Motzoei Shabbos (Saturday), December 20, 2025, 7:30pm
$15 donation requested.
About the performers:
Jerry Kissingler is one of North America’s foremost presenters of Eastern European rhythms, percussionist Jerry Kisslinger has performed Balkan and Klezmer music at community events, concerts, and festivals for decades. On the faculty of the East European Folklife Center’s workshops since 1985, he teaches at workshops in the US and abroad, and with private students, and leads the informal music for congregation Mishkan Ha’am in Hastings.
A founding member of Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band, he currently plays with ZU and Kavala Brass Band as well as Pontic Firebird and other ensembles. Jerry’s discography includes Édessa and Friends: Balkan Border Music, Like in a Different World with traditional klezmer violinist Leon Schwartz, Di Shikere Kapelye, with Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All Stars,` as well as four recordings with Zlatne Uste and guest appearances on Raif Hyseni 24 and Dolunay’s Our House.
Jordan Shapiro is a Hudson Valley–based pianist, accordionist, guitarist, vocalist and bandleader known for his long-standing work in Balkan/Eastern European music, bluegrass music and progressive rock. A fixture of the NYC scene for decades, he’s performed in countless ensembles, bringing a deep feel for regional styles to both keyboards/accordion and guitar. His sideman work includes tours and recordings with Project/Object, Gary Lucas and Nona Hendryx, and a wide range of gigs that reflect his ability to move fluidly across folk traditions, rock music, and improvisation. Jordan is the founder and bandleader of Choban Elektrik, a project dedicated to reimagining Balkan folk music through the sounds of vintage keyboards, electric textures, and tight ensemble interplay. Under his direction, the group has appeared in formats ranging from a core trio to a full six-piece lineup with strings, horns, and vocals—each arrangement built around Jordan’s vision of bringing new life to traditional melodies. Alongside his work as a performer, he is also an active teaching artist, leading workshops and school programs that explore global folk traditions and creative music-making.
Daniel Elias (musical director and clarinetist) is a founding member of the Elias Ladino Ensemble. The grandson of Rabbi David Elias Cassorla and the son of Joe Elias, he has been collecting and performing Ladino music since the age of 15. A product of a mixed marriage, his learned Yiddish at the knee of his maternal grandmother. A product of his surroundings, Daniel brings the streets of Brooklyn alive with his instrument. There is so much good music in the world that Daniel feels benefits from the clarinet. In playing Classical, Klezmer, Ladino, Greek, Jazz and American Contradance music, this approach seems to work. While attending Harpur College, Daniel won the 1982 concerto competition.
