Schmaltz & Pepper

Klezmer, Yiddish swing, jazz and chamber music come together in a virtuosic concert by Schmaltz & Pepper. Schmaltz & Pepper takes place Sunday, January 3, 2027 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Presented by the City of Aventura, the performance marks the ensemble’s return following a sold-out concert in 2026.

The group performs original music and inventive arrangements rooted in Yiddish musical traditions while drawing on classical technique and jazz improvisation. Its sound blends clarinet, violin, voice, bass and piano in a chamber setting that expands the expressive range of klezmer and related styles.

The ensemble features Eric Abramovitz, principal clarinetist of the Toronto Symphony; Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and arranger Drew Jurecka; violinist, vocalist and composer Rebekah Wolkstein, founder of the Payadora Ensemble; Juno-nominated bassist Michael Herring; and Juno Award-winning pianist Jeremy Ledbetter.