Klezmer

The term Klezmer is a combination of the Hebrew words “kley” (vessel) and “zemer” (melody). Since antiquity it has been used to describe musical instruments, and in the Middle Ages the term was attached to Jewish folk musicians themselves and the genre which they performed. In the myriad of locations in the Jewish diaspora, Klezmer has integrated and adapted various local forms of music, including early 20th century American swing and jazz.