Shtetl Superstars: Funky Jewish Sounds

The young Jewish musicians assembled on this compilation belong to the generation that came to prominence after the klezmer revival of the 1970s. They play punk and surf rock, ska and reggae, hiphop and drum'n'bass, intentionally spicing each genre with ingredients from their own culture. You may hear klezmer references, or a quote from a classic from the era of Yiddish swing, the ambience of a Jerusalem marketplace, or a lullaby once sung to them by their grandparents. The lyrics speak of the joy and the hardship of being a Jew. They are sung in Yiddish, shouted in Hebrew or rapped in English or Russian. Certain tracks are peppered with samples lifted from their grandparents' collections of 78 rpm records. Their attempts at innovation, striking a balance between tradition and the latest trends, may turn out to be cheeky or half-baked, but are at the same time exciting and revitalizing. There are artists of Jewish descent who are re - engaging musically with their roots. The spectrum is wide: From the bizarre spectacle of Moscow - based klezmer punks Nayekhovichi singing 'Paint It Black' in Yiddish, to internationally successful acts such as Hasidic reggae singer Matisyahu from New York. As spectators and participators in this movement, we want to present the most thrilling tracks, not only from well respected stars, but also from the best up and coming artists.