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Tier 3 · vertical & regional
The Klezmatics
Group · United States · New York · formed 1986
American musical group
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Also known as Klezmatics, the & Bulgars · クレズマティックス
Timeline
16 events▣ Album 11+ Member joins 2◆ Formed 1★ Debut release 1− Member leaves 1
1980s
· Member joins
Alicia Svigals joins the band
original
source: musicbrainz
· Debut release
Debut release: Shvaygn = Toyt
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
· Member leaves
Alicia Svigals leaves the band
original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Lisa Gutkin joins the band
source: musicbrainz
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography463 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1356962255
Biography
The Klezmatics are an American klezmer music group based in New York City, who have achieved fame singing in several languages, most notably mixing older Yiddish tunes with other types of more contemporary music of differing origins. They have also recorded pieces in Aramaic and Bavarian.
Personnel
Current members include composers Matt Darriau, alto saxophone, clarinet, and kaval, and Frank London, on trumpet and keys, Paul Morrissett playing bass and tsimbl cimbalom, vocalist Lorin Sklamberg on accordion and piano, Lisa Gutkin on violin and vocals, and David Licht or Richie Barshay on drums.
Past members include David Krakauer, Margot Leverett, Kurt Bjorling and Michael Lowenstern on the clarinet, Alicia Svigals on violin, and David Lindsay on bass. In addition, Boo Reiners, Susan McKeown, Joshua Nelson, Chava Alberstein, and Aaron Alexander have frequently collaborated with the band.
History
The group formed in New York's East Village in 1986. The performers present at the first rehearsal were Frank London, Lorin Sklamberg, Margot Leverett, Alicia Svigals, David Licht, and David Lindsay. They have appeared numerous times on television, including on the PBS Great Performances series with Itzhak Perlman. They have collaborated with the Romani virtuoso Ferus Mustafov, Israeli singers Chava Alberstein and Ehud Banay, American singer Arlo Guthrie, and Moroccan musicians The Master Musicians of Jajouka. In Berlin, they worked with poet Allen Ginsberg. Trumpeter Frank London composed the score for Pilobolus Dance Theater's work, Davenen, which the band performed. The members come from different musical backgrounds. Drummer Richie Barshay plays jazz with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Before joining the band, violinist Lisa Gutkin had been playing bluegrass/Celtic music.
The Klezmatics' 20th-anniversary concert took place at New York City's Town Hall on March 5, 2006. That event is included in the documentary chronicling the band's history and significance, The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground (2010). Five years later, they recorded a 25th-anniversary CD at the same location.
Recordings
The Klezmatics have recorded for Rounder, Piranha, Xenophile, Flying Fish, and the now-defunct Jewish Music Group.
Wonder Wheel, released in 2006, showcased lyrics by American folk icon Woody Guthrie, selected by the band from the Woody Guthrie archive. Although the music draws primarily from a wide range of Americana, not klezmer, the album won a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary World Music Album. Another album of Guthrie material, with music drawn from the band's more usual Yiddish, Eastern European Jewish music roots, Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah, was released the same year. Guthrie's granddaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie, has appeared with them. Other key collaborations include the music to Tony Kushner's adaptation of The Dybbuk, "A Dybbuk: Between Two Worlds”; The Well: Klezmatics with Chava Alberstein, in which poetry by several prominent Yiddish poets was set to music; and Brother Moses Smote the Water with Jewish gospel-style singer Joshua Nelson.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 16 | 91.8th |
| Recording span (years) | 37 | 76.5th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 11 studio albums)
Albums · 11
1989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 47:55
A1Ershter Vals4:05A2A Glezele Vayn2:25A3Tantst Yidelekh4:32A4Russian Shers5:10A5Bilvovi7:41B1Dzhankoye2:55B2Ale Brider3:24B3Czernowitzer Bulgar3:15B4Mazl Tov, Zeydns Tants7:08B5Schneider-Zwiefacher2:54B6Rebns Khasene / Khasene Tants4:261991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:06:46
1Fun tashlikh5:482NY psycho freylekhs4:553Di sapozhkelekh4:074Clarinet yontev6:125Araber tants4:486Di zun vet aruntergyn4:137Tsivieles bulgar2:188Violin Doyna4:229Honikzaft4:1810Bulgar a la Klezmatics6:3411Shnirele Perele6:1212Klezmatic Fantasy: Der yidischer soldat in die trentches5:0013Klezmatic Fantasy: Bukoviner freylekhs2:2714Klezmatic Fantasy: Buhusher khosid3:5315Klezmatic Fantasy: Terkish-Bulgarish1:391994 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:00:16
1Man in a Hat3:022Fisherlid8:333Khsidim tants4:174Simkhes-toyre2:315Romanian Fantasy4:406Bulgars / The Kiss6:567Nign3:338Honga3:219In Kamf3:2910Doyna2:1911Freyt aykh, yidlekh4:5712Kale bazetsn1:5613Heyser tartar-tants6:3114Es vilt zikh mir zen2:1915Overture1:521997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 53:22
1Shprayz ikh mir3:042Kolomeyke1:403Moroccan Game2:474An Undoing World3:405Mizmor shir lehanef (Reefer Song)5:146Shvarts un vays4:547Lomir haybn dem bekher4:208Sirba Matey Matey4:079Mipney ma1:3710Beggars' Dance2:2011Shnaps-nign1:5112Interlude0:3613Dybbuk Shers3:1214Fradde's Song3:0415Der shvartser mi adir2:1416Hinokh yafo4:0617Mipney ma4:362002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:07:47
1Klezmorimlekh mayne libinke2:032Kats un moyz5:153Loshn-koydesh5:414Tepel5:045I Ain't Afraid5:116Di gayster5:237Yo riboyn olam6:018Bulgars #24:519Barikadn4:2210Davenen3:5911St. John's nign3:4312Hevl iz havolim5:1113Makht oyf3:1114Perets-tants3:3215I Ain't Afraid (English edit)4:202006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 50:53
1Come When I Call You4:212Mermaid's Avenue4:293Headdy Down4:014Gonna Get Through This World4:025Pass Away4:266Holy Ground4:207Goin' Away to Sea3:458From Here on In2:569Wheel of Life5:2310Condorbird3:2611Orange Blossom Ring3:3712Heaven6:07Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanuka
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:40
1Honeyky Hanuka2:372Happy Joyous Hanuka3:583Gilad and Ziv's Sirba2:554Hanuka Bell3:295(Do the) Latke Flip-Flip4:036Hanukah Tree2:297The Many and the Few6:248Groovy's Freylekhs3:549Hanuka Gelt3:1310Spin Dreydl Spin2:3411Hanuka's Flame4:3312Hanuka Dance5:31Wonder Wheel (Lyrics By Woody Guthrie)
2009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:08:00
1Come When I Call You4:192Mermaids Avenue4:303Headdy Down4:014Gonna Get Through This World4:035Pass Away4:266Holy Ground4:207Goin? Away To Sea3:438From Here On In2:559Wheel Of Life5:2310Condorbird3:2511Orange Blossom Ring3:3812Heaven6:0813Faith Will Heal You3:2314I Take My Penny3:1115Going Up The Mountain4:4916Ilsa Koch5:46אַפיקורסים Apikorsim (Heretics)
2016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:02:21
1Der geler fink (The Yellow Finch)2:482Zol shoyn kumen di geule (May Redemption Come)4:413Der yokh (L'Estaca)4:434Kermeshl in Ades (Party In Odessa)4:015Di nakht (Dark Is The Night)3:466Apikorsim (Heretics)5:017Three-Ring Sirba3:418Vi lang? (How Long?)5:199Ver firt di ale shifn? (Who Guides The Ships?)5:0710Shushan Purim3:4311Green Violin3:1612Der mames shpigl (My Mother's Mirror)3:0713Tayer Yankele (Dear Little Yankl)5:5714Shtetl M.O.5:0215Mazltov2:092021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:23:12
1HoraLité9:032Blut6:143Tish Nign7:524Olem-Haze9:235Dray Fidlen2:206Flarp3:067DeParnu3:578Nign Forgács4:569Tish Nign (Mizrekhdik)3:0710Oylem-Habe5:5711Shlofn Afn Yam7:1712Naftule-Tsikl8:4513Kandel5:3314Beymer0:1815Nign forgács (instrumental)5:242026 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:01:30
1Un du akerst4:042Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportee)4:163We Were Made For These Times4:464Crimean Freylekhs4:495Ikh ken nit zogn vitsn5:036Forty Year Freylekhs5:427Kegn gold fun zun / Tatar Dance5:278Payklers tants (Drummer’s Dance)3:419Lashinke vaysinke7:2110Elegy for the Innocents6:4911I Am Willing3:4412Di tsukunft (El Futuro)5:48
Album · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Between Two WorldsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 23 tracks · 1:16:111Sirba Matey Matey4:07 2Shprayz ihk mir3:03 3Kolomeyke1:41 4Umetik4:16 5Ergets shtil/Baym taykh3:43 6Moroccan Game2:47 7Mizmor shir lehanef (Reefer Song)5:08 8Velkhes meydl s'nemt a bokher2:55 9Eyn mol3:25 10Mipney ma1:37 11Beggar's Dance2:19 12Shnaps-nign1:53 13Interlude0:35 14Dybbuk Shers3:15 15Fradde's Song3:01 16De shvartser mi adir2:14 17Hinokh yafo4:11 18Mipney ma0:42 19Shvarts un vays4:56 20Shnirele perele (live)6:37 21Bulgars/The kiss6:52 22Man in a hat3:01 23Ale brider (live)3:53 | Compilation | 2002 | |
| 2005 | Brother Moses Smote the Water (live from Berlin)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 57:281Eyliyohu Hanovi2:38 2Elijah Rock9:17 3Ki Loy Nue6:40 4Shnirele, Perele8:30 5Walk in Jerusalem5:17 6Go Down Moses7:20 7Moses Smote the Water3:08 8Oh Mary Don't You Weep3:48 9Didn't It Rain5:01 10Ale Brider5:49 | Live | 8 March 2005 | |
| 2008 | Tuml = LebnSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 1:16:381NY Psycho Freylekhs4:57 2Sprayz Ikh Mir3:06 3Shvarts Un Vays4:56 4Man In A Hat3:02 5Fun Tashlikh5:49 6Ershter Vals4:06 7Perets-Tants3:34 8Shnirele, Perele6:12 9Bulgars #2 (Tantsn Un Shpringen)4:53 10Dzankoye2:57 11Davenen4:01 12Kats Un Moyz5:17 13Mizmor Shir Lehanef (Reefer Song)5:17 14Fisherlid8:34 15Sirba Matey Matey4:09 16Ale Brider (live)5:48 | Compilation | 17 October 2008 | |
| 2011 | Live at Town HallSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 1:37:31Disc 1 1Man in a Hat3:21 2Bobe Tanz2:58 3Dzhankoye2:35 4Rhythm + Jews with Horns Medley9:13 5Dybbuk Suite11:49 6Di krenitse3:44 7St. Johns Nign4:13 8Eyliyohu hanovi3:02 9Elijah Rock7:49 Disc 21Davenen4:21 2I Ain't Afraid5:19 3Gonna Get Through This World4:48 4Holy Ground4:48 5Moroccan Game5:08 6Hanuka Gelt3:36 7Medley - Lolly Lo, NY Psycho Freylekhs7:26 8Shnirele, perele7:17 9Ale brider2:55 10Tepel3:09 | Live | April 2011 |
Single · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | L'estaca feat , El Comunero, The KlezmatcisSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:471L'estaca4:47 | 5 June 2026 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put The Klezmatics head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 16 | 91.8th |
| Recording span (years) | 37 | 76.5th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicia Svigals | 1986 | 2002 | original |
| Lisa Gutkin | 2002 | present | |
| David Licht | — | present | |
| Frank London | — | present | |
| Lorin Sklamberg | — | present | |
| Matt Darriau | — | present | |
| Paul Morrissett | — | present | |
| Richie Barshay | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Attribution · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KlezmaticsBigPhoto1_72dpi.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/af6c7228-bcc2-42a5-9129-42071bacd43ediscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/af6c7228-bcc2-42a5-9129-42071bacd43ecore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1751786genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1751786seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Klezmaticsbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Klezmatics
Why this artist is in the database
- List of folk musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: no portrait · Attribution (not displayed: the licence credit is missing)
Wikidata: Q1751786 · MusicBrainz: af6c7228-bcc2-42a5-9129-42071bacd43e
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