Paul Wieder interviews Maxwell Street Klezmer’s Lori Lippitz

The band that has helped so many of Chicago’s Jewish families celebrate their simchas is now celebrating a milestone of its own. Chicago’s own Maxwell Street Klezmer Band is marking a quarter century of bringing its energetic music to Chicago… and the world. The gantze megilla— that’s Yiddish for “the whole story”— of the band’s origins, its tours of Europe, and its five recordings is available in this exclusive, hour-long interview with Lori Lippitz, the founder and lead singer of the band. In the interview, she also discusses the klezmer history of the Maxwell Street area, and band’s efforts to further klezmer music through its Junior Band and its Klezmer Music Foundation; listen to it at www.juf.org.

During the Chanukah season, the band will be offering three opportunities to hear them live:

Chanukah Concert Sat., December 20, 7:30 pm, Sunday at 1:30 and 4:30 pm. North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, following “Brother Heinrich’s Christmas,” presented by Ars Viva.

Hanukah Dinner and Concert, Monday, Dec. 22, 6:00, Dinner 4:30 and 7:00 pm, Chicago Botanic Gardens

“Eight Nights of Joy” concert with Rabbi Joe Black, Saturday, Dec. 27, at 7:00 pm, Temple Sholom of Chicago