Yiddish Cowboys

As the band name suggests, Yiddish Cowboys is a group of Jewish instrumentalists generally decked out in stetsons and wranglers. The Austin-based Hebrews play traditional klezmer and are fronted by Michael Drapkin, who is considered one of the world's preeminent bass clarinet players and is the writer of a series of books regarded as the standard for bass clarinet study. While klezmer today is generally associated with Jewish celebrations - weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs - Yiddish Cowboys performs its traditional pieces at any occasion and in venues throughout the country.