Episode 108: Queer Klezmer with Isle of Klezbos

A lot of people love klezmer music and know that it made a big comeback a few decades ago. But not a lot of people know that the klezmer revival of the '70s and '80s was connected to queer Jewish liberation. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we’ll hear about how queer activism fits into the klezmer revival story from Eve Sicular, the drummer and leader of the all-female klezmer sextet Isle of Klezbos. And of course, we’ll hear some great klezmer.

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Released April 2, 2024

The Isle of Klezbos (L to R): Shoko Nagai, Debra Kreisberg, Eve Sicular, Saskia Lane, Melissa Fogarty, Pam Fleming. Credit: Angela Jimenez.
Eve Sicular in a performance at City Winery NYC. Credit: Hank Gans.
Cover of The Klezmatics' album Shvaygn = Toyt (Silence = Death).
The original members of the Greater Metropolitan Klezmer Band (L to R): Michael Hess, Eve Sicular, Ismail Butera, Howie Leess, David Hofstra. Credit: Donna Binder.