Giora Feidman

Giora Feidman is a legendary clarinetist known as the "King of Klezmer," breathing vibrant life into the soulful Jewish musical tradition while fearlessly blending it with jazz, classical, and global influences. Born in Argentina in 1936 to a family of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, he moved to Israel in the 1950s, becoming the youngest clarinetist in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. But it was his pivot to klezmer in the 1970s that defined his legacy, transforming the genre from a niche folk style into a universal language of emotion. His playing—raw, guttural, and achingly lyrical—has graced film scores like *Schindler’s List* and stages worldwide, earning him a reputation as a cultural ambassador for Jewish music.

Recent releases like *Revolution of Love* and *Global Oasis* showcase his boundary-pushing collaborations, while projects like *Feidman Plays Beatles!* and *A Tribute to Piazzolla* highlight his playful genre-blurring spirit. Even into his 80s (celebrated in *Giora Feidman: 85*), he remains a restless innovator, balancing reverence for klezmer’s roots with a knack for reinvention. Whether teaming up with symphonies or jazz trios, Feidman’s clarinet still wails, whispers, and dances like it’s telling the oldest story you’ve never heard.