Directory

Carl Shutoff (clarinet in C) and Laurie Andres (accordion) constitute the Kesselgarden Klezmer Duo in Seattle, WA, where we have been playing together for the last 16 years. Our name comes from the way Yiddish-speaking Jews pronounced “Castle Garden”, the facility on the southern tip of Manhattan where Jewish immigrants entered this country prior to the opening of Ellis Island in 1892.

The Klez Katz are dedicated to the preservation and encouragement of the rich musical heritage of the Yiddish diaspora. Their repertoire encompasses freilach, bulgar, sher, terkishe, khosidl, theater music, folk songs and even the odd klezmer-influenced jazz tune, performed on tenor and soprano saxes, clarinet, flute, trombone, bass, accordion and vocals. Perfect for parties and special events, concerts, dances and incidental music, the Klez Katz are klezmorim ready to play!

Kol Ami: A Center for Jewish Life is a welcoming, egalitarian community dedicated to promoting Jewish life in the Pacific Northwest. They love Jewish history and tradition, and we are carrying on the 4000-year-old story of the Jewish people by building tradition and history of our own. By cultivating awe and gratitude for the bounteous planet we call home, and reverence for the bonds we share with the creatures who share it with us. They passionately affirm the dignity and rights of all human beings. We view it as our sacred obligation to pursue justice and repair the world.