The High-Velocity Heart of Klezmer Tradition

 

Founded by Mark Kovnatskiy in early 2007, the Hamburg Klezmer Band is one of Germany’s longest-standing professional klezmer ensembles. Its longevity is matched only by its technical demands: the core of the group consists of virtuoso musicians who have dedicated over 20 years to the professional mastery of Eastern European traditions, including Klezmer, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Romanian, and Balkan music.

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The band’s signature is a rare combination of deep, archival knowledge and a modern expressive musical language. While their performances are rooted in authentic tradition, they breathe with a vitality that resonates with today’s audiences. Their repertoire is a masterful mix of traditional gems and original compositions, ranging from profound, meditative melodies to the breakneck, high-precision dance rhythms that few can replicate.

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A Unique Live-Symbiosis: Music & Painting

 

Beyond traditional concerts, the Hamburg Klezmer Band offers a captivating interdisciplinary experience in collaboration with the renowned Hamburg artist Pavel Ehrlich. During the performance, Ehrlich creates paintings in real-time, directly inspired by the band’s music. His creative process is projected onto a large screen behind the musicians, allowing the audience to witness a unique symbiosis of sound and visual art as it unfolds. This live-painting element transforms the concert into a profound, multi-sensory journey where every stroke of the brush resonates with the soul of the music.

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Milestones of Excellence:

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• Cinematic Impact: In 2016, the band recorded the evocative soundtrack for the award-winning animated film  Chika, die Hündin im Ghetto (Chika, the Dog in the Ghetto).

• Orchestral Scale: Demonstrating their high-level arrangements, the ensemble has collaborated with the Augsburger Philharmoniker on the symphonic stage.

• Interdisciplinary Art: Since 2018, the group has performed in a unique "live symbiosis" with Hamburg artist Pavel Ehrlich, where musical improvisation and painting merge in real-time.

• Discography: Their debut album, “In The Beginning” (2010), remains a testament to their soulful and technically rigorous approach.

 

The Hamburg Klezmer Band delivers an intense, danceable experience where uncompromising professionalism meets the raw spirit of Jewish music.

 

Lineup:

 

Mark Kovnatskiy - violin, vocal

Stanislav Dinerman - accordion

Axel Burkhardt - double base

Evgenii Lizin - poyk, drums