The Klezmatics (USA)

The Klezmatics have spent more than four decades reshaping the sound of klezmer and introducing it to audiences around the world. Rooted in the rich tradition of secular Jewish music, they have infused it with jazz, Latin and Balkan influences, punk energy, gospel, Americana, and contemporary folk. Deeply respectful of their musical heritage yet never confined by it, they have continually pushed the genre in new directions. Their Grammy Award-winning album Wonder Wheel, inspired by the lyrics of Woody Guthrie, is a perfect example of that fearless approach.

At Slunovrat Winter Edition, they will present their latest album, We Were Made for These Times – a powerful response to the social and political realities of today, particularly in the United States. Created in collaboration with musicians from around the world and performed in English, Yiddish, and Spanish, the album once again shows that klezmer is anything but a museum piece. In the hands of The Klezmatics, it remains a living, evolving tradition with something vital to say about the world we live in today.