The Midwest's Premier Klezmer Band Since 1983
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Bibi Patt
Vocalist
Bibi Marcell Patt grew up as a first-generation Jewish American with deep roots in Yiddish culture: the language, the music, and the way of life. She fondly remembers growing up "in the shtetl on Jerome Street in West Rogers Park!"
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Her first language was Yiddish, but English, Russian, Polish, Hebrew, and Spanish could all be heard in her home, where she was also exposed to the music, dance, and history of those cultures.​
She began appearing on stage at a very young age. As a teenager, Bibi first began singing for Jewish organizations around Chicagoland, and within a few years, had performed in Europe, South America, and Israel. After this fruitful early performing career as a soloist, she began singing with different ensembles around the city.
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When she performed with Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, "it soon became crystal-clear that singing with these musicians felt like home." Bibi joined the band in 1991, appears on three Maxwell Street albums, and has performed at countless concerts and private parties with the band.
"The musicianship, organization, and the authentic approach to playing music from any genre, especially in Yiddish, is unmatched by any group of musicians I have ever played with."
"I feel it is a great honor to be part of this band, a group of musicians that I consider family. We have played together for so long—we know each other’s musical language and continue to learn from each other, on and off the bandstand."
Bibi is a favorite singer at weddings and bar/bat mitzvah parties. "It is one of the best feelings I know: to witness pure joy when people are dancing to our music. I still get chills when I am singing for a hora at a simcha that is electric, with people responding to our music and the band responding to the energy coming back at them from the guests. There is no other feeling like it! I also really enjoy forging a relationship with the clients I work with. Every party has its own special vibe, and it is great being able to make their dreams a reality. I will be forever grateful to Lori Lippitz for training me to be a bandleader and giving me the opportunities to share the music I love with others."