It’s quite a story really.  Schmaltz and Pepper started life in November 2023 and played their first gig exactly a year ago.  They have become, dare I say it, a bit of a cult and their first CD is now on the street in CD and vinyl (really!?!) format with digital to come.  My review of the CD is here.

Sunday night there was a release concert as part of Toronto Jewish Music Week where the band played to an absolutely packed Heliconian Hall.  All eleven tracks from the CD featured in the concert plus some new stuff which we shall no doubt hear more of at Toronto Summer Music (July 16th at Walter Hall).

The new stuff included another Rebekah Wolkstein vocal number; “A Good Son”, in which tge siunger’s mother in law pops up all over the place.  I guess it could be seen as a sort of sequel to “I’m Sorry Momma”.  There were also some new klezmer arrangements and, I think, a Galizianer Tanz with Jeremy on melodica.  There was also an Isaac Perlman inspired piece (again, I think) that was rather beautiful.

Once again Schmaltz and Pepper showed that they are no ordinary klezmer band.  It’s so balanced.  You have great violin playing from Rebekah and Drew Jurecka, plus the former’s vocals and the latter on melodeon on occasion.  Jeremy Ledbetter on piano and Michael Herring on bass make a really solid bass section (and quite a bit more) and then Eric Abramowitz’ clarinet playing just takes it to the next level.  I think maybe you have to see this guy play to get what he’s doing.  It’s extraordinary.

Plus, there’s great creative chemistry going on that is producing really exiting new music with old roots which is rather fascinating.  Go see them if you can.

And in related news, Payadora; which also features Drew and Rebekah, are releasing their new album Legend of Carau at Hugh’s Room on June 13th.

Photos from last night aren’t available yet so I’ve used screencaps from a video of a concert at the Zoomerplex last year.