Jon Madof is a musician exploring Jewish and Middle Eastern music through Rashanim, a group he founded in 2000. His website includes a biography, schedule of concerts for several groups Jon is involved with, a discography, and contact information.
http://www.jonmadof.com/
A 6-member klezmer group organized in 1994 and performing widely throughout Europe.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/simontov/
A band doing some cafes and Jewish improv in Aukland, New Zealand. Website has some real audio of cuts from their CD.
http://www.jewsbrothers.com
A website devoted to several bands and performers doing rock music with Jewish themes. Stemming from Nashville, Tennessee, this website attempts to present various groups and promote their CDs and concert tours, such as Dan Nichols and the music of E18HTEEN.
http://www.jewishrock.com/
Part of the Tzimmes group from Canada. This page attempts to put some historical context to Jewish music. There is a graphic representation that attempts to show musical influences. A brief bibliography of recommended sources is at the end. Not updated frequently.
http://www2.portal.ca/~jsiegel/about_jm.html
Founded and is headed by Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, this website is intended as an outreach vehicle. There are many recordings and musical events reported on the website, with reviews and clips of music.
http://www.jewishlearninggroup.com/
Amalia Ishak, soprano; Wendy Eisler-Kashy, flute; and Allan Sternfield, piano are the trio’s performers. The Jerusalem Lyric Trio is an Israeli ensemble that highlights the religious and cultural heritage of the Jewish people in its performances. Since 1995, they have performed our programs throughout Western and Eastern Europe, the United States, South America, Russia, and of course, Israel.
The Trio’s repertoire, in addition to familiar classical repertoire, includes works inspired by biblical texts, Jerusalem, the landscape of Israel, the Holocaust, and familiar songs (in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino). They have represented Israel in international music festivals, including the Old Testament in the Arts (Prague), Judische Kulturtage (Munich), Musical Spring in St. Petersburg (Russia), The Eighth International New Music Festival (Riga, Latvia), Encuentros (Buenos Aires), Concentus Moravaie (Czech Republic) and the Budapest Spring Festival 2000.…
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The Alta Rocker and His Corned Beef Rangers ride again. Blues, country? rock. CD baby selling as “Basic four piece Fender Guitar Bass Drums rock with funny English lyrics on Jewish themes.” JMWC says “Gives new meaning to the word schlock.” Some “fake-Yiddish-accent-type-humor”. Songs like “Don’t Eat the Pork”, and “Don’t Ogle my Kugel”. Some people might like the camp. Soung bites are available at the CD Baby site.
http://www.jeffjanning.com
Links to Dutch, Belgian and Israeli Reggae online radio and groups.
http://www.irielion.com/
Excerpts from two CDs.
http://www.israelvisit.co.il/Perkins/index.html
“Comprised of the Israel Philharmonic principal players and other top ranking Israeli principal players and soloists under the direction of its Music Director and Conductor Ada Pelleg.” The Israel String Ensemble performs regularly at the Haifa International Music Festival and has been recorded for broadcasting, and has toured in the US and Europe.
http://www.haifamusic.co.il/stringensemble/
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the world’s premier symphony orchestras is led by music director Zubin Mehta. The web site provides concert and ticket information which is especially useful to those living in or visiting Israel, or wishing to catch a performance on tour.
http://www.ipo.co.il/
Under the direction of Avi Ostrowsky, the Kibbutz Orchestra consists of members from kibbutzim all over Israel. The orchestra performs about 120 concerts a year in different venues. They often perform with choirs and also in staged opera. The program repertoire consists primarily of western classical music with a good sprinkling of new compositions by Israeli composers.
http://www.kibbutz-orchestra.co.il/
“The Israel Contemporary Players was founded in 1991 with the aim of performing the best classical chamber ensemble repertoire of the 20th century – most of which had never been performed in Israel. Members of the Israel Contemporary Players are drawn mainly from the ranks of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra with the addition of other outstanding musicians from Israel and abroad.” The website has a list of musicians, their repertoire, and contact information. It also has the season concert series listings for Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
http://www.mitriya.com/icp/
Film and ballet composer Frank Ilfman’s website. There is a biography and discography
www.frankilfman.com
Based in London, Ontario, Canada. This professional Klezmer ensemble was launched in the spring of 1993. The group has developed an extensive repertoire of Klezmer, Yiddish theatre music and Ladino.
