This concert is the fruit of an ongoing collaboration between some of Toronto’s most beloved Yiddish and klezmer artists. The Yiddish Swingtet, featuring the distinctive sound of clarinetist and bandleader Jonno Lightstone and the incomparable Tony Quarrington on guitar, infuses the heartfelt emotion of Eastern European Klezmer music with the cool grooves of American swing. The internationally acclaimed duo comprised of vocalist and former Ashkenaz Artistic Director Mitch Smolkin and his long-time collaborator, the sensational Nina Shapisky on piano, perform ecstatically rich interpretations of Yiddish theatre music and the American songbook. Together, they bring a unique depth of sound and artistry to traditional klezmer melodies and gems from the golden age of Yiddish theatre. In addition to performing selections from this repertoire, the Ashkenaz Festival concert will feature rare gems from the Yididish stage, with a particular focus on the work of the renowned singer and actor Aaron Lebedeff.
