SUSAN WATTS
Energizes Klezmer Music
Ellen Braunstein
S USAN WATTS comes from a long line of perform-
ers of the Jewish genre of klezmer music: The
klezmer dynasty dates to 19th century Ukraine
and begins with Watts’ great-grandfather, the musician,
composer, cornet player and poet Joseph Hoff man.

Watts is a trumpeter, composer, singer and arranger.

Her repertoire is fi lled with her family’s music created by
her great-grandfather and also her grandfather, Jacob
Hoff man. The latter left Podolia, Ukraine, in 1905 and
settled in West Philadelphia, bringing his music with
him. That’s where his daughter Elaine was born and
where she fi rst learned how to play the drums.

Being a fourth-generation klezmer musician is
something that no other contemporary klezmer player
can claim, Watts said. Carrying the mantle of klezmer,
keeping it at the forefront of the Jewish cultural experi-
ence and keeping it full of life brings her satisfaction,
she said.

“It gives me a sense of existential peace to know that I
am the result of generations before me and that I have a
mantle to carry and that I have a responsibility to speak
for them,” said Watts, who has added her compositions
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