Cookie Segelstein on the cover of Hadassah Magazine
Yes, that's our own Cookie Segelstein on the cover of the current Hadassah Magazine. Her photo is featured to highlight a delightful article by George Robinson on the Eastern European roots klezmer popularized by Cookie's bands < a href="/contacts/klezbands_v.html#band.vpass">Veretski Pass and Budowitz. (Okay, the latter was founded by partner Josh Horowitz.) Other featured artists include Alicia Svigals, Steve Greenman, Michael Winograd, Joel Rubin, and Yale Strom.
This is not new stuff—I remember writing about the radical edge of new klezmer over 10 years ago, having met Josh, and Bob Cohen during a jaunt through Eastern Europe in 1996. I can still taste the food, and still hear them telling stories about finding local musicians and learning from them. I can still hear the music, but that's easier. Both Veretski Pass and Budowitz have released their best yet CDs this past year (which is to say, the best klezmer CDs of the year by anyone), and the new Di Naye Kapelye CD should be arriving shortly (available now in Europe?). Michael Winograd's recent "Bessarabian Hop" is also garnering deserved attention.
George also gives a nod to the post-revival kick given klezmer by the arrival of the late German Goldenshtayn to Brooklyn too few years ago with an amazing songbook and so much wonderful music.We'll post more once Hadassah posts the current magazine to their website. Right now, it features October 2008.