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Meshuganah Mambo

Only in New York can Meshuganah Mambo exist: fusing klezmer melodies with tropical grooves for a one-of-a-kind sound. Clarinet-led lines and sweet synth sounds ride over mambo and Cumbia rhythms, resulting in a playful, groove-forward music that’s immediately engaging and deeply soulful. This is a band that’s built for movement, connection, and big, open-air stages.

The project draws inspiration from a forgotten moment in American music, when Yiddish and Latin bands shared stages in mid-century, Catskills resorts (known as The Borscht Belt) and in New York’s legendary dance halls. Records like Irving Fields’ Bagels and Bongos—alongside the music of the La Plata Sextette, Tito Puente, and the Palladium-era mambo scene—sparked a cultural crossover where Yiddish melodies met Latin rhythm sections. Meshuganah Mambo reclaims that spirit, treating it not as nostalgia, but as a living source of creative energy.

Grounded firmly in the present, the band brings the spirit of community, improvisation and modern sensibility to their performances. Meshuganah Mambo delivers fun concerts that live up to its musically rich influences—inviting audiences of all backgrounds to dance, smile, and discover a global sound that feels both timeless and new.