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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 language tunes with other types of more contemporary music of differing origins. They have also recorded pieces in Aramaic language and Austro-Bavarian.
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.
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.
Wonder Wheel, released in 2006, showcased lyrics by American Folk music 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”; , 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.
| ! Track No. ! Title |
| Ershter Vals |
| A Glezele Vayn |
| Tantst Yidelekh |
| Russian Shers |
| Bilovi |
| Dzhankoye |
| Ale Brider |
| Czernowitzer Bulgar |
| Mazl Tov, Zeydns Tants |
| Schneider-Zwiefacher |
| Rebns Khasene / Khasene Tants |
| Di Zen Vet Aruntergeyn |
| ! Track No. ! Title ! Notes |
| Shprayz Ikh Mir |
| Kolomeyke |
| Moroccan Game |
| An Undoing World |
| Mizmor Shir Lehanef is the first Yiddish anthem written about marijuana. |
| Shvartz Un Vays (Black and White) |
| Lomir Heybn Dem Bekher |
| Sirba Matey Matey |
| Mipney Ma |
| Beggars' Dance |
| Shnaps-Nign |
| Interlude |
| Dybbuk Shers |
| Fradde's Song |
| Der Shvatser Mi Adir (The Black Benediction) |
| Hinokh Yafo |
| Mipney Ma (reprise) |
| Eyn Mol |
| ! Track No. ! Title |
| Klezmorimlekh mayne libinke |
| Kats un Moyz |
| Loshn-Koydesh |
| Tepel |
| I Ain't Afraid |
| Di Gayster |
| Yo Riboyn Olam |
| Bulgars No. 2 |
| Barikadn |
| Davenen |
| St. John's Nign |
| Hevil iz Havolim |
| Makht oyf! |
| Perets-Tanst |
| I Ain't Afraid (English edit) |
| ! Track No. ! Title ! Notes |
| 2:38 |
| 9:17 |
| 6:40 |
| Shnirele Perele |
| Walk In Jerusalem |
| Go Down Moses |
| Moses Smote The Water |
| Oh Mary Don't You Weep |
| Didn't It Rain |
| Ale Brider |
| ! Disc No. ! Track No. ! Title | |
| Man In A Hat | |
| Bobe Tanz (feat. Margot Leverett) | |
| Dzhankoye | |
| Rhythm / Jews With Horns Medley: Fun Tashlikh / Fisherlid (feat. David Krakauer) | |
| Dybbuk Suite: Mipney Ma / Beggars' Dance / Shnaps-nign / Di Gayster / Fradde's Song / Der Shvartser Mi Adir / Hinokh Yafo / Mipney Ma | |
| Di Krenitse | |
| St. John's Nign | |
| Brother Moses Suite: Eyliyohu Havnovi | |
| Brother Moses Suite: Elijah Rock (feat. Joshua Nelson) | |
| Davenen | |
| I Ain't Afraid (feat. Adrienne Cooper) | |
| Gonna Get Through This World (feat. Susan McKeown) | |
| Holy Ground | |
| Moroccan Game | |
| Hanuka Gelt | |
| Medley: Lolly Lo / NY Psycho Freylekhs | |
| Shnirele, Perele | |
| Ale Brider | |
| Tepel |
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