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visit our not for profit organization at klezmermusicfoundation.org.
To support our educational and
outreach work, please donate here.
The Midwest's Premier Klezmer Band Since 1983
STORE
Thanks for your interest in our music!
You can purchase our albums and/or our book from Paypal with the links provided below or you can order via mail.
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Order by Mail Instructions
Make sure to specify which album(s) you want! Send a check for $12.00 per CD (price includes sales tax, shipping and handling). Note: All overseas orders (outside of the US) will be sent as digital files.
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Make Check Payable To: Klezmer Music Foundation.
Mail To: 4025 Harvard Terrace, Skokie, IL 60076.
Albums
The band's very first recording is its folkiest, and includes energetic freylechs (klezmer dances), and Russian features like "Moscow Nights" amd the zamy Spike Jones parody of "Ochi Chorniye" (Dark Eyes) called "Hotcha Cornia."
Maxwell Street Days
(Released: 1985 and 2013)
​1 Mi Yimalel/Chaim from Odessa
2 Kolomeyke
3 Abi Gezunt
4 Rumeynishe Fantazye
5 Lebedik un Freylech
6 Moscow Nights
7 Doina
8 Der Rebbe Geyt
9 Crimean Sketches
10 Sha Shtil
11 Expectation Waltz
12 Freitog Noch'n Tzimmis
13 Shpilt Mir, Klezmorimlach
14 Bei Mir Bistu Sheyn, Yosl, Sherele
15 Czardas Monti
16 Hotcha Cornea
Sweet Early Years
(Released: 1992, 2000 and 2013)
Maxwell Street's second recording includes Yiddish favorites such as "Abi Gezunt!" (Be Healthy!), Papirosn, the Hanukkah song "Ocho Kandelikas," as well as violinist Alex Koffman singing the plaintive song "Zisse Kinder Yorn" (Sweet years of Childhood) which gives the album its name.
​1. S’iz Freilach Bei Yidn/Odessa Bulgar
2. Beit Mich a Bissele
3. Rumanian Rhapsody
4. Kinder Yorn
5. Kadril
6. Abi Gezunt
7. Russian-Jewish Wedding
8. Wissotsky’s Tea
9. Tosca Po Rodine
10. Ocho Kandelikas
11. Baym Rebn in Palestina
12. Papirosn
13. L’Shmoa
14. Chassidic in America
From the Barry Sisters' "Hopkele" to "A Yiddish Mama" to "Sheyn vi di Levoneh" (not to mention a rollicking klezmer-classical mash-up), "Lucky" energizes and entertains from start to finish. This album the vocals of a star of Joel Gray's "Yiddish Fiddler" on Broadway, Lisa Fishman.
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Reviews:
"Starting off with a medley of dances that veers at times into territory once used by ethnomusicologist Marty Schwartz as proof that Jewish klezmers invented early cartoon music, the band is having too much fun. Far too much fun. It's infectious." - KlezmerShack
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You Should Be So Lucky!
(Released: 1996)
​1. Mazl Tov Dances
2. Hopkele
3. Vu Bistu Geveyn Ven Di Gelt Iz Geveyn? (Where You Was When the Money Was?)
4. Meheteyneste Mayne (The Mothers-in-Law)
5. Doina/Chosidl/Lark
6. A Yiddishe Mama (A Jewish Mama)
7. Freilechs fun der Hupe (Recessional: Dance from the Wedding Canopy)
8. Sheyn vi di Levoneh (Lovely as the Moon)
9. Tumbalalaika (Play, Balalaika)
10. Der Heyser Bulgar (The Hot Dance)
11. And the Angels Sing
12. Firn di Mechetonim Aheym/Warshaver Freilechs
13. Di Rebbetzin (The Rabbi’s Wife)
14. Sammy’s Freilechs
15. Ach! Odessa
16. Compote
The band's mature, more classically-influenced aspect is on display in original compositions like "Leah's Saraband" and "Klezmer Rhapsody" featuring Alex Koffman on violin; the mirthful "Galitzianer vs Litvak;"
Yiddish favorites "Chusn-Kalleh Mazl Tov," "Chiribim Chiribom," a moving Ghetto Tango, "Friling," and plenty of foot-stomping freylechs.
