Roccchhhhh and Roll
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- Published on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 11:31
- Written by Matt Robinson
Johnny D’s offers Klezmer one-two Jan 24/26
On Jaunary 24 and 26, this mix of musical mishegas will be celebrated with a set of shows t Johnny D’s in Somerville (www.johnnyds. com). On January 24, Half Jewish will perform with Naftule’s Dream. On the 26th, Klezwoods will rock (or is that “rochhhh”?) the house along with Trubaci.
When asked what keeps Klezmer alive in (particularly in Boston), Naftule’s Dream drummer Eric Rosenthal suggests that it is the combination of “great musicians, great band leaders, people and places willing to produce live music.”
Though some of the members of these bands often play together in other groups, the community is apparently large enough for all of them. Even so, many bandleaders are happy that they can pull from other groups to sweeten their own group’s sound.
When asked what he feels the appeal of Klezmer is, Half Jewish’s founding drummer/composer Ron Rudin attributes it to the structure of the music itself. “Klezmer uses the liturgical modes I heard growing up,” Rudin recalls. As a result he says, “Klezmer can sound happy and sad at the same time, which may explain its wide appeal.
Also it’s party music!” Klezwoods’ trumpeter Sam Dechenne adds that Klezmer music is “appealing on different levels. It can be fun dance music that gets your toes tappin’, and also can bring you to tears with the beautiful melodies and expressive quality.” Dechenne also attributes Klezmer’s appeal to its “unique… Old World sound”- something that he says “we all love to hear and be a part of.”
Dechenne’s band started off four years ago when bandleader Joseph Kessler was asked to put together a “Klezmer Christmas” concert in Cambridge. “He gathered fellow musician friends from Klezmer, jazz, folk, classical and Balkan backgrounds to play the show,” Dechenne recalls. “It went over so well that he decided to form the band and start playing shows….We all have brought different tunes, styles and strengths to the table over the years and have collectively evolved the band into what it is today.”
Though he is proudly “all- Jewish,” Rudin put together Half Jewish “in order to play with some of my favorite musicians and to show that Klezmer is not the only Jewish music,” says Rudin. “I’ve always played in Klezmer bands and put together groups to play in area synagogues,” Rudin explains, adding that he also writes a good deal of music, much of which “sounds Jewish.”
As its name may suggest, Half Jewish which actually first came together at a performance in St. Paul’s Cathedral) draws from Klezmer and non-Klezmer bands, including Hot Tamale Brass Band, John Brown’s Body, Humanwine and Klezmer Conservatory Band. Though some of its members also perform with KCB, Naftule’s Dream was born primarily from the more traditional Klezmer ensemble known as Shirim Klezmer Orchestra.
“The band broke off from the Klezmer group Shirim back in 1997,” Rosenthal explains. “Previous to that most of us had been performing together since 1993.” Though steeped in the Klezmer tradition, Rosenthal adds that Naftule’s Dream offers both “respect and playfulness” and that their sows are both edifying and highly entertaining.
Though he admits that Naftule’s Dream is “very” different from Shirim, Rosenthal also explains that both groups use many of the same musical themes and ideas. “We kind of wrap many of the elements found in Klezmer music into original compositions,” he says, noting a panoply of musical interests among Naftule’s members that ranges from progressive rock and free improvisation to Balkan and modern classical styles. “It all gets pretty reckless at times,” Rosenthal admits, “but there’s a very high level of musicality going on. I’s fun to do, and I think it’s fun to watch.”
Rudin’s group also mixes a mélange of musical modes- So many, in fact, that Rudin is “uncomfortable” limiting his band to the Klezmer genre. “Eight musicians is a big band,” Rudin suggests, noting that many Klezmer musicians are multi-instrumentalists. Even so, Rudin admits, Klezmer is his main influence and where his challah s buttered. “”I won’t say it’s in my blood,” Rudin says, “but it’s in my ears.”
As for Klezwoods (who will also perform at Berklee’s Café 939 on February 17), Dechenne says that they too are a musical mashup. “Klezwoods has it’s roots in Klezmer music,” he explains, “but is now truly it’s own sound that you just have to hear to experience!” At their live shows, all of Naftule’s various members and their many various influences come into play and the band offers not only selections from their four albums but also new compositions by their ever-creative contributors.
“It’s a very original book,” Rosenthal says when considering the body of work his band has compiled. On the 24th we’ll play them all…or as many as we can fit into one set.” “We’re serious about the music,” Rudin adds when asked what he hopes to bring to the show, “but I’m not above mixing in a little shtick.”
Klezwoods started a little over 4 years ago when our bandleader, Joseph Kessler, was asked to put together a “Klezmer Christmas” concert at Atwoods Tavern. He gathered fellow musician friends from klezmer, jazz, folk, classical and balkan backgrounds to play the show. It went over so well that he decided to form the band and start playing shows. 4 years later and we’ve toured all over the northeast, played all sorts or concerts, played festivals overseas, recorded an album and are in the process of recording a 2nd!
Klezmer music is appealing on different levels. It can be fun dance music that gets your toes tappin’, and also can bring you to tears with the beautiful melodies and expressive quality. The instrumentation and old world sