Leon Schwartz was a klezmer

Klezmer

Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...

 and classical music

Classical music

Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...

 violinist

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

 who was born in Karapchiv, Ukrainian Bukovina

Bukovina

Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...

 and lived most of his life in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. He taught and acted as mentor to key klezmer revivalist Michael Alpert

Michael Alpert

Michael Alpert is a klezmer singer and multi-instrumentalist and has been called a key figure in the klezmer revival of the 1970s and 1980s....

 as well as Alicia Svigals

Alicia Svigals

Alicia Svigals is an American violinist and composer, is a founder of the Grammy-winning band The Klezmatics and is considered by many to be the world's foremost living klezmer fiddler.-Life and career:...

.

He recorded an album Like in a Different World late in his life on the label Global Village

Global Village

Global Village is an Australian television show broadcast by the Australian public broadcaster SBS. The program is hosted by Silvio Rivier, who also does many of the voice overs. In 2008 it combined with Thalassa, a French documentary series, to expand its coverage of coastal areas.Global Village...

and also appeared in a scene in the klezmer documentary 'A Jumpin Night in the Garden of Eden'.

According to klezmer fiddler Bob Cohen, this album offers "One of the best examples of traditional Jewish fiddling ... Leon’s range of styles and inter-ethnic repertoire reflects his region as well as his own Jewish upbringing."