Featuring SUSAN LANKIN-WATTS and special guests TSIBELE, MARILYN LERNER and RACHEL LEMISCH

Elaine Hoffman Watts z”l (1932-2017) was a legendary musician and teacher in the world of contemporary klezmer percussion. As a woman in a mostly male profession, Elaine charted her own course, challenging perceptions of what a klezmer drummer should look like. Part of a klezmer dynasty going back to Ukraine, Elaine passed on the tradition in her own family and served as a teacher and inspiration to thousands of students, particularly female musicians.  For Ashkenaz 2018, Elaine’s daughter, trumpeter and vocalist Susan Lankin-Watts, will lead an all-star ensemble of female and non-binary musicians in a set of new compositions and reimagined traditional tunes that honour Elaine’s legacy.