Schmaltz & Pepper

Schmaltz & Pepper is a dazzling chamber ensemble blending klezmer, Yiddish swing, jazz, and classical music with virtuosic flair and plenty of heart. Featuring Toronto Symphony principal clarinetist Eric Abramovitz, GRAMMY-nominated arranger Drew Jurecka, Payadora Ensemble founder Rebekah Wolkstein, JUNO-nominated bassist Michael Herring, and JUNO Award–winning pianist Jeremy Ledbetter, the group brings together some of Canada’s most compelling musicians. Since their debut in 2024, they have quickly become a must-hear act, selling out festivals across the country and releasing their debut album Schmaltz & Pepper in 2025. Bold, inventive, and irresistibly entertaining, Schmaltz & Pepper is redefining the sound of contemporary Yiddish music.