With sophisticated arrangements and energetic rhythms, the five musicians from Cologne make it just as easy for their audience to listen devoutly as to dance exuberantly.

Tovte, that is: Tobias Gubesch (clarinet), Nathalie Litzner (viola), Anna Neubert (violin), Leonhard Spies (guitar) and Silas Eifler (double bass). The group came together in the summer of 2012, initially as a buskers band around Tobias Gubesch.



Straight off the street, Tovte was invited to play at a Jewish wedding in the synagogue of Cologne. The birth of the band and the initial spark for a journey into the world of klezmer.

Since then the five musicians have continued to develop and combine influences from klezmer and jazz-manouche with pop and classical music, creating a unique style.

"Tovte's original compositions deliver a surprisingly fresh klezmer, the arrangements alternate between very emotional and very energetic passages. Tovte's music is lively, emotional and captivating." Creole NRW Price Jury 2019

Inspiration erhielten Tovte von namhaften Musikern wie dem David Orlowsky Trio und Giora Feidman.

Tovte wurde eingeladen zu Radiosendern wie DLF Kultur, WDR, BR Klassik, HR2 und SWR Kultur. November 2024 erschien ihr zweites Album „Bukovina“ mit auschließlich eigenen Kompositionen (Nussbaumrecords/ Broken Silence). 2019 erspielte sich Tovte den Sonderpreis beim NRW Creole Wettbewerb für Weltmusik.