The klezmer festival band

The Klezmer Festival Band is a London-based ensemble created by Gregori Schechter, a Russian émigré born in 1957 near Vladivostok, in the former Soviet Union. Schechter, who showed musical talent from a young age, leads the band in exploring traditional and contemporary klezmer music, a vibrant instrumental style rooted in the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe. The band’s music reflects Schechter’s diverse musical expertise, which spans classical, big band, Israeli, and Chassidic genres, bringing a rich and authentic klezmer sound to modern audiences.

Known for albums such as "The Soul of the Jewish Klezmer" and "Klezmer Festival Band: Gregori Schechter and the Wandering Few - Klezmer," the band has become a prominent voice in the klezmer revival. Their work honors the deep cultural history of klezmer while engaging listeners with lively, heartfelt performances that celebrate Jewish musical traditions.

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