The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band: Homepage

What is "Klezmer music"? Klezmer is a Hebrew word, a collusion of the words "kley" (vessel) and "zemer" (melody) that referred to musical instruments in ancient times. It became colloquially attached to Jewish folk musicians sometime in the middle ages.

Working under various restrictions in different centuries and cultures, Jewish musicians (klezmorim) developed their own unique style out of a variety of local musical styles. Figuring most prominently are Ottoman Turkish modes and Balkan gypsy and clarinet stylings.

The advent of the Chassidic movement in the 1750s stocked the klezmer's pot with an endless supply of melodies and dances based on nigunim (wordless prayer melodies).

The style of the performance became impassioned and soulful, reflecting the spirituality of the Chassidim.

While "klezmer" referred originally only to instrumental music played by clarinets, violins, basses and tsimbaloms (hammer dulcimers), it has come to mean Yiddish vocal music as well, encompassing both folk songs and music from the Yiddish theater (which thrived in the early 20th century in both Warsaw and New York).

At the present time, klezmer music refers to a large variety of revivals. There are those, at one end of the spectrum, who play very traditional instruments and melodies in imitation of the European klezmorim, and those at the other end who play modern fusion music, combining klezmer with world music such as Afro-pop, rock or hip hop. Maxwell Street Klezmer Band focuses on the 1920s-40s immigrant style in America, but also creates its own arrangements and compositions inspired by the deep spiritual well of klezmer music of the past.

As Jewish immigrants came to America, they brought this style with them, but quickly the adapted it to American tastes and instrumentation. The result? A very organic fusion of everything from Russian dances, Chassidic drinking songs and Hungarian gypsy bravado blended with Dixieland, early jazz and swing and even a Yiddishe Rhumba! Because of this, a klezmer concert is a true variety show.

The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band has been one of the Midwest's premiere Klezmer Bands for over twenty years. Performing both for public concerts in the U.S. and worldwide, and for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other private parties, Maxwell Street has been central to the revival of traditional Jewish music in the Midwest. It is one of the true Klezmer "Big Bands," recalling the rich, jazzy sounds of the Swing Era.

Want to know more? We're glad to hear it! Feel free to browse this site, listen to our audio clips, or watch videos of our past performances. And don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have--about Klezmer music or your private party. You call, we'll talk!