Internationally-renowned groups the Red Hot Chachkas and Vocolot bring their unique flavors of genre-bending Jewish and world music to the Freight in a double bill that will range from sizzling to sublime.

The Red Hot Chachkas infuse the klezmer tradition of Eastern European Yiddish music with jazz, rock, oldtime, classical, and latin influences in their original compositions, arrangements, and improvisations. From performances at the 2010 Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto to San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall their hot sound and uptempo beat gets folks up and dancing. Led by bandleader and classical violinist Julie Egger, the musicians draw on disparate influences and backgrounds, including soulful Barbara Speed (clarinet), balkanized Diana Strong (accordion), bluegrass Tony Phillips (mandolin), jazzy Breck Diebel (bass), and rockin' Michael Arrow (drums).

"Vocolot's performance at the International Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam was spectacular. I got goosebumps!"
-Frank London of the Klezmatics

Vocolot blends luscious harmonies and global rhythms in original songs and arrangements of traditional texts with influences ranging from folk and jazz to Jewish traditions from around the world. They sing in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic and Ladino (the language of the Sephardic Jews) at festivals, clubs and synagogues around the U.S., and their music communicates a powerful vision of world peace and reconciliation. Vocolot appeared in London and Nottingham in 2000, and at the international Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam in 2008 and 2009. Cantor Linda Hirschhorn leads the group, which also features members Julia Bordenaro, Talia Cooper, Shana Levy and Liz Stuart.

Produced in association with the Jewish Music Festival.

Visit the Red Hot Chachkas' website

Visit Vocolot's website

Listen to tracks from the Red Hot Chachkas, Vocolot: