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Seth Kibel

Seth Kibel is one of the Mid-Atlantic's premier woodwind specialists, working with some of the best bands in klezmer, jazz, swing, and more. Wowing audiences on clarinet, flute, and saxophone, Seth has made a name for himself in the Washington/Baltimore region and beyond. He is a featured performer with The Kleztet, Bay Jazz Project, Music Pilgrim Trio, Daryl Davis Band, The Natty Beaux, and more. Winner of 28 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), including "Best World Music Instrumentalist" (2003-11) and "Best Jazz Instrumentalist" (2005, 2007-8, 2011-14). His most recent recording, "Clarinet, Without a Net," was released in June 2026 on the Azalea City Recordings record label. He's won numerous prizes in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (MASC) including the Grand Prize in 2016 and a Gold Prize in 2022. When he's not performing, Seth lectures on music history for numerous institutions, including the Osher Lifelong Learning programs at Johns Hopkins and Towson Universities.

Awards

Winner of 28 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), including "Best World Music Instrumentalist" (2003-11) and "Best Jazz Instrumentalist" (2005, 2007-8, 2011-14).

Seth Kibel: Clown with a Stick

Read "Clown with a Stick" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
August 4, 2023

A stick? Most definitely. A clown? Most definitely not. Seth Kibel is far more virtuoso than court jester, especially on his main axe, the clarinet (sometimes referred to as a liquorice stick), as he proves time and again on this inclusive and thoroughly delightful album. Okay, so the music is for the most part more swing/klezmer/folk than jazz; that hardly matters when Kibel is in charge. While he may not improvise often, he is no slouch when ...