Metropolitan Klezmer “Quartet Special” - the Parlor at Hailey's in Metuchen

The Parlor at Hailey's: 15 Station Place, Metuchen, NJ 08840

Tickets: $25 in Advance and $20 Food/Drink Minimum

Refund Policy: Refunds up to 7 days before events/Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable

About Metropolitan Klezmer “Quartet Special”

On Thursday evening, May 8, 2025, Metropolitan Klezmer “Quartet Special” bring their music to Metuchen into the intimate space – limited to 40 guests -- at The Parlor at Hailey’s at 15 Station Place in celebration of Mother’s Day. Musicians include leader and drummer Eve Sicular; Pam Fleming, trumpet; Reut Regev, trombone and Ismail Butera, accordion.

Hailed as “one of the finest American Klezmer bands” Metropolitan Klezmer delivers a varied, highly enjoyable set of both traditional klezmer and swinging Jewish jazz, as befits Klezmer's roots as Jewish diaspora music. —Songlines Magazine Mike Gerber.

Metropolitan Klezmer brings together stellar bandmates with stylistic backgrounds from Latin jazz to funk and folk, Balkan to Zydeco to baroque, and reggae to opera to R&B – complete with panoramic instrumental array--

and they perform an exhilarating range of musical treasure with astonishing agility and refreshing depth.

In 1994, drummer/leader Eve Sicular formed Metropolitan Klezmer. This collaborative adventure -- of eight exceptional New York musicians combines the best of downtown, classical and World Music scenes to create inspired neo-traditional interpretations and compositions around an impressive array of eclectic Yiddish repertoire: ethereal trance, rollicking dance, imaginatively-arranged Yiddish swing and tango, plus genre-expanding originals, such as klezmer cumbia.

Metropolitan Klezmer has toured from coast to coast, including debuts at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, The MIM (Phoenix AZ), Torrance Arts (CA), and Brooklyn Botanic Garden (headlining Ghouls & Gourds festival).

The group has delighted audiences at The Corning Museum of Glass, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ with full houses again and repeat engagements from BlackRock Center to The Strathmore (MD), Miami (FL) to Manhattan, and on campuses from Rutger’s University Mason Gross School for the Arts to Elmira College.

The ensemble has also performed for the New York City Mayor at Gracie Mansion, and was thrilled to appear twice with surprise guest jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera.

Among the group's special offerings, multi-media/live band program played to an overflow Lincoln Center audience at the Bruno Walter auditorium, featuring a panoply of archival film clips with context from Harvard-educated film scholar/bandleader Eve Sicular and live performance of the band's own lush adaptations of soundtrack music from beloved Yiddish movies both celebrated and obscure. The eight-piece group also drew a packed house for their Lincoln Center premiere at the David Rubenstein Atrium, as well as, when on tour at Southwest and West Coast venues including Scottsdale Center for the Arts.

The octet has enjoyed two residencies for New York City’s 92nd Street Y's Musical Introduction Series, and has been honored by support from the Creative Engagement, The Fund for Creative Communities, and Manhattan Community Arts Fund (NYSCA and NYC's Department of Cultural Affairs).

Metropolitan Klezmer’s most recent album is Mazel Means Good Luck recorded live in concert at The Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY.

Jewish Week gave the band five stars [top rating], lauding their "wildly variegated flavors… Formidable… clever, spirited and smart musicianship."

Also check out other Entertainment events in Metuchen, Music events in Metuchen, Arts events in Metuchen.