From: David Kaufman <73501.3677@compuserve.com> Subject: The New Klezmorim Sender: owner-jewish-music@shamash.org To: World music from a Jewish slant Reply-To: jewish-music@shamash.org X-Sender: David Kaufman <73501.3677@compuserve.com> I have received a number of enquiries through the list regarding my video program: "The New Klezmorim: Voices Inside the Revival of Yiddish Music." This program was taped at KlezKanada in 1998 and was released earlier this year. It features performances by Brave Old World, Adrienne Cooper with Zalmen Mlotek, Josh Waletzky with Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer, the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Bruce Adler, David Harris and Mimi Rabson, and Hankus Netsky with members of the KCB. There are also extensive interviews with members of Brave Old World, Hankus Netsky, Zalmen Mlotek, and others who are devoted to the study and dissemination of Yiddish culture and Klezmer music. The program premiered at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival and has played in a number of other Jewish film festivals and venues. The program is now available both as a home video and for festival and institutional sales and rentals from Ergo Media (P.O.Box 2037, Teaneck, NJ 07666-1437, 1-877-JEWISHVIDEO. www.jewishvideo.com). http://www.jewishvideo.com/cgi-local/shop.pl/page=JMUSIC_2.HTM/SID=1059882419.9518 (also, page for "in the fiddler's house") David Kaufman 73501.3677@compuserve.com -------------------------------------- A Jumpin' Night in the Garden of Eden http://www.firstrunfeatures.com/vid/jump.html -------------------------------------- Call Dave. Large portion of my career that landed in my lap--didn't seek it out. I'm thankful for it. It's given me a lot of work, interesting work. Later, it's part of my career, but it's not my definition of me. Got classical degree of NEC and while I was there I learned about many things I never thought I'd learn about, including klezmer, and that led a lot of different places. Never a cultural or roots journey. Could just as easily have been in a balkan band or salsa band that became big and followed that. We did one concert at Coolidge Corner (KCB) in 1978 and then there were lots of relatives who wanted us for weddings, so we kept going. Had no idea there was Jewish music growing up. The music, like all good ethnic music, has groove. It's great to play. Whereas, I don't really like country or opera. What do you really look for? Interesting rhythms, interestng modes. Dance music.--my bands, Brass Planet, Les Miserable--it's all about groove. I'd get LPs by country at Cheapos in the Ethnic music section and that's what I loved. Hanging out with Mimi and Charlie and Frank and Don Byron and we'd listen to Stravinski and Eddie Palmieri and Yvo Papasov. We're all cut from the same jib. "Who elected Zorn of all people to say 'I'm not Jewish enough'? Especially after he's done a Burt Bacharach album, especially hearing Massada." I definitely have a Jewish cultural identity, but this is not a part of my musical identity. Other than how that culture manifests itself in my identity ... I am who I am. I don't think it effects my identity as a musician. My music comes more from Yes, ELP, Genesis, jazz, electric bands, a world beat concept. People don't ask Japanese people why they play classical music. I chose not to be in the classical field because while I want to play new music. ---------------------------------------------------- Michal--started with the Klezmorim, and they kind of blew her off, and then she realized that there were no women in the band, and that seemed atypical. Kapelye was more interesting to me, and KCB was more interesting to me. And I moved back east, so for me was easier. But Hankus and henry, friends, doing very different things, but then at end, Henry starts Klezcamp and Hankus comes to teach. I wanted a film about process, not ye olde guided tour of the revival. So, no Andy Statman. To me that's what is exciting. To see Hankus figure out how to transcribe something, and then to take it to the band and have them figure out how to play it. didn't interview older musicians myself; instead filmed younger musicians interviewing older musicians. So, instead of me filming Dave Tarras, Henry does a set interview (per Michal's questions) with Dave Tarras. Also, Hankus/Ben Galing; Michael/Leon Schwartz doesn't actually listen to that much klezmer now. The one album that I listen to over and over and over is the Klezmatics with Chava Alberstein. listen to more arabic music than klezmer. I think it's more complex. I found that the membrane between one ethnic music and another was much more permeable than I expected. This music is connected to Turkish music and Bulgarian music and Gypsy music. I now go to Harvard Hillel Minyan. Have been doing that for the last couple of years. Even the Um Kultum