A blend of Yiddish and American idioms, Kelzmer music became widely known in the 1800's. But by the 1940's, it's popularity had waned. A revival began in the 1970's, and the KCB was formed in 1980 by Hankus Netsky. For it's first decade, the KCB toured coast to coast. It finally headed abroad in 1990, staging several concerts in Germany and playing the first ever International Yiddish Festival in Krakov, Poland. Described as alternately 'saucy' and 'virtuosic,' the KCB, now a 10-piece band, has appeared several times on Minnesota Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" and has also performed on PBS with Itzhak Perlman. The KCB has numerous widely-distributed discs under it's belt, including releases on the revered Vanguard and Rounder folk labels.