Description
For nearly three decades, the Amsterdam Klezmer Band has been reinventing klezmer music from its very core, blending tradition with fresh, playful energy. Founded in Amsterdam in the late 1990s, the band has built a reputation across Europe and beyond as one of the most irresistible and joyful live acts in world music - rooted in Jewish musical heritage yet constantly reaching outward into Romanian, Turkish, Balkan and jazz territories.
Their seven-piece line-up - clarinet, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone, accordion, double bass and drums - creates a sound that is simultaneously ancient and contemporary, intimate and festival-sized. Over the years they have performed at major festivals worldwide and released a string of acclaimed albums on Asphalt Tango Records (Berlin).
With Diaspora, the Amsterdam Klezmer Band returns to its acoustic roots while subtly reshaping them, capturing the music in its most immediate and joyous form. Recorded almost entirely in one take at Singelkerk, Amsterdam, on November 26, 2025, the album radiates the raw energy of an authentic live performance. No overdubs, no electronics, no tricks - just the band, their instruments, and the thrill of the moment.
Drummer Mischa Porte takes a newly prominent role, pushing the traditionally drum-less band into new territory and subtly expanding the sonic palette without ever overpowering it. Romanian and Turkish rhythms intertwine with classic klezmer songs and original compositions. Dark, melancholic dances sit alongside driving Sirba and cocek rhythms, Motown-inspired grooves, Turkish 9/8 pulses, and jazz-inflected improvisations. Spoken word and rap moments nod to the Badchen tradition; guitar-banjo leading a traditional melody adds fresh texture.
Diaspora also marks a poignant moment in the band's history: it is the final recording with trumpeter and co-founder Gijs Levelt, whose sound and musical vision shaped the Amsterdam Klezmer Band for nearly 28 years. Diaspora is not a nostalgic look back, but a vivid snapshot of where the band stands now - rooted, restless, and irresistibly alive.