http://www.empath.on.ca/hotlatkes/
Budowitz is an ensemble that plays nineteenth century klezmer music on original instruments. The musicians in this group provide a sound steeped both in musicological and historical knowledge as well as the subtlety and coloration described by the reviewers as “pure emotion.” Budowitz is staffed by leading lights in the klezmer world including Joshua Horowitz and Merlin Shepherd. Of special note is an interview with Budowitz as well as a history of klezmer.
http://members.styria.com/budowitz/
Klezmer and other Jewish music consisting of Alan Sweifach, clarinet ; Jay Sweifach, keyboards(synthesizer); and Jim Bazewicz, drums. They have 3 CDs: Generation to Generation, Sounds of the Shtetl, and their third CD is On Second Avenue, consisting of Yiddish Vaudeville and the Lower East Side songs. Contact: (908) 276-5245 or email:HSTroupe@aol.com
American Jazz pianist and composer, described by The New Yorker as “a poet of a pianist”. Hersch has been awarded several residencies at the MacDowell Colony, including in February, 2006, when his CD Fred Hersch in Amsterdam: Live at the Bimhuis (Palmetto Records) will also be released. He tours widely in the United States and Europe. Hersch has reached outstanding acclaim in the jazz world, such that a Jazziz magazine writer stated: “few jazz pianists have ever struck as beguiling a balance between technique, feeling, insight and imagination…Hersch s engagement with each of these songs is so complete that he evokes the sort of secret meanings words cannot. Besides critical claim, Hersch composes ‘classical’ music, and has won a 2003 Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for composition, a Rockefeller Fellowship for a composition residency at the Bellagio Center in Italy and two Grammy® nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.…
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The purpose of the Hazamir Helsinki Choir is to maintain and promote the Jewish musical tradition. Hazamir is a mixed voice choir, and has been since 1917. Singers come both from Helsinki’s Jewish congregation along with members of other music groups. Today, the choir s repertoire consists mainly of Hebrew and Yiddish language songs. Additionally, the choir sings songs in Finnish, Swedish, and, more recently, in Russian. A large part of the choir s Yiddish language repertoire is arranged for this choir and, therefore, unique. The Choir s long-time director, Eva Jacob, has made a number of arrangements for the choir, and also brought the Russian-Jewish tradition of choral singing into their repertoire. The Choir appears regularly and is active in a range of festivals and music events.…
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Ruby Harris plays the blues and “jazmer” –klezmer violin. His website has some music clips and short history of his work. Several recordings are featured. Contact Information: 6645 N. California / 303, Chicago, IL 60645 . call 773-465-6565
http://www.rubyharrismusic.com
Piano and Flute duet, perform classical and Jewish music. Biographical information and clips of music available on the website.
http://www.halilduo.com/
The Halevi Choral Society is a professional Jewish choir located in Chicago, IL under the direcction of Judith Karzen. Founded as a community chorus in 1926 by Harry Coopersmith and Hyman Reznick, the choral group, devotes its entire repertoire to Jewish music. Styles include liturgical, Israeli, Yiddish, Ladino and secular Jewish music. The Choral group presents many new works and commissions compositions. The website includes contact information, a history, a mission statement and a concert schedule.
http://www.vjc.org/halevi/
Formed in 1977, Habrera Hativeet has performed around the world with Shlomo Bar, the founder, and features Sephardic and Eastern music fused with modern Israel. Bar, born in Rabat, Morocco, composes most of the group’s songs. He plays drums and flute and also arranges much of the music. The rest of the band is: Manashe Sasson, on Santur; Nitsan-Ken Razel, violin; Samson Khamkar on violin, the sitar and the flute; Ilan Ben-Ami, guitar; Yael Offenbach, Tabla; and Yaacob Segal, piano, ud, and bass. Habrera hativeet have 9 CDs, some of which were originally released in LP. The group tours extensively world wide. The website features a video clip from The 11th Jewish Music Festival in Cracow – Poland, July 2001. Having attended a concert of this group at Brandeis, I can attest to the excitement experienced in a HH concert.…
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David Glukh Klezmer Ensemble announces a release of their first CD, which was recorded live, in New York, in February 2003. Release scheduled for an early April 2003.
http://www.glukh.com
New website for singer Sam Glaser. Pop/Rock Jewish music, and new-age-ortho. Sam Glaser is a singer/songwriter who specializes in religious texts as well as secular music. Nice, pleasant voice. Good arrangements. New CD’s listed on website along with concert schedule and bio information.
http://samglaser.com/
Hailing from Canada, this new “beyond klezmer” band fuzes folk, jazz and rhythm and blues to klezmer. Their website gives information on the performers, sample music with ra files and cd info.
http://jmwc.org/Artists&PerformingGroups/www.pangea.ca/~cameltrn/bothends.htm
Based in Leeds, England, the five-member Freylach Spielers perform all over the United Kingdom. They perform at concerts, functions and workshops and have a CD. The band does educational work with schools promoting Jewish music.
http://www.freylach-spielers.com/frame.htm
A klezmer group in Germany. Young people, many originally from Russia are playing Jewish and Klezmer music. The website contains some contact information, information about various Jewish music, and some samples of music.
http://www.frejlachs.de/index.htm
“Upbeat Jewish music from the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, with Brazilian, gypsy and Celtic influences. The 5-piece ensemble from Sacramento, California band performs mainly in Northern California, but is quite willing to travel for special occasions. The band also performs original compositions. Lots of singing (in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew) and fascinating instrumentation (clawhammer banjo, Brazilian classical guitar, clarinet, accordion, mandolin, string bass) – a wonderful ensemble for your planned concert, wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, fundraiser or other simcha.
Contact: andyrubin@comcast.net
www.freilachmakers.com
Yossi Fraenkel is a London-based Hassidic singer who travels around the world performing widely for Chassidic and Yiddish audiences. In 1998 he performed for British royal family. His recent stage performances include Simchas Beis Hashoevoat at Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Hights, Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately his website doesn’t provide any clips of music, but he has contact information for those wishing bookings.
Phone: +44 (0)7946-359-697.
http://www.shirabesimcha.com/index.htm
Marian Filar. Born 1917, Warsaw, Poland. concert pianist, retired professor at Temple University. Marian Filar escaped the Holocaust and went on to be an accomplished pianist and teacher. His memoir, From Buchenwald to Carnegie Hall, has been published by University of Mississippi Press, 2003.
http://www.upress.state.ms.us/catalog/spring2002/buchenwald_to_carnegie.html
A German-based klezmer band infused with the traditions of old violinists like Abe Schwartz, Leibowitz or Solinski. They play Eastern European klezmer and Monika Feil sings in Yiddish. The band consists of clarinet, violin, accordian and bass.
http://www.fialke.de
Presents an interview with Avraham Fried and also online samples of music from his CD’s. Quite a bit of online music available. One of the top Orthodox music composers with a rock sound to texts in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English. Blends traditional and popular music.
http://www.thinkjewish.com/fried_music.html
If you want to listen to Irish music, but still support a Jewish group in Israel, then this is for you. Michal and Gal Shachar, and Eitan Hoffer along with former Riverdance percussionist, Abe Doron, founded a group that is touring Israel performing traditional Irish music. Based in Ma’ale Zvia, in the Galilee, the group, Evergreen, Yarok Ad in Hebrew, plays a host of various instruments. They have also composed some original songs in the genre. The website gives some information on purchasing a CD and going to their concerts. Maybe the music will make Israel greener, (but a little more rain would help as well). One can always hope– and that’s the brilliance of planting the Irish sound in the rockier soil of Israel. Sweet.…
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Six musicians from Chicago got together and are creating original music, some lyrics taken from traditional texts. Musical influences are eclectic, reflecting “rock, folk, reggae, bluegrass, Middle Eastern, and jazz.
http://www.TheWayJewsRock.com/frameset.htm
Israeli. Born 1971 in Holon, Israel. Baritone, pianist and conductor, an accomplished pianist, accompanist and coach, and was a faculty member of the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv University. A recent press release revealed: “Dan began his piano studies at the age of six. He graduated from Thelma Yellin High School, and served in the IDF’s special program for excellent musicians. In 1993, he won first prize in the Francois Shapira Competition as a baritone singer (1993) and performed with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. He participated for several years in the summer academy courses of IVAI – Israel Vocal Arts Institute. During 1995-1998 Dan sang in various roles at the New Israeli Opera and was also a faculty member at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University.…
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A modern “Galilean” Israeli band with roots in world music, blending styles of many cultures. Website includes mp3 sound clips from several of their CDs.
http://www.essev-bar.co.il
Turkish musicians performing Judeo-Espagnol songs and Sephardic music. Janet was born in Ankara in 1965 and Jak was born in Ýstanbul in 1958. Together they have made several albums, including Judeo Espanyol Ezgiler (1989) with Erkan Ogur and Antik Bir Hüzün (1992) with Erkan Ogur and Okay Temiz. Also, Nezih Yesilnil, (Bass); Murat Ozbey, Bülent Ortacgil and Erkan Ogur (Fretless Guitar, Oud)join them for their European concert tours.
http://www.oz-ist.com/janetandjak.html
Don Jacobs, Terran Doehrer, Jutta Distler. According to their press release: “The Ensemble M’chaiya is Chicagoland’s original revival klezmer band, founded in January 1983. Their repertoire includes Sephardic, Yiddish, and Hebrew songs. The band leads folks through line and circle dances… The Ensemble M’chaiya shapes its distinctive sound with mandolin, violin, flute, accordion, guitar, tof, and clarinet. Bouzouki, drum set, and bass, can be added. Band size ranges from duet to sextet. M’chaiya has pleased audiences in concert, at festivals, schools, universities, synagogues, clubs, and parties. Engagements have included two tours of Denmark, Chicago’s P.O.C.E.T. Jewish Festival every time since 1986, a special “Thanks to Scandinavia” commemoration program, National Public Radio, as well as opening a concert for Israel’s famous singer, Yehoram Gaon.” The website includes photos and testimonials.…
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A German ensemble that has put together an album of Jewish songs.
http://www.draj.de/
The cantor from Ashkelon, Israel, who keeps the Moroccan liturgical tradition alive and well is an international sensation. His recordings and concerts are selling wildly in the world music scene and are extraordinary by any standard. He blends traditional Jewish Moroccan music with Muslim and Spanish flemenco sounds, to name a few. Well worth investigation.
http://www.piranha.de/records/english/all_1260.html
Gerard Edery, with a wonderful baritone voice, and a classical guitar master performer, often performs Sephardic and his own original compositions. He has several recordings as well as a songbook of his music. Edery is a member of several groups, including The Sons of Sepharad, The Gerard Edery Ensemble, Flamenco Sepharad, and the Gerard Edery/Laura Wetzler Duo
http://www.gerardedery.com/
“The repertoire of the Doina Klezmer Quartet consists of the traditional Eastern European klezmer music arranged by the band, but also of new, own Finnish and Northern influences creatively combining klezmer music composed by Sampo Lassila. In the music of Doina Klezmer otherwise distance musical elements are combined in a special and unique way. These musicians regard highly the tradition and also improvisation has a great importance in their music. Doina Klezmer was established in 1996 and after that the old Jewish music has gained quicly a whole lot of new fans in Finland and the concept of the “Finnish Klezmer” has been presented for the first time in public. Doina Klezmer has given concerts in Helsinki with their artist friends and performed at clubs and concert halls all over Finland.…
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All woman’s quartet of Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jewish music, using tabla, cello, rabel, and other acoustics, plus vocals in Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Persian and Aramaic. Galeet Dardashti, leader, is the granddaughter of Yona Dardashti, one of the most famous singers of Persian classical music in Iran, and daughter of Hazzan Farid Dardashti. Lauren DeAlbert, percussion; Michal Raizen, cello; Emily Pinkerton, violin, rabel, banjo, and secondary vocals. Group based in Austin, Texas. The group has produced a CD by the same name.
http://www.divahn.com/
See: Sophie Solomon’s website includes information about the CD, photos, writings, and information about the performers. Audio clips also available.
http://www.sophiesolomon.com/
This band, formed in the 1970’s at the Diaspora Yeshiva in Jerusalem, combines American bluegrass, rock and country music with the chassidic nigun. They gained fame after garnering prizes at the Chassidic Music Festival in Israel in the late 1970’s. Today the band consists of eight members and has produced six albums including Melave Malke, At the Gate of Return, The Diaspora Yeshiva Band, and Land of Our Fathers. Samples of their style are available in Real Audio on their website. They sing in both Hebrew and English.
http://www.diasporaband.com/bio.php
Bob Cohen formed Di Naye Kapelye, a klezmer ensemble, to “present Carpathian klezmer music in its most authentic form. A member of the Jewish Music Research Center at Budapest’s ELTE University, Bob has done extensive field research in klezmer and Yiddish music in Eastern Europe, the United States, and Israel. A founding member of the Budapester Klezmer Band, Bob has also performed and toured with Budowitz.” The website contains information about the group, its members, links and photos, a discography and articles including “Jewish Musicians in Moldavia” a translation of an article by Itzik Schwartz.
http://www.dinayekapelye.com/DNKfront.htm
Den Flygande Bokrullen is a five-man group that plays ‘Klezmer’ music offering background, music samples, photos and links.
http://home7.swipnet.se/~w-75598/e_klez.htm
A three person group of violin, cello and doumbek that intertwines musical traditions of Classical, Middle Eastern and Klezmer with a twist of jazz. They have two CDs, Davka and Lavy’s Dream.
http://www.davkamusic.com/
Jewish Band for the South African Jewish Wedding Market.
Adam Davis +27-82-452 3317
http://www.jewishwedding.co.za
Daniel Akiva, guitarist, appears as soloist, in Classical Trio (oboe, cello and guitar) and in ensembles presenting music inspired by the Judeo-Spanish tradition, with the Ladino language; a synthesis of Spanish and older Hebrew. Daniel Akiva’s repertoire includes works from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Special emphasis is placed in his programs on original music written by him or for him by Israeli composers.
http://www.monica-fallon.com/artists/daniel_akiva.htm
Singer for Azamra, a movement of the Breslov Chassidim. CD “ASHRENU!” Website has biographical information, photos and sound bites. “The Azamra Institute is dedicated to the dissemination of Torah spirituality, healthcare and healing through educational programs, quality publications and Internet outreach. Founded in 1986 by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum, the Azamra Institute is an independent non-profit organization incorporated in Israel, the U.S. and Canada.”
http://www.azamra.org/HTML/song.htm
Vanja Cvelbar has a band, The Original Klezmer Ensemble, in Trieste, Italy, that has released two CD’s:Klezmatic Tantz and Halleluja. Contact information on the website.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/173/the_original_klezmer_ensem.html
Craig Taubman has been dedicated for years writing new contemporary music for Jewish children. His pleasant and accessible style will be appealing for many American and Canadian children and others who know English and some Hebrew.
http://www.craignco.com/main.html
Part of a greater website selling lots of country Yossi items including a magazine, the tapes and CD’s of Country Yossi are presented.
http://www.countryyossi.com/
Contains information about Dr. Judith R. Cohen of Canada and samples of Sephardic music. She performs and lectures and is a founding member of “Gerineldo, the internationally acclaimed Moroccan Judeo-Spanish ensemble, and is the founder-director of Nova Tradicija, an a capella ensemble specializing in Balkan singing.”
http://www.yorku.ca/faculty/academic/judithc/judith_cohen.htm
This site is mounted by a band founded by students at of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion who play Jewish music with others affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Unusual at this site is an index of downloadable arrangements of klezmer music.
http://members.aol.com/klezme2/
An Early Music ensemble that performs Jewish Early Music regularly. Matthew Peaceman arranges and performs concerts of Jewish contemporary music as well. This ensemble is located in Germany. Contact info:
Matthew Peaceman, Domitianstr. 42, D-55126 Mainz, Germany.
Tel. **49-(0)6131-473968 . Fax. **49-(0)6131-473971 . email: mpeaceman@mpeaceman.com
http://cimento.mpeaceman.com
The Chuzpenics is a klemzer group performing around Germany and Poland. Their website is bilingual in German and English and has a listing of concert dates, information about their recordings and some online samples in several formats. Each of the musicians comes from different musical backgrounds.
http://www.chuzpenics.de
Reuben Hoch, percussionist, active on the New York jazz scene, became a member of the Israeli jazz quartet Zaviot. The Chassidic Jazz Project formed in 1998, combines “traditional Chassidic melodies with contemporary jazz arrangements.” Others in the project are Tom Lippincott, guitar; Marie Randel, violin; Barbara Corcillo, cellist; Felipe Lamoglia, saxophone; Dan Feiszli, bass; Robert Thomas Jr., percussionist. The “Chassidic Jazz Project blends elements of jazz, fusion and new world.”
http://www.chassidicjazz.com
A yeshivish group, formed from several independent musicians with long careers in the music business, has formed a simcha band. Naftali Finkel, composer arranger, keyboardist; Sam Glaser, cowriter, co-composer, engineered and mixed the album; Michael Ian Elias, vocals and guitar; Moshe Schachter, vocals and keyboard. Website high on graphics and low on information, although there are several good clips. Located out of L.A.
http://chashmal.com/
Composer and singers in an a capella simcha group. Chaim arranges music in tight harmonies. Born in Miami, he currently resides in Brooklyn. Az Yashir is a general simcha group. The website includes a few online music clips.
http://www.azyashir.com/index.html
A website for the klezmer group Casco Bay Tummlers located in Portland, Maine, is now available online. The group includes wonderful photos of their recent trip to Vilna, Lithuania. The website contains contact information, reviews, interviews, articles, contact information and links to other sites.
http://www.cascobaytummlers.com
Women’s a cappella group performing in the Washington, D.C. area. They are available for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Brises/Baby Namings, Weddings and other Simchas.Members include singer-songwriter Rene Boni; lilting soprano harmonist, Sheila Smallberg Cohen; Debbie Fink, Calliope’s violinist and choreographer, sign language interpretator Debbie Glick; Deborah Neipris Hendler, alto; Sandy Lederman, voice and sometime keyboardist.
Budowitz is an ensemble that plays nineteenth century klezmer music on original instruments. The musicians in this group provide a sound steeped both in musicological and historical knowledge as well as the subtlety and coloration described by the reviewers as “pure emotion.” Budowitz is staffed by leading lights in the klezmer world including Joshua Horowitz and Merlin Shepherd. Of special note is an interview with Budowitz as well as a history of klezmer.
http://members.styria.com/budowitz/
The first Jewish band founded in Hungary since the Holocaust, the Budapester Klezmer band was started in 1990 by Ferenc Javori. The tremendous goal they set for themselves is the reclamation of Jewish musical traditions in Hungary. The group has participated in international music festivals and has 3 CDs, one published by Harmonia Mundi.
http://www.datanet.hu/klezmer/
The cantor of the Comunidad Israelita del Uruguay has a webpage dedicated to his teachers and a vitae. In Spanish and English. He includes audio clips of cantor and choir with enjoyable melodies and arrangements.
http://www.arroba.nu/jazan/
Commercial site promoting the music of David Broza, popular Israeli rock star. Includes a biography and discography, quotes from critics and some sound samples.
http://Broza.com/
Homepage of the Brave Old World klezmer band, this site includes both an English and German version, with complete discography, biography, contact information, tour dates and accessible sound samples. (One of my favorite groups!)
http://braveoldworld.com/
Brass Hebraica is a brass quintet devoted to Jewish Music. Members of the group reside in Connecticut, but the group is available for performances anywhere. Five very accomplished musicians arrange and perform Judaica brass quintet using eclectic styles. Brass Hebraica is not to be confused with Klezmer. The instrumentation includes: 2 trumpets, french horn, tuba and trombone. For further information contact: Gary Knepler, Director at 120 Harvester Road in Monroe, CT 06468 (203-268-6040) or by email.
gadmoshe@aol.com
This loosely configured ensemble, established in 1993 under the auspices of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute, is currently based in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, California. The group is made up of professional and recording studio musicians. They perform extensively in the area and on television.
http://members.aol.com/bbiklezmer/index.htm
Pianist/singer/songwriter and public school music teacher, Mike Boxer released Erev Chaim as a way to introduce Jewish music to teens not familiar with any. Boxer hopes that results in some Jewish youth who emerge more enthusiastic about the music of their faith. This “independently marketed concept album brings the face of cutting-edge mainstream pop to today’s Jewish music.” The track list contains — heimish, liturgical-oriented classics like Shalom Aleichem, Bilvavi, and Acheinu — but a good portion of the music features sounds typically from the forefront of modern pop, rock and R& B. Seven songs are revamped covers; seven are Boxer’s own original material. Boxer, who grew up in Spring Valley, NY and attended Binghamton University where he served as music director of Kashkeshet, a collegiate Jewish a cappella group,– has perfect pitch and plays a myriad of instruments.…
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di bostoner klezmer is a trio of talented musicians which plays a full range of klezmer, traditional Jewish, Hasidic and Israeli music – with swing on the side. Public concerts (from Chamber of Commerce to library to theater), simkhes and holiday celebrations, and specialized venues (nursing homes, kids’ camps) round out our resume. For more information, visit www.yiddishmusic.com, contact Dena (dobe) Ressler at 781-643-1957, or email us at: klezmer@yiddishmusic.com. Di Bostoner Klezmer’s CD is expected during the spring of 2004.
A Minnesota musician has mounted a website about his programs, recordings and band. Sample reviews are offered as references about the quality of his work.
http://www.markbloom.com/
Binyomin Ginzberg has coined a new word to define his Jewish music: “Yeshivish”. It defines one of the musical styles he performs with his small ensemble in New York. The website is of his local New York wedding band. They play “Yeshivish, Chassidic, Israeli, Klezmer, and Contemporary Jewish music as well as Jazz and Classical music.” Contact information provided.
http://www.jewishmusician.com/index.html
Theodore Bikel: actor, singer and political activist. Known for his portrayals of Tevye the Milkman in more than 2000 performances of Fiddler on the Roof. Bikel is an advocate of Yiddish folk song. Bikel has been active in organizations dealing with the arts, theatre, and the intersection with government, business and regulation. He has written an autobiography called Theo: The Autobiography of Theodore Bikel. His website includes biographical sketches, lecture topics, speeches, sound clips and a schedule.
http://www.bikel.com
Bios, Reviews, Sound Samples, Pictures, Schedule are all featured on the website. “Since their formation in 1998, Toronto’s Beyond the Pale has emerged as one of the most exciting ensembles in the Canadian klezmer, folk, and world music scenes. Rooted firmly in the spirit and forms of klezmer music, the group flirts with elements of other eastern-European folk styles (Romanian, Roma, Balkan) as well as modern and North American styles (bluegrass, reggae, funk) to forge a unique contemporary sound. Known both for inventive arrangements of traditional material and for compelling original compositions, their music has been described as “post-modern klezmer in all the best senses” (KlezmerShack— www.klezmershack.com) and “an altogether original mix” (Victoria Times-Colonist). The band performs at music festivals, concert theatres, community and private events, and has toured across Canada and parts of the United States.…
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Formed in the fall of 1996 by students of the University of California at Berkeley. They perform in the Bay area.
http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/students/scott/musproj/klez.html
