Klezmer music has its roots in the Ashkenazic Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, who brought its lively melodies to the United States where they melded with new influences like jazz and swing. The sound of Klezmer has since migrated around the world, and a tight-knit band of musicians continues to keep the sound alive in New Zealand. Sam Wicks investigates the enduring appeal of the original shtetl (ghetto) music.
Klezmer Rebs cooking. Image courtesy of Rob Kilvington.