the Jewish composer Nachum Sternheim from Rzeszów. This extremely interesting band will include Ola Bilińska, Ola Rzepka, Miłosz Pękala, Noam Zylberberg and Piotr Łyszkiewicz. And the festival series of concerts “Classics at Noon”, this time will feature the DJZ Trio, namely: Deborah Strauss, Jeff Warschauer and Zilyin Biret.