Kosher Red Hots

One With Everything On It

The Kosher Red Hots explore the rich treasure house of Jewish music, presenting whirlwind klezmer dance tunes, Yiddish swing, Yiddish theater and folk songs, Ladino, Jazz, Broadway show tunes and more.

Sheila Fox — vocals and clarinet

“I love the vastness of our repertoire. It connects me to my history. My great-grandfather played trombone in Russia; my great-grandparents spoke Yiddish, the mameloshn, the mother tongue. I was raised among Spanish speakers in New Mexico whose ancestors spoke Ladino. I am inspired by the songs we perform and use them in my daily life. ‘Abi Gezunt,’ As long as you're healthy, you can be happy! L'chaim! To life!”

Liz Dreisbach — clarinet and saxophone

“As a clarinetist, the sheer guts and animation of the folk clarinet amaze me. The Yiddish clarinet captures the instrument's heart and soul—it is warm, alluring, gracious, and wild. A life-long interest in cultural expression draws me to Jewish music in particular because it touches every side of this eminent culture, from art songs to theater music to devotional music to blistering dance music.”

Eugene Jablonsky — double bass, guitar and storytelling

“Playing the bass, feeling the physical sensation of the rhythm of a Ladino tango or a graceful Yiddish melody, takes me to times and places where music is a part of daily activity and celebration—in shtetls, neighborhoods, and families. Playing this music connects me to the strength of my grandparents. I imagine them dancing to tunes like these in Poland before they journeyed to new lives in Palestine.”

Guest Artists

Laurie Andres – Accordion/Piano
Brent Edstrom – Piano
Ken Olendorf – Accordion/Piano
Jovino Santos Neto – Accordion/Piano
Rick Westrick – Drums
Paul Beck – Cymbalom/Drums