Event Program
The Klezmatics and Friends: Celebrating 40 Years of Radical Joy
THE KLEZMATICS AND FRIENDS: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF RADICAL JOY
THUR, SEP 24 | 7PM
Featuring
The Klezmatics
Frank London trumpet
Lorin Sklamberg vocals, accordion, piano
Lisa Gutkin violin, vocals
Matt Darriau clarinet, saxophone, kaval
Paul Morrissett bass, tsimbl
Richie Barshay drums, percussion
With Special Guests
Janis Ian
Janis Siegel
Susan McKeown
Lavender Light Gospel Choir
Emma's Revolution
Danny Blume
A Note on the 20th Anniversary of Wonder Wheel
In 2006, The Klezmatics released Wonder Wheel, setting previously unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics to original music. The album won the GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album and became one of the defining projects in the band’s history. Its 20th Anniversary Edition returns this year with previously unreleased archival recordings and the album’s first-ever vinyl release.
The project grew from the band’s long relationship with the Guthrie family and archive. Nora Guthrie, Woody Guthrie’s daughter, has played a central role in bringing her father’s unpublished lyrics and legacy to new generations of artists.
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TONIGHT’S Artists
The Klezmatics
For forty years, the GRAMMY-winning band The Klezmatics have transformed Yiddish-rooted music into a fearless global language of resistance, celebration, and cultural continuity. Their music draws on klezmer and Yiddish tradition while embracing gospel, Latin rhythms, contemporary composition, improvisation, and sounds from around the world.
This year, the band celebrates its 40th anniversary with We Were Made for These Times, its first new studio album in nearly a decade. The album brings together an extraordinary community of collaborators and reflects themes that have defined The Klezmatics from the beginning: immigration and exile, solidarity, protest, hope, and resilience.
For forty years, the GRAMMY-winning band The Klezmatics have transformed Yiddish-rooted music into a fearless global language of resistance, celebration, and cultural continuity. Their music draws on klezmer and Yiddish tradition while embracing gospel, Latin rhythms, contemporary composition, improvisation, and sounds from around the world.
This year, the band celebrates its 40th anniversary with We Were Made for These Times, its first new studio album in nearly a decade. The album brings together an extraordinary community of collaborators and reflects themes that have defined The Klezmatics from the beginning: immigration and exile, solidarity, protest, hope, and resilience.
Janis Ian
GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Janis Ian has built an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades. From “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen” to an extensive body of songwriting, recording and writing, Ian remains one of American music’s most distinctive voices.
GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Janis Ian has built an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades. From “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen” to an extensive body of songwriting, recording and writing, Ian remains one of American music’s most distinctive voices.
Janis Siegel
A nine-time GRAMMY winner and longtime member of The Manhattan Transfer, Janis Siegel is one of the defining vocalists of contemporary jazz and vocal music. Her career encompasses jazz, pop, Brazilian music, and collaborations with artists around the world.
A nine-time GRAMMY winner and longtime member of The Manhattan Transfer, Janis Siegel is one of the defining vocalists of contemporary jazz and vocal music. Her career encompasses jazz, pop, Brazilian music, and collaborations with artists around the world.
Susan McKeown
GRAMMY-winning Irish singer, songwriter, and composer Susan McKeown has spent her career exploring the intersections of traditional Irish music, contemporary songwriting, and global musical traditions. A longtime friend and collaborator of The Klezmatics, she has been an important presence in New York’s adventurous roots-music community.
GRAMMY-winning Irish singer, songwriter, and composer Susan McKeown has spent her career exploring the intersections of traditional Irish music, contemporary songwriting, and global musical traditions. A longtime friend and collaborator of The Klezmatics, she has been an important presence in New York’s adventurous roots-music community.
Lavender Light Gospel Choir
Founded in New York City in 1985, Lavender Light Gospel Choir celebrates the Black gospel tradition while creating a welcoming musical and spiritual home for the LGBTQ+ community. The choir brings together gospel music, social justice, community, and an exuberant tradition of collective singing.
Emma’s Revolution
Emma’s Revolution is the award-winning activist folk duo of Pat Humphries and Sandy O. Known for songs that bring together harmony, humor, and social conscience, their music has been sung at demonstrations, vigils, and community gatherings across the country.
Emma’s Revolution is the award-winning activist folk duo of Pat Humphries and Sandy O. Known for songs that bring together harmony, humor, and social conscience, their music has been sung at demonstrations, vigils, and community gatherings across the country.
Danny Blume
GRAMMY-winning producer, guitarist, and engineer Danny Blume has worked across an eclectic range of American and global music. A longtime Klezmatics collaborator, Blume produced the band’s new album, We Were Made for These Times.
MORE INFORMATION
This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Seedlings Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Charina Endowment Fund, Susan Bay Nimoy, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Joseph and Joan Cullman Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, and the Seedtime Fund.
This program is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Music programming also receives support from an endowment established by The Bydale Foundation, Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Christopher and Barbara Dixon, the Herman Goldman Foundation, William and Angela Haines, Walter and Marge Scheuer, and Zabar’s.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Produced by Roots by Chords Music.
Developed with the involvement and support of the Woody Guthrie Center and Guthrie family.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance. The Klezmatics are grateful for support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Atran Foundation.
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Artistic Director (1990-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Darren Critz Director of Performing Arts Programs
*in memoriam