"These are fine musicians...they care about the music. And when they care--I care."
-Theo Bikel, Actor and Folk Singer
Old Roots New World
(Released: 2002)
1. Lebedike Honga (A Lively Honga)
2. Shpil di Fidl, Shpil/Yidl mitn Fidl (Play, Fiddle/Yidl with his Fiddle)
3. Leah’s Saraband
4. Chusn Kalleh Mazl Tov
5. Friling (Spring)
6. Zol Zayn Gelebt (Live to Enjoy!)
7. Oy, Abram
8. Galitzianer vs. Litvak
9. Abi Gezunt (Good Health is All the Counts)
10. Undzer Toyrele (Our Beloved Torah)
11. Chiribim
12. Yoshke/Tantz, Yidelech (Dance On, Jewish People)
13. Klezmer Rhapsody for Violin
​1. Eight Nights of Joy
2 .Crazy Dreydl
3. Open the Gates (Pitchu Li)
4. Chanukah Lights
5. Soufganiot (Hanukkah Donuts)
6. Galitzianer vs. Litvak
7. Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candles)
9. Little Dreidel
10. Who Led the Slaves Out?
11. Faith is Not a Flag (Duomo)
12. Build a Sukkah
13. Abi Gezunt (Be Healthy!)
14. Kolomeikes (Ukrainian Dance)
15. Shine
16. Leave a Little Bit Undone
17. Yoshke
18. Judah Maccabee
19. Candle Blessings
20. Chanukah Sing-Along Medley
Enjoy a klezmer-folky-funky fusion of original music, for Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays, created in collaboration between Maxwell Street and famed folk-rock singer Rabbi Joe Black. From a Dixieland-inflected "Eight Nights of Joy" to an Elvis Presley tribute, "Build a Sukkah," this fun-filled album will keep the whole family entertained for Hanukkah and through the year.
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Eight Nights of Joy
(Released:2008)
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Arik Luck is... Moyshe Oysher
(Released: 2010)
In collaboration with Cantor Arik Luck, Maxwell Street recreates some of the best-loved vocals of the legendary Moishe Oysher in this celebration of all things cantorial and theatrical, and a story of an immigrant who rises to become a Yiddish star of stage and screen in America.
Charts -- New Edition!
The Joy of Klez Band Books
10 Klezmer classics arranged for bands. $65 + $10 shipping for the set of three books, including a practice CD.
The songs included are:
1. Zol Zayn Gelebt
2. Serba
3. Russian Sher
4. Lebedik un Freilech
5. Odessa Bulgar
6. Freilechs Fun der Chupeh
7. Mazel Tov, Mechutonim
8. Kolomeike
9. The Matzorena
10. Freitog Nokh'n Tzimis
The three books included in this set are:
1. Piano/Violin/Flute (Example from violin)
2. Clarinet/Sax/Trumpet
3. Bass & Chords(Piano/Guitar)/Trombone
Plus the practice CD.
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To order an individual book, please email maxwellstreetband@gmail.com.
Review of "Joy of Klez" books from the Ari Davidov's Klezmershack
This book answers one of the most common question I get asked by people interested in starting a klezmer band: "Where do I get arrangements?" Now you can get this exquisite collection put together by the fine folks at Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, in whichever parts you want: the score, the bass/trombone parts, the piano/violin/flute parts, or the clarinet/sax/trumpet parts.
These books are ideal for anyone starting a band: Junior Klezmer Orchestras, synagogue klezmer bands, or even starting out with some friends and some enthusiasm—all are going to benefit from these books. The tunes were originally recorded in the first golden age of American klezmer music, 1910-1940. The printing and typography are clear and impeccable."