Richie Barshay
percussion
Richie Barshay began drumming inside kitchen cabinets at an early age, and continues banging on things worldwide to this day. Noted for his work with the Herbie Hancock Quartet (’03-’07), he’s been dubbed “a major rhythm voice on the rise” by Downbeat magazine, and The Guardian (UK) praises “the arrival of a major innovator who also knows how to have fun.” Find him on tour and recordings with names like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, The Klezmatics, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, Lee Konitz, Natalie Merchant, Bobby McFerrin, and Pete Seeger among others. Since 2004 he has led outreach projects across 5 continents as an American Musical Envoy with the U.S. State Department. He can be heard on over 80 recordings as a sideman, and his two self-produced albums: Homework featuring Herbie Hancock (2004), and Sanctuary featuring Chick Corea (2014). Based in New York City, he is an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique teacher and maintains a private practice for performers and non-performers to learn better mind-body coordination and ease of movement. www.richiebarshay.com
-
Frank London
trumpet, keyboards
Trumpeter and composer Frank London, co-founder of the Klezmatics, has been a driving force in contemporary Jewish music, contributing to hundreds of recordings and projects that blend klezmer, jazz, and world music with bold innovation.
-
Lisa Gutkin
violin, vocals
Lisa Gutkin, a versatile violinist and composer, brought her diverse musical background—ranging from classical and Irish folk to bluegrass and rock—to the Klezmatics, where she became a key creative force, even earning Pete Seeger's praise for her songwriting.
-
Lorin Sklamberg
lead vocals, accordion, guitar, piano
Co-founder and lead singer of the Klezmatics, is renowned for his transcendent and emotionally powerful voice, which has shaped contemporary klezmer music while also influencing Jewish spiritual and folk traditions worldwide.
-
Matt Darriau
kaval, clarinet, saxophone
Matt Darriau, a multi-instrumentalist and "musical polyglot," has infused the Klezmatics' sound with jazz, Balkan, and Celtic influences since 1995, while also leading his own genre-blending projects and earning recognition as a key innovator in modern jazz.
-
Paul Morrissett
bass, tsimbl
A longtime Klezmatics member and versatile multi-instrumentalist, blends his love for Eastern European and Scandinavian folk traditions with his passion for dance music, bringing a deep rhythmic energy to the band's sound.