The Nudniks klezmer band was formed in 2004. Four members of the Pine Brook Jewish Center, Montville, New Jersey, decided to start the group. Our intent was to learn the music of our Jewish heritage, while educating others about its history and transformation.

We eventually grew to nine musicians. I have developed an hour and a half presentation of klezmer music from the old days, to present. Our presentation includes comments and interesting anecdotes of how the music has changed since becoming popular again in the U.S. beginning in the early 1970's.

For example, I tell the story of how the Yiddish song Bai Mir Bist Du Shein, sung by the Andrew Sisters, became a worldwide hit in the `1930's and it all started with two African Americans. Then there is the "Broom Dance" which is danced when  the last daughter is married off . I give a brief  history of where klezmer music originated and make comments on each song.

Our group consists of accordion, clarinet, trumpet, flute, trombone, saxophone, electric bass, violin and drums. We offer our presentation for your groups fundraiser or just the sheer enjoyment of hearing music from our past and the stories that accompany them. Of course we can just play straight klezmer music if that is what you want. 

Here's a great idea for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We played a few with a dance band playing during the "cocktail hour", the Nudniks for the grand entrance HORAH and other traditional Jewish music, and then a DJ for the rest of the evening. There was music for each age group and everyone was happy.

In 2013 I moved to Florida and the Nudniks were disbanded. I have now  formed a new Nudnik klezmer band in SW Florida. We have the same unique, one of a kind  program, that runs about an hour and a half. The band consists of accordion, clarinet, trumpet, bass and drums.