Jewish band Kugelplex performed for Sonoma State University’s Jewish Music Series on Thursday, Sept. 2 outside Schroeder Hall. For the seventh year in a row, the Jewish Studies Department and the Department of Music presented this free and public series to highlight Jewish musical excellence. 

Kugelplex was formed in 2001, and the group plays soulful dance music at concerts, festivals and Jewish cultural events throughout the United States. According to Kugelplex’s website, the band describes themselves as “the West Coast’s most rockin’-est purveyor of Klezmer and old-world party music.”

During the opening of their performance, Kugelplex’s manager and clarinet player Jason Ditzian, expressed how significant the concert at Sonoma State was to the band. “This is a special concert because we haven’t played together since the pandemic. There was a time where we didn’t know when we would be playing again and what our music community would look like, so this is really amazing and special for us,” said Ditzian. 

The band played Klezmer music, which is a musical genre used by the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The music consists of dance tunes and ritual melodies, and is widely played at weddings and traditional social gatherings. 

The Jewish Studies Program Director, Brian Wilson, gave his perspective on the event. “This was the first live concert the music department has put on in a year and half.

Kugelplex is a high energy Klezmer band and they delivered an electrifying performance.

I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our seventh season of The Jewish Music Series,” said Wilson.

The concert was attended by about 50 people and several students enrolled in the Jewish Music Survey course at SSU watched the concert.

Haley Otis, an undeclared third year student in the Jewish Music Survey class, shared her thoughts and favorite moments from the performance. “My favorite part of the concert was watching the clarinet performance because of all the musician’s techniques. All the solos were really cool, and I really enjoyed the whole thing. I was tapping my feet and jamming out,” she said. 

Otis appreciated that the band’s performance took place outside. “I liked the outside atmosphere with the wind and sun surrounding us. I noticed that during one song where the tune was picking up, the wind started to pick up as well. I thought that was really awesome,” said Otis.

Kugelplex performed a variety of tunes for about 90 minutes and played songs used for traditional gatherings and weddings. One of the band members incorporated Arabic tunes, and the vocalists featured popular Romain dance songs.

Otis explained why she thought the concert and taking Jewish studies courses are important. “The concert helped spread multiple cultures and lifestyles by even including Arabic and Romanian tunes. A lot of people in the Jewish studies class are not Jewish at all, and the course allows people to become more aware of the Jewish community. I dig the music and now I find myself listening to it in my free time. I think it’s fascinating,” she said. 

Abby Reitman, a fourth year English major, gave her perspective on Sonoma State’s Jewish Music Series as a Jewish student herself. 

“I appreciate that these events take place on our campus. I think having Jewish music performances[are] super important, especially during the rise of antisemitism that has occurred on college campuses in the last 5 years. A lot of people don’t say they are Jewish because they are scared of backlash, so I think these events that showcase the Jewish culture are very cool. These concerts give Jewish people a place to go and a place to relate to others. It really is a bonding experience,” said Reitman. 

For more information on the Jewish Music Series and a full list of the performers for this season check out the music department webpage, music.sonoma.edu.