Isle of Klezbos

ISLE of KLEZBOS approaches Yiddish musical traditions with loving irreverence and profound respect. The soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all-gal klezmer sextet has toured from Vienna to Vancouver since 1998. Blending neo-folkloric tunes, reimagined classics, and sound all their own, the band’s "cutting-edge klezmer" (New York Magazine) is acclaimed as “rapturous and rollicking” (Los Angeles Blade).

A joyous collaboration of alumnae from Juilliard, Eastman, Berklee and Harvard, the group is renowned for soloing artistry from deeply grooving to rambunctious to ethereal. Their inventive arrangements and vibrant energy span styles from 2nd Avenue swing and Yiddish tango to klezmer reggae, cumbia, and boogaloo, as well as art song, lullaby, and balagan. Seen and heard from HBO and PBS to CBS Sunday Morning and The L Word, ISLE of KLEZBOS released their latest album Yiddish Silver Screen highlighting the archival cinema devotion and far-flung imagination of drummer/bandleader Eve Sicular.

The ensemble's original musical documentary theater hit J.Edgar Klezmer: Songs from My Grandmother’s FBI Files garnered praise from The New York Times in its sold-out Off-Off Broadway run at HERE Arts. ISLE of KLEZBOS also had the honor & delight of performing with the late great Jill Sobule on her original Music from Yentl project at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub and beyond, including songs the bandmates have more recently been playing in tribute to her memory.

Debra Kreisberg - clarinet & alto saxophone
Pam Fleming - trumpet & flugelhorn
Melissa Fogarty - vocals
Shoko Nagai - accordion & piano
Saskia Lane - double bass
Eve Sicular - drums | bandleader

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Photo Credit: Albie Mitchell