The Casco Bay Tummlers with Jamie Saft album release

The Maine klezmer institution celebrates their first record in 20 years, a collaboration with jazz polymath Jamie Saft and Team Love Records.

A portion of every ticket will be donated to the Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance.

Portland, Maine’s The Casco Bay Tummlers have been performing klezmer music since 1988. In their five-decade-spanning career, they’ve released three studio albums, toured Germany, Slovenia, Italy, and Lithuania, scored a Belgian documentary, performed incidental music for theater, and played at countless high holidays, mitzvahs, weddings, and simchas.

The Tummlers have a unique sound and a stage performance that features all members of the band. Steve Gruverman brings an extensive background in ethnic dance music to his soulful clarinet playing. Carl Dimow has developed a distinctive klezmer flute style, making the instrument an equal solo voice in the music. John Clark is an incredibly versatile bass player–everything from symphony to surf–perfect for the Tummlers eclectic approach to klezmer. Nancy 3. Hoffman brings a playfulness which audiences love to both her accordion playing and her singing. Peter McLaughlin inflects the traditional role of drummer with unpredictable flourishes and expressive improvisation.

The band’s repertoire is versatile, ranging from original music to traditional dances and songs of the Yiddish theater and Jewish ghetto – all with original arrangements. Their long-awaited fourth album Dreams of Yesterday and Tomorrow, a collaboration with keyboardist/producer Jamie Saft, is due out May 23rd on Team Love Records.

Jeff Newelt on Dreams of Yesterday and Tomorrow:

Who knew that what’s old could be “so nu?” again? That the hottest live Klezmer scene may still be NYC, but the coolest Klezmer album since who knows what would be concocted in Maine? Der menschy makhshef Jamie Saft, nonpareil jazz (and then some) pianist who produced and plays keys on this album knew. Considering his past 30 years [also how long this band’s been Tummling] gigging and recording with the likes of Iggy Pop, Bad Brains, Beastie Boys, Dave Liebman, Laurie Anderson, Cyro Baptista, and Roswell Rudd, as well as ecstatically extruding six solo albums via the majestic maw that was Tzadik Records’ “Radical Jewish Culture” imprint, he should know!!

This is the Casco Bay Tummlers first new album in 20 years! The driving force for this project came from Jamie who moved to rural midcoast Maine from New York in 2021, where he was so inspired by the Tummlers sound and spirit that he began joining them for shows whenever possible. He was particularly tzmitten by the classic Yiddish vocals of Nancy 3. Hoffman, whose comforting, just-right delivery invariably shot his kvellometer to eleven.

”You guys are still a crucial piece of Yiddish culture” he kept saying to the band. “Let’s record!”

So they did, and the Tummlers performances of this beautiful, secular music of the Jewish diaspora have only deepened since their first album thirty years ago — staying true to the tradition while carrying it forward into the 21st century. Founded in 1988 in and around Portland, Maine, the Casco Bay Tummlers have performed joyfully at countless Maine simchas and remain the longest running Klezmer ensemble in the Pine Tree State.

And who should live so that a klezmer album should SOUND so good. Saft’s pristine production brings to mind the warmth and up close robustness of the feel good soulful jazz gem Johnny Hodges / Wild Bill Davis Con-Soul & Sax, but with today’s technology— gawjuss.

The Tummlers band is a happy gestalt, with no one member dominating the sound at any point. Steve Gruverman‘s worldly clarinet playing is informed by forays into ethnic dance music. Carl Dimow has developed a distinctive klezmer flute style, a sultry solo voice in the music. John Clark deftly lays down the bass throughout the proceedings. Nancy 3. Hoffman brings a timeless, instantly-beloved-by-audiences ebullience & playfulness to both her accordion playing and singing. Peter McLaughlin brings a breadth of musical experience in many styles to support the group with drums and percussion.

In this difficult third decade of the century, the Tummlers offer the world joy, artistry, and yes, a hope and prayer for peace.