GREENE – The Klezmaniacs will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the Sawyer Memorial, 371 Sawyer Road.
In the seven years of existence, the Boston-based Klezmaniacs have evolved from a local teenage band to young professionals.
Founded in 1995 by Cantor Ken Richmond of Temple Israel in Swampscott, Mass., the band began performing at schools, synagogues, nursing homes and community events.
Gradually, the band’s talent, skill, repertoire, personnel, personality and popularity grew. Highlights have included television and radio broadcasts as well as annual appearances at the Anti-Defamation League’s Interfaith Seder, the North Shore’s Kezfest, First Night Beverly and Boston’s Israeli Independence Day Celebration.
In 1999 the Klezmaniacs released their first album, “Nokh a Mohl” (Play It Again!). In the summer of 2000, they traveled to Eastern Europe on a mission to rediscover their roots and bring their music back to its source. The tour was filmed by Yale Strom for a documentary, “Klezmer on Fish Street.” Following the tour the group released its second CD, “Sveet Like Herring Vit Potatoes: Live from the Old Country.”
Today the Klezmaniacs are spread up and down the Northeast corridor at various colleges, universities and retail outlets. They gather for performances in a tight group of two to seven musicians in Boston, Baltimore, New York and wherever else invited.
Along with traditional Klezmer and Yiddish repertoire, they are performing some newly composed Klezmer tunes and reviving old ones forgotten by most klezmorim. They are available to play at weddings, commitment ceremonies, brisses, bar/bat-mitzvahs and other private functions as well as at schools, synagogues and other concert venues.
Admission is free; doors open one hour before the show. Call 946-5311 or visit http://ourworld.cs.com/sawyerfoundation for more information.
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