Klezmer, Yiddish Tango and Original compositions

“An extraordinary ensemble set to become a major force on the global scene. I know that’s going to be true.” - Classical 96.3 FM

“A klezmer super group!” CBC Frequencies

“Schmaltz & Pepper are a shining example of musical brilliance…breathtaking artistry…Inventive, adventurous, experimental…an unbelievable feat of creativity. Five outstanding virtuoso musicians…In a word, their debut concert at Toronto Summer Music was spectacular”- Ludwig-van news media network

“They are a brilliant band…all first rate musicians…the atmosphere was terrific…this group has a great future-”-

Opera Ramblings

This groundbreaking ensemble features the extraordinary talents of Eric Abramovitz, the principal clarinetist of the Toronto Symphony and the Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and arranger, Drew Jurecka, virtuosic violinist/vocalist/composer, Rebekah Wolkstein founder/leader of the acclaimed Payadora Ensemble, Juno-nominated bassist, Michael Herring and Juno-award winning pianist, Jeremy Ledbetter. This ensemble is redefining the traditional boundaries of Yiddish music, blending classical mastery with innovative compositions and soulful arrangements.

This band has an exhilarating trajectory. A mere 6 months after Abramovitz and Wolkstein came up with the idea to form a band, they had a full show of original music and inventive arrangements. Their debut performance was a live to air broadcast with a studio audience at Zoomer Hall in Toronto for Classical 96.3FM in May, 2024. Since then, they have sold out shows for Ashkenaz, Toronto Summer Music Festival and Jewish Music Week in Toronto.

ERIC ABRAMOVITZ

Clarinet, Composer, Arranger, Co-leader/founder

Eric Abramovitz, a Montreal native, is a highly acclaimed clarinetist known for his exceptional talent and versatility. Recently appointed as Principal Clarinet of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2021, Eric began his journey with the orchestra in 2018 as Associate Principal and E-flat Clarinet. His impressive career includes positions with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Santa Barbara Symphony. Eric frequently appears as guest principal clarinetist with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra. Notably, he has toured throughout Japan and South Korea with the New York Symphonic Ensemble and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and performed with the New York Philharmonic at the Bravo Vail festival in the summer of 2021.

Recognized for his outstanding achievements, Eric was featured on CBC's "30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30" and named the Vandoren Emerging Artist of the Year in 2017. As a first-prize winner at the OSM Standard Life Competition in 2011, Eric has been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the McGill and USC Symphonies, l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where he recently made his solo debut not only on clarinet but on alto saxophone as well. His versatility extends beyond classical music, as he enjoys playing Klezmer and jazz.

Recipient of the Sylva Gelber Career Grant in 2016, Eric is a graduate of McGill University’s Schulich School of Music and the University of Southern California, where he has studied under renowned mentors, including Zaven Zakarian, Alain Desgagné, Robert Crowley, Simon Aldrich, Jean-François Normand, Kimball Sykes and Yehuda Gilad.

REBEKAH WOLKSTEIN

Violin/Vocals/Composer/Co-leader/founder

Rebekah is a passionate chamber musician and a multi-award winning creative force in the Canadian music scene. She is the founder and leader of Payadora Tango Ensemble. In the spring of 2023, Payadora’s third and latest CD, the critically acclaimed “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango” which features Rebekah’s violin playing and compositions, reached #1 on the World Music Charts in Europe, accompanied by rave reviews, airtime, and press coverage around the globe, including the BBC, CTV, CBC television and radio, the Bangkok Post, NPR, and RTE Irish Public Radio. “…The most memorable release I have ever had the privilege to listen to and review” (WholeNote Magazine). They have been named on “Best of” lists on NPR’s Rhythm Atlas, Finnish National Radio and CBC Classical.

Payadora won the German world music prize in 2024 (Weltmusikpreis Ruth award) and performed in the famous world music festival, Rudolstadt in July where they received the award. In 2023-2024, Payadora toured Hungary, Spain and Denmark, Brazil, Argentina and throughout North America.Her creative output has led to multiple composing and recording grants through Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council. She directs multi-disciplinary projects such as The Legend of Carau, a feature for Payadora. She has performed and toured extensively with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada, The Canadian Opera Company. She is the first violinist of the Venuti String Quartet which will be releasing their debut album in March 2025.

An active studio musician, Rebekah is also at home playing in the styles of Folk, Klezmer, Pop, Latin, and Jazz and can be heard on numerous recordings including new releases by Donovan Woods, Laila Biali, Royal Wood and Justin Gray.  

Aside from her active performing career, Rebekah holds a Doctorate in Violin Performance from the University of Toronto as well as degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

DREW JURECKA

Producer, Arranger, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer

Grammy-nominated producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Drew Jurecka is a versatile musician who loves to work in different musical realms. For example, after completing classicalviolin studies at CIM, he toured with Jeff Healey's ' Jazz Wizards' band for 5 years.

As a session musician and arranger he has contributed to over 300 albums for artists including Dua Lipa, Dermott Kennedy, Metric, Alvvays, Mastodon, Ron Sexsmith, Jill Barber, DonovanWoods and on soundtrack recordings including 'Anne with an E,' 'Horizon: Forbidden West,’ and 'Cupheads 2.’ Drew has also produced several albums for artists in a variety of genres.

As the bandoneon player in the Payadora Tango Ensemble, he has toured across North America, Europe, and South America. Their album 'Silent Tears, the Last Yiddish Tango’ spent time as #1 on the World Music charts in Europe and earned Drew a nomination for 'Producer of the Year' at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

JEREMY LEDBETTER

Piano

Juno-winning pianist, Jeremy Ledbetter has worked for 35 years as a performer, over 20 years as a musical director, bandleader, producer and arranger. Over the course of 21 years of musical travel, has studied, performed, and produced music in 26 countries on five continents. He currently performs regularly with the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio, the Larnell Lewis Band, Rich Brown’s Abeng, the Joy Lapps Project, CaneFire, David Rudder (Trinidad), Eliana Cuevas (Venezuela), OKAN (Cuba), Mark Kelso’s Jazz Exiles (Canada), Alexis Baro (Cuba), Marito Marques (Portugal) He has twice been nominee – US Independent Music Awards – Jazz Album of the Year * Nominee – US Independent Music Awards – Jazz Song of the Year.

MICHAEL HERRING

Bass

Michael herring is a JUNO-nominated a double-bassist and composer based in Toronto who writes, performs and records across genre lines, equally comfortable in jazz as in folk, world, and pop/rock settings. Herring is a major contributor of original music to a number of groups that he leads and co-leads: Michael Herring Quartet, a chordless two-saxophone band drawing inspiration from 1960’s jazz, especially Mingus and Ellington; Way North (New York/Toronto/Ottawa collaboration with Petr Cancura, Rebecca Hennessy and Richie Barshay) exploring folk musics through improvisation - one Ottawa Citizen top Canadian Jazz albums of 2015; Peripheral Vision, a JUNO-nominated modern-jazz quartet co-led with guitarist and long-time collaborator Don Scott. Peripheral Vision has recorded six albums, maintains a busy touring schedule; Michael Herring's Vertigo, a modern-jazz sextet which recorded two albums featuring New York’s David Binney - the first was included in All About Jazz New York’s Top 5 Debut albums of 2006; and The Uplifters, The Bird Brains and Harrington (New Orleans/Roots), groups where you can hear Herring’s lyrics, and lead and backing vocals. Herring has performed and recorded with such great musicians as Joel Frahm, Ernesto Cervini, Tim Shia's Worst Pop Band Ever, Kevin Breit, Friendly Rich, Ab Baars (ICP/Amsterdam), Ken Vandermark, Dave Clark, David Braid, Mansa Sissoko (Mali, Africa), Kevin Turcotte, Bucky Pizzarelli, Percy Sledge, and Ernest Ranglin. He received a Chalmers Arts Fellowship (through the Ontario Arts Council) and used it for an extended stay in New York City.

"Michael Herring has established himself as one of the most creative musicians on the Canadian scene" Joseph Blake - Times-Colonist

“the boss's bass soars and swoops and the overall impact is tremendous” Geoff Chapman - Toronto Star