Album Notes

We are the New Klezmer Quintet, a group of musicians who have been performing on average more than 30 years. Below are the list of performers on this CD.

Brian Choper - Drums - Band Manager
Fred Jacobowitz - Clarinet & Saxophone
Daniel Rozas -- Clarinet & Saxophone
Vladimir Gamarnik - Violin
Harry Appelman - Piano & Keyboard
Ephriam Wolfolk - Bass

We play Jewish, Sephardic, Israeli, Ladino, and even American Jazz and Rock & Roll. When performing for parties or weddings, we commonly play under our original name, The Kol Haruach Klezmer Band. For concerts, or for when we are performing for the general public, we go by the name The New Klezmer Quintet. So, when you think of us, keep in mind that we play under two names, one that is very well known in ethnic circles (when playing private parties), and the other, a name the general public can easily understand (for performances open to the general public). We invite you to come out and see us in concert, with all of our eclectic repertoire. Our performances usually attract a large audience.

Released November 10, 2008, this CD features the best of the music recorded live from the band's 2007 tour, including segments from a performance at a Synagogue in Greenbelt, MD and a show at Strathmore Hall, Bethesda, MD.

The name of the CD is Unexpected Joy -- The New Klezmer Quintet -- Live In Concert With Ramon Tasat. Explaining this title, the band caught up with Ramon somewhat unexpectedly in preparation for a different show earlier in 2007. Having so much fun playing together at that event, we decided that we would try to find additional opportunities to collaborate. Hence the creation of this concert series. This CD represents the best of the music from this series.

Brian Choper, the band's manager explains, "The concert series was a lot of fun, and this CD is a lot of fun as well, as it features the best of our live shows; slower cantorial Ladino music, and contrasts it with the higher energy of fast, traditional Klezmer." This recording is excellent. It includes a lively mix of Klezmer, Ladino, and Swing Jazz.

This CD has been given impressive reviews and has received acclaim as a feature on many music and cultural radio shows, including the Estelle Abraham radio program, "Jewish Community Radio", AM Radio 1120 WUST, and the very well known and iconic music show "Traditions" with Mary Cliff, 88.5 FM WAMU Radio. Check out our sister bands The Kol Haruach Orchestra, The Nexus Rock Band, The Choper Jazz Project and the Jazz Connection.