Yale Strom (bandleader and violin) is the world’s leading ethnographer-artist of klezmer music, culture and history.  His prodigious klezmer research was instrumental in helping form the repertoire of his klezmer band, Hot Pstromi, based in New York and San Diego.  Since Strom’s first band began in 1981, he has been composing his own New Jewish music, which combines klezmer with Hasidic nigunim, Rom, jazz, classical, Balkan and Sephardic motifs. These compositions range from quartets to a symphony, which premiered with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.  He composed original music for the Denver Center production of Tony Kushner's The Dybbuk.    He also composed all the New Jewish music for the National Public Radio series Fiddlers, Philosophers & Fools:  Jewish Short Stories from the Old World to the New, hosted by Leonard Nimoy, as well as numerous film and dance scores.  Strom is also one of the only top composers of Jewish music to carry on the tradition of writing original songs, with English and Yiddish lyrics, about humanitarian and social issues. His twelve CDs run the gamut from traditional klezmer to "new" Jewish music.  His latest CDs are “Borsht with Bread, Brothers” (Arc Music) and “Absolute Klezmer Vol. 2” (Transcontinental Music).   Strom is also a prolific and award-winning author, filmmaker and photographer.

More about Yale Strom, vist http://www.yalestrom.com

David Licht (percussion) co-founded the Klezmatics in NYC in the late '70s. A member of the legendary groups Shockabilly and Bongwater, he also performed with Ned Rothenberg, John Zorn and Tom Cora in the early '80s. Other collaborations include: composing for choreographer Karen Heifetz, and performing with Kapelye, Giora Feidman, David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness and for the past three years, as the drummer for Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi. A father, painter and plasterer, Licht's singular and expressive drumming is featured on the Hot Pstromi recording "Borsht with Bread, Brothers" (Arc UK).

Elizabeth Schwartz (vocals) is celebrated for her uniquely dusky timbre - Multiple reviews hail her "soulful", "passionate" and "penetrating" vocals.  She has drawn numerous comparisons to both Edith Piaf and Maria Tanase.  From her many recordings and performances with Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi, Schwartz has built a loyal following among fans, critics and collaborators. As a klezmer singer, she performs regularly across North America and Central, Eastern and Northern Europe in venues ranging from jazz clubs to synagogues to concert halls, and is proud to have performed as a soloist in the two largest synagogues in Europe (Budapest and Strasbourg). Noted collaborators include Yale Strom, Alicia Svigals, Mark Dresser, Marty Ehrlich, Salman Ahmad, Samir Chatterjee, Hungarian super group Muzsikas, Tsimble maestro Kalman Balogh, Romanian panflutist Damian Draghici, the virtuosic members of Hot Pstromi, and many others. Schwartz is the subject of the documentary film, "Rumenye, Rumenye", directed by acclaimed Romanian filmmaker Radu Gabrea.  Schwartz's klezmer recordings include "Garden of Yidn"  and "Café Jew Zoo" (Naxos World Music), "Dveykes (Adhesion)" (Global Village Records label), "Absolute Klezmer Vol. II” (Transcontinental), "Borsht with Bread, Brothers" (ARC Music UK) and the compilation “Rough Guide to the Klezmer Revival” (World Music Network).

More about Elizabeth Schwartz, visit http://www.voiceofklezmer.com

Sprocket  has been performing on the bass for more than thirty years, playing classical, jazz, blues, country, klezmer, Balkan and middle eastern music. His playing can be heard on a number of recordings including ones with Tommy Tucker, Michael Moore, Andy Statman and Yale Strom. Sprocket has worked at David Gage String Instruments for over twenty years. As a master luthier at the workshop in New York City, he has the opportunity to work on double basses and cellos from around the world. He has been overheard saying more than once that he learned his craft in part because of his love of the instruments, and in part out of self-defense!

Norbert Stachel (reeds) is a multi-instrumentalist, recording and performance artist. He has long been recognized for his individualized soloistic style on saxophones, clarinets, and flutes. He has left his mark on recordings and performances with such great artist as Aerosmith, Tower of Power, Tony Toni Toné, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Prince, Tito Puente, Diana Ross, Boz Scaggs, Dream Theater, Neil Diamond, En Vogue, The Temptations, Sheila E, Quincy Jones, Les McCann, Don Cherry, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Andrew Hill, and many others. He is a member of Hot Pstromi and has recorded extensively with them.  He plays Jazz, Classical, Rock, R&B, Latin, World, klezmer and other forms of music. He composes instrumental & vocal music, and is also an arranger for any kind of instrumental ensemble or choir.  Instruments Played: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, & Bass Saxophones- Eb Soprano, Bb, Bb Bass (low C), & BBb Contrabass (low C) Clarinets- Piccolo, C, Alto , & Bass Flutes- & a variety of ethnic wind instruments.

Peter Stan is an accomplished professional accordionist who both performs and teaches.  His heritage is Romani Balkan, although he was born and raised in Australia prior to coming to the U.S. when he was 12 years old.  At an early age he began to learn how to play the accordion and was taught by his father, also an accordionist, for many years. His entire family is musical and they enjoyed playing together. Peter then went on to further studies with Matthew Aldini (Queensboro Institute of Music), Dr.Jacob Nupauer, Stanley Darrow, and Joan Arnold. He has won prizes in several prestigious accordion competitions including those sponsored by the American Accordion Musicological Society and the Long Island Music Teachers Association. Peter does a wide variety of performing as a soloist, with small groups, and with bands. He plays a broad range of musical styles including Balkan, classical, French favorites, Klezmer, popular, and contemporary. He has also performed in movies, appearing with James Earl Jones and Armando Assante, and has done numerous studio soundtrack recordings. Peter has performed on radio, cable television, off-Broadway, and for the famous Mark Morris dance group. When his schedule permits, Peter entertains (alone or with a group) at celebratory functions such as weddings, Bar Mitzvah’s, birthdays, and anniversaries. Peter has been the lead accordionist with many bands including Slavic Soul Party, Harold Seletsky, The West End Klezmorim, and Hot Pstromi (Yale Strom). His wide range of performances includes playing at Carnegie Hall (1st Jazz and Jewish music concert),  Merkin Hall, Irving Plaza, and Joe’s Pub in New York City; the International Accordion Festival in San Antonio, Texas ; and the two-week annual Mayim Mayim Project in Fuerth, Germany. He has toured in Hong Kong, France, Germany, Sweden, Turkey, Denmark, Serbia, and throughout much of the United States. In March 2008 Peter was interviewed by Francoise Jallot and appeared in a feature article about him and his work in the celebrated French magazine “Accordeon & Accordeonistes.”