ashkenazim
A new direction for Yiddish music.
Sing out! The Folksong magazine
A remarkable group that is at the forefront of Jewish a capella singing.
Frank London
… here and there we hear a classical vocal style, something more operatic, or a flourish of a music theatre. Instrumental styles are just as varied: Jewish musical modes weave together with a klezmer–sounding clarinet, jazz–style saxophone and bass or rock guitar. All of the musicians are excellent.
Songlines Magazine
Vocal quartet Ashkenazim sing Jewish music a cappella and also performs with ensembles
and orchestras. Their repertoire mostly consists of Polina Shepherd’s original compositions
for Yiddish poems, folk songs in Yiddish, klezmer music, niggunim (wordless songs).
Although modern in its musical principles, the quartet are aiming for a folk sound.
A special manner of performing, traditional instrumental styles copied by the voices, form
the unique Ashkenazim style. A style which is recognisable from the first few bars.
Since their beginning in 2001 they’ve performed in dozens of cities of the Former Soviet Union, USA,
Canada and Europe, and recorded 3 CDs.
line-up4 vocals, clarinets, piano, saxophone; (double bass)
the band
- Polina Shepherd (Russia/UK) – bandleader, arranger, composer; vocals
- Yana Ovrutskaya (Russia) – vocals
- Evgenya Slavina (Russia) – vocals
- Merlin Shepherd (UK) – vocals, clarinets, saxophone
- The quartet also performs with Rimon Russell (UK) – double bass
Zalmen Mlotek in 2002
This ensemble (The Quartet Ashkenazim), comprised of four young singers, performs largely a cappella vocal arrangements of classic and newly composed Yiddish songs. Bringing extraordinary musicianship, cultural authenticity and creativity to the new Jewish song movement, the ensemble Ashkenazim, is a rare thrill to hear. The leader of the group, Polina Achkinazi (Shepherd) is among this generation’s most talented composers and arrangers of new Yiddish music. The ensemble’s level of musical artistry is very high and the attention to detail and to the Yiddish text is extraordinary. The group also represents a new and exciting phenomenon in world Jewish culture, the rebirth of cultural creativity in the communities of the former Soviet Union. The Ensemble Ashkenazim are among the finest fruits of that investment in nurturing Jewish creativity in what was the heartland of Yiddish culture.