Enjoy an Energetic, Upbeat Concert Dec. 25 at the Freehold Jewish Center
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
FREEHOLD – It’s always been a challenge for those who don’t celebrate Christmas to find something enjoyable to do Dec. 25, when most businesses are closed for the holiday. Movie theaters and Chinese restaurants are pretty much the only choices for an activity, it’s often been observed. But this year, there’s another option: The Odessa Klezmer Band will perform an afternoon concert at the Freehold Jewish Center, offering an eclectic mix of upbeat Eastern European and Middle Eastern tunes.
“Klezmer music originated in places like Russia, Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia,” said bandleader Steven Kaplan. “It’s not religious, it’s more like party music with a blend of polka and Dixieland. It’s energetic, fun, happy music.”
The word “klezmer” is derived from Hebrew and loosely translates to musical instrument. An Eastern European tradition, Jewish folk musicians known as “klezmorim” traveled from town to town to entertain at weddings, bar mitzvahs and other occasions. Jewish immigrants brought this form of music to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Although klezmer music saw less popularity as an art form between the 1930s and 1970s, it has made a comeback in recent years. Jewish Americans are rediscovering their roots, and klezmer music is an integral part of the Jewish experience.
The Odessa Klezmer Band was led for several decades by Ed Goldberg, an accordion player and former member of the Jimmy Sturr Polka Band. Goldberg retired last year due to health issues, and Kaplan has taken his place as the band’s leader.
“Ed was an amazing and vibrant entertainer,” said Kaplan.
Kaplan, who lives in Ewing, was a music teacher in the Trenton school district for 27 years. He has been leading various bands in the area for three decades. He is the musical director and lead alto sax player for the Summer Swing Orchestra and Big Band Express, two 17-piece jazz/swing/dance bands. He is a featured clarinet and tenor saxophone soloist with the Sentimental Journey big band, plays piano with the Sounds of Swing Big Band and lead alto sax in the Full Count Big Band. He enjoys playing parades with the Denville String Band and the Verdi Band and frequently subs with the Florian Schantz Jazz Combo.
But this band is not just about playing music. Kaplan precedes each song with a story or brief explanation about its origins.
“We give some background and explain what each song is about,” he said. “We usually play in intimate venues, so I try to actively engage people. We don’t just play songs to them. I kibitz with the people in the audience. It’s almost an interactive experience.”
He makes sure to throw in a little humor as well.
“I grew up in East Brunswick and my rabbi was (comedian) Jackie Mason’s brother,” said Kaplan. “He trained me for my bar mitzvah and taught me a lot about Jewish history. He was way funnier than Jackie!”
The Odessa Klezmer Band honors the tradition of the authentic klezmer sound, as well as Israeli folk and dance music. Musicians of all nationalities and religious backgrounds perform with the group. For the Dec. 25 concert, they have an all-Jewish lineup because some regular performers have family plans. This show will feature 93-year-old Dr. Robert Mehlman of Princeton on clarinet.
“He is an accomplished klezmer clarinetist,” said Kaplan. “He sounds like Brooklyn in the 1930s, the authentic klezmer sound.”
Also joining the band at this show will be Warne Palmer of Philadelphia on keyboard and Marc Klar of Basking Ridge on percussion.
“We have a great program of traditional favorites that will evoke nostalgic feelings of the early 20th century, when many people migrated from Eastern European areas, as well as the Middle East,” said Kaplan.
Some of the songs the musicians will perform include “Roumania, Roumania,” “Misirlou,” “Oif’n Pripetshik,” and “Terk in Amerika.”
“These songs are culturally nostalgic,” said Kaplan. “They really move the audience. People come up to me after the show and say it brought them back to the old country. This music parallels the heritage of the Jewish people.”
The Odessa Klezmer Band plays 50 to 60 shows a year, often in assisted living facilities where the residents fondly remember this music from their past.
“Many of these people are in their 90s, and this is the music they brought with them to America,” said Kaplan. “A lot of them have memory loss but when you start playing these songs, they’re singing along and clapping. They can still remember the words. It’s very gratifying.”
The Odessa Klezmer Band concert is presented by the Jewish Heritage Museum and Freehold Jewish Center and will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 25. at the Freehold Jewish Center, 59 Broad St., Freehold. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 732-252-6990 or visiting jhmomc.org.
The article originally appeared in the December 18 – 24, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
