THE KLEZMATICS FEATURING JOSHUA NELSON Brother Moses Smote the Water THU / MAR 29 / 7:30 PM

Lorin Sklamberg, lead vocals, accordion, guitar, piano Frank London, trumpet keyboards, vocals Paul Morrissett, bass, tsimbl, vocals Matt Darriau, kaval, clarinet, saxophone, vocals Lisa Gutkin, violin, vocals Joshua Nelson, vocals Richie Barshay, drums

Tonight’s program will be announced from the stage. There will be no intermission.

12 MAR/APR 2018 ABOUT THE SHOW forgotten art form. They have performed in more than 20 countries and released 10 For nearly 20 years, The Klezmatics have albums to date—most recently Apikorsim, been the standard bearers of politically as well as the two-CD Live at Town Hall, and socially conscious party music for recorded in their home base of New York the head, heart and tuchis. The New York and released in celebration of the band’s band has been constantly reinventing and silver anniversary. On their GRAMMY®- stretching the boundaries of the genre winning 2006 album Wonder Wheel, The while staying rooted to the source. The Klezmatics set a dozen previously unsung Klezmatics, known for their unique blend Woody Guthrie lyrics to music, widening of melodic mysticism and improvisational their stylistic base by largely diverging activism have once again turned their from klezmer. They have also recently music inside out, exposing the complexity served as the subject of a feature-length of Jewish identity, Black identity, human documentary film, The Klezmatics: On identity. Only in America could Jewish Holy Ground. slaves in Egypt inspire White Southern Christians, who in turn stirred Black During their quarter-century existence, Christians to sing about emancipation, The Klezmatics have collaborated with who in turn inspired an African-American such brilliant artists as violinist Itzhak Jewish gospel singer named Joshua Perlman, Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Nelson. Nelson descends from a long line Tony Kushner and Israeli vocal icon Chava of Black Jews, their very existence calling Alberstein, plus many other prominent into question the dichotomous black/ artists working within multiple genres. white thinking typically placed on religion, Today, with three original members— race and culture in America. They call it Lorin Sklamberg (lead vocals, accordion, the gospel sound. But technically it is soul guitar, piano), Frank London (trumpet, Jewish music. If you can be Black and put keyboards, vocals) and Paul Morrissett soul in Christian music, you can be Black (bass, tsimbl, vocals)—still on board, and put soul in Jewish music! These are alongside longtime members Matt Darriau two communities that have been divided (kaval, clarinet, saxophone, vocals) Lisa by certain political leaders. From that Gutkin (violin, vocals) and Richie Barshay standpoint, this is really, really great. For (drums) the Klezmatics are without a both communities to come together. doubt the most successful proponents of klezmer music in the world. BIOS Since their emergence more than 25 JOSHUA NELSON started what has been called “a revolution in Jewish music” by years ago, THE KLEZMATICS have raised the bar for Eastern European Jewish combining Jewish liturgical lyrics with music, made aesthetically, politically and one of America’s best-known indigenous musically interesting recordings, inspired musical forms, gospel. For Nelson, kosher future generations, created a large body gospel is a way to claim both parts of his of work that is enduring, and helped identity as a Black Jew. In his twenties, to change the face of contemporary he became widely celebrated as a gospel Yiddish culture. Often called a “Jewish singer, continuing in Mahalia Jackson’s roots band,” The Klezmatics have led a legacy, a celebrated gospel singer and one popular revival of this ages-old, nearly of Nelson’s heroes. Nelson has performed

MAR/APR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 13 around the world, for Presidents, congregations, major music festivals—and for Oprah, who named him a “Next Big Thing.” He has produced a stellar album, Mi Chamocha, sung with stars from Aretha Franklin to The Klezmatics and served as the subject of the acclaimed documentary film Keep on Walking. Nelson also passes on his musical gift as an artist in residence at Jewish congregations across the country, including at his home synagogue of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, a Reform congregation in South Orange, New Jersey. Whatever the venue, Joshua Nelson, the Prince of Kosher Gospel, brings people—and cultures—together in joyous song.

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