Matt Darriau (kaval, clarinet, saxophone); Lisa Gutkin (violin, vocals); Frank London (trumpet, keyboards); Paul Morrissett (bass, tsimbl); Lorin Sklamberg (lead vocals, accordion, guitar, piano)
"Wonder Wheel" is the 2006 Grammy Winner for Best Contemporary World Music Album!
"The Klezmatics are wonderful ... "Gonna get Through This World" is a piece of genius." Pete Seeger
"My dad would love this!" Nora Guthrie
"“Gonna Get Through This World.” [...] the very definition of world music." - Washington City Paper
"The Klezmatics prove themselves to be sensitive interpreters of any artistic language they chooseä a welcome diversion." - Billboard
"A" Robert Christgau, The Village Voice/NPR
"A complete joy! Guthrie's lyrics are transformed from dust-gathers to living, breathing, vital pieces of music!" - All Music Guide
"Skips merrily out of the speakers and becomes the life of the party." - The Chicago Sun Times
"The music is as lively as the words." - The Star Ledger, New Jersey
The Klezmatics are groundbreaking klezmer superstars who erupted from New York’s East Village in 1986 and revitalized klezmer for the new century. Their klezmer is steeped in East European Jewish tradition and spiritualism while incorporating themes such as human rights and anti-fundamentalism with eclectic influences: jazz, punk, gospel and Arabic, African, American and Balkan music. They’ve released eight albums of wild, reflective and ecstatically danceable music, redefining and transcending traditional labels.
Their most recent albums "Wonder Wheel" and "Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah" (JMG) are a vibrant collaboration of the Klezmatics’ original music composed and recorded to newly discovered lyrics of American folk icon Woody Guthrie.
I think it was in an interview with Frank London that I first heard (read) the term "Fakelore". Well, we borrowed it to describe our musical style because we think it describes what we aim to do very well. We didn't ask, but we hope that it is OK. In any case, thanks a lot for adding us!
I first heard you many, many years back in Berlin at the Heimatklänge@Tempodrom days (last time in Nov. 08 in Berlin, Kulturbrauerei) and these concerts, the Klezmatics, really opened my musical horizon, made me loving Klezmer and, many, many year later, founding my own, well :-), klezmer-focused fakelore band. So, all the best and thanks again!
Kære The Klezmatics! Vi vil hermed invitere til koncert med et voldsomt udvidet Afenginn line-up: 14 mand på scenen, guitars, brass, mandekor og en masse andet, det bliver stort! Håber vi ses :) kh, Afenginn