The Salt Wives - European Chamber Folk Orchestra Klezmer Band from New Orleans, LA

The Salt Wives is a New Orleans-based ensemble of talented, versatile musicians performing a powerful cocktail of songs and instrumentals from the Old World, and a bit of the New. Our instrumental repertoire consists of klezmer (European Jewish wedding music), virtuosic Romanian and Balkan gypsy tunes, tangos, waltzes, and polkas. Our songs come from Yiddish, French, Russian, German, and South American folk and cabaret traditions. The instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, violin, guitar, euphonium (a large brass instrument that sounds like a cross between a french horn and a tuba), and upright bass, as well as male and female vocals, weaves a rich, orchestral texture, but with all the foot-stomping intensity of a gypsy band. Our program can be tailored to your event, as we are equally comfortable playing instrumental music for dancing or cocktails, or performing in a concert format. The number of musicians is flexible, according to your budget, between 3 and 6 players. We have a small PA system, and can run our own sound at no additional cost. Give our music a listen, and then hire us!