Craig Judelman

Craig Judelman (Violin) grew up in Seattle and since the age of four, was never more comfortable than when he had a fiddle in his hand. He started with classical music but was quickly drawn to traditional folk cultures, studying Klezmer, Jazz, American and other folk music wherever he could. His passion for engaging with the sounds in old recordings and adapting to what the moment demands has led him around the world, performing and teaching klezmer and old time American folk music on both sides of the Atlantic. Highlights of his recordings include ‘Have Moicy 2’ featuring Peter Stampfel (The Fugs) and other members of the Holy Modal Rounders, and the album ‘Old Man Below’ featuring his now defunct old time string band ‘The Dust Busters’ and their mentor John Cohen (The New Lost City Ramblers) which was released on the Smithsonian Folkways label in 2012. His current bands include an old time string band called ‘Interstate Express’, klezmer trio “Lebedik” with Sasha Lurje, and Sklamberg, Lurje, Judelman Trio with Sasha Lurje and the Klezmatics’s Lorin Sklamberg. 

Craig and Sasha both currently live in Berlin where they help drive one of the worlds most active Yiddish music scenes, but spend most of their time on the road playing and teaching the next generation and pushing this rich culture in its continuing evolutions.