take one of the wildest approaches to klezmer, the traditional dance music of the Eastern European Jews. Although their music is heavily influenced by the recordings of
in the 1940s and 1950s, their lyrics comment on a wide variety of political and social issues and have led the group to be labeled "the planet's radical Jewish roots band."
The original members of
the Klezmatics --
Dave Lindsay (bass), Rob Chavez (clarinet),
Alicia Svigals (fiddle) -- were recruited through an ad in the Village Voice in 1985. Trumpet player
Frank London of
the Klezmer Conservatory Band joined the group soon afterward. Within a few weeks, the band was expanded with the addition of
Lorin Sklamberg (vocals, accordion),
Margot Leverett (clarinet), and
David Licht (drums). Initially calling themselves "Hortzeplotz," they soon renamed themselves
the Klezmatics, a play on words inspired by the rock band
the Plasmatics.
Despite their off-the-wall approach,
the Klezmatics are held in high esteem for their musical virtuosity. The group recorded two albums with classical violinist
Itzhak Perlman, 1995's
In the Fiddler's House and 1996's
Live in the Fiddler's House. In 1998, they collaborated with Israeli vocalist
Chava Alberstein on an album titled
The Well. In 2006,
the Klezmatics released
Wonder Wheel, an album seven years in the making that features the late
Woody Guthrie's lyrics over Eastern European, klezmer, Latin, Celtic, Afro-Caribbean, and folk-flavored music.
–
Craig Harris, Rovi