San Francisco’s Red Hot Chachkas create new American klezmer from old world roots with their original compositions, audacious arrangements, and ingenious improvisations. Classical violinist Julie Egger leads the group, Barbara Speed plays clarinet, Diana Strong plays accordion, Tony Phillips plays mandolin, Breck Deibel plays bass, and Aharon “Wheels” Bolsta plays drums. All About Jazz praises the group’s “chameleon-like ability to play styles from early Eastern European string-based klezmer to all-out modern jam band with stops along the way in Turkey, Jamaica, and Appalachia.” The Jewish News Weekly describes the band as a model for where klezmer is headed. Singout!, in a review of their most recent album, Beats Without Borders, calls them “a very cool klezmer fusion band!” Their music combines a deep appreciation for tradition with the excitement of improvisation and the joy of connecting with the audience.
 
Incognito Express features some of the hottest musicians in the Bay Area’s Balkan scene, with Darren Johnston on trumpet, Gregory Masaki Jenkins on clarinet and alto sax, Dan Cantrell on accordion, Paul Marini on sousaphone, and Marco Peris on tupan. The band takes you on a musical journey through Eastern Europe, showcasing Romani, Greek, Bulgarian, Serbian, and Macedonian traditions as well as Balkan-inspired originals.
 
Composer, arranger, guitarist, banjo player, and vocalist Jeremiah Lockwood is the founder of The Sway Machinery and has collaborated with his grandfather, Cantor Jacob Konigsberg, as well as Levon Helm, Carolina Slim, Balkan Beat Box, and The North Mississippi All-Stars.
 
Vocalist and trumpet player Stephen Saxon and guitarist Gordon Lustig have led High Holy Days services at Napa’s Congregation Beth Shalom since 2011, introducing non-standard repertoire into the liturgy, including music by Leonard Cohen and Michael Jackson, as well as their own original songs. Their performances are always entertaining, full of wit and emotional power.

Visit the Red Hot Chachkas website