Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, the Red Hot Chachkas infuse the klezmer tradition of Eastern European Yiddish music with jazz, rock, oldtime, classical, and latin influences in their original compositions, arrangements, and improvisations. Their contagious musical performances inspire and transform audiences. At concert performances from the 2010 Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto to San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall, favorite clubs, theaters, galleries, community centers, schools, and Jewish congregations, as well as private parties and simchas ranging from orthodox to outlandish, their hot sound and uptempo beat has folks up dancing. Led by bandleader, dance leader, and classical violinist Julie Egger, the seasoned musicians draw on disparate influences and backgrounds, including soulful Barbara Speed (clarinet), balkanic Diana Strong (accordion), bluegrass Tony Phillips (mandolin), jazzy Breck Diebel (bass), and newest member Aharon Wheels Bolsta (drums). Their latest CD "Beats Without Borders" (2010) presents all new tunes composed by band members, and follows "Spice It Up!" (2007), and "Family Album" (2002).

Onstage at the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival

(May 2012)

Onstage at the Ashkenaz Festival

(Toronto, Canada, September 2010)

Live performance of Julie Egger's "Melted Chocolate" at Ashkenaz Festival, Sept.2010

Onstage with Joshua Nelson & the Kosher Gospel Singers 

(Kanbar Center, Marin Osher JCC, San Rafael, November 2009)

Live performance of Barb Speed's "Who Let the Cat Out?," at the Art House Gallery, Berkeley, March 2010

Video by Leonard Levy

Onstage with San Francisco Symphony 
(Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, December 2008)

Red Hot Chachkas make a bas mitzvah into a dance party

Video by Leonard Levy