Burton’s legacy
About Klezmokum
The Klezmokum Foundation was founded in 2006 by American jazz pianist Burton Greene.
In the years that followed, many concerts were organized with the support of the Jewish Maror Funds. In June 2021, Burton passed away at the age of 84, and it was his express wish that the foundation continue its musical activities in his spirit. To honor this, the foundation’s name and statutes were amended, and a new location was rented at Elementenstraat 16 in Amsterdam-West, where Burton's legacy can be kept alive through exhibitions, workshops, living room concerts, and guest performances.
The Klezmokum Foundation's primary goal in previous years was to present the music of the group Klezmokum to the public through concerts and by releasing this music on CDs or other audio carriers. Thanks to subsidies granted several times by the Bureau Maror Funds (Jewish restitution funds), numerous concerts were held in synagogues and other Jewish institutions in various locations across the Netherlands. In addition to several CDs, (live) performances have also been recorded on DVD.
Over the years, the group Klezmokum has featured different line-ups. Several prominent jazz musicians have been part of the group, such as Michael Moore (clarinet/alto sax), Hans Mekel (clarinet), Larry Fishkind (tuba), Perry Robinson (clarinet), Patricia Beysens (flugelhorn/vocals), Sophie van Lier (vocals), Marek Balata (vocals), Lior Kuperberg (saxes), Steve Coke (sax/flute), Itai Weissman (saxes), Salvoandrea Lucifora (sousaphone/trombone), and Aviv Noam (alto sax). Alongside Burton, Roberto Haliffi was the group's regular drummer/percussionist throughout all those years.
