The Amsterdam Klezmer Band’s roots grow both from the streets and the music-conservatory. The band loves tradition and innovation, blows down festival tents, the roof off concert halls and draws tears in theaters. The AKB has been active in making music for almost 30 years.
The music of the Amsterdam Klezmer Band is a vibrant mix of klezmer, balkan, ska, jazz, gipsy, oriental and hip hop. It is an energetic mix of styles that is guaranteed to lead to a big party in any live situation.
In over more than twenty-five years, this group of Amsterdam based musicians has grown into a driven, internationally renowned, six-piece klezmer phenomenon. Anyone who expects a traditional evening based on the name will be in for a surprise. Because the AKB has forged it’s own sound, in which their own work is enhanced with rap, electronics or a ripping sax.
The Amsterdam Klezmer Band inspires worldwide. Bands are popping up in South America covering AKB songs. What distinguishes the AKB from many other Balkan and klezmer bands is the way in which the band, versatile and always developing, keeps on managing to give its music a new meaning. The band's music is always open to deviant or pleasantly disruptive musical
influences. That’s why the band sounds fresh and exciting, and they get it back from the audience. The band’s mission is simple: Celebrating life with music together with as many different people as possible. The Amsterdam Klezmer Band makes no distinction between genres, styles, origins, religion, or politics.
The band played at major festivals in Europe such as Lowlands, North Sea Jazz Festival and Sziget as well as Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Wiener Konzerthaus, Cité de la Musique in Paris and the Hong Kong jazz festival .
Festivals, theaters, stages, concert halls, bars or simply in the open air on the street, no stage is too big or too small.
The original line-up of the band changed in 2023 when Theo van Tol (accordion) unfortunately passed away and was succeeded by Ellen van Vliet.
19 albums have now been released. They entered into collaboration with Söndörgő, Enrico Macias, Rachid Taha, Meral Polat, Lilian Vieira, Boi Akih, Ernst Reijseger, Niki Jacobs, Bob Fosko, Benjamin herman, Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra, Galata Gypsy Band and many others. Soundtracks have been released for, among others, the film “le Chat du Rabbin” by Joann Sfar and music for the nature documentary De Wilde Stad.
With this impressive musical portfolio and the position the band has acquired, the AKB feels responsible for maintaining and passing on the Klezmer tradition. In that context, the Amsterdam Klezmer Academy was founded in 2023 (with support from the AFK). A new website was released: www.amsterdamklezmeracademy.com, where education plays an important role. The band members years of musical experience in the field of Balkan and klezmer are now shared with the world through tutorial videos. The intricacies of klezmer are all explained here. The AKB play-along book with sheet music and play-along tracks was also published in 2023.
The most recent album Diaspora was released at the beginning of 2026. The Amsterdam Klezmer Band returned to its roots with traditional klezmer music aswel as new composed music.
There will be a club tour starting in March 2026 till May.
After 29 years, the Amsterdam Klezmer Band is still alive and current. We work with great inspiration on new music, new live shows, tradition, innovation, and safeguarding and renewing the Klezmer tradition.
This opinion is shared by leading journalists in the Netherlands;
The band excels – individually and as a team – in pieces that oscillate between wistful
melancholy and exuberant cheerfulness. – Trouw
Amsterdam Klezmer Band is shaking things up; … firmly founded in craft and technique, with an overwhelming rapidity and lightness; – Het Parool
Amsterdam Klezmer Band stands for a contemporary approach to Klezmer that takes you along and inspires you, combines dance and party with melancholy and contemplation. – Written in Music
Musicians line-up:
Jasper de Beer – Double bass, guitar banjo
Job Chajes – Alto saxophone, Vocals
Mischa Porte – Drums
Joop van der Linden – Trombone
Janfie van Strien – Clarinet
Theo van Tol – Accordion †
Ellen van Vliet – Accordion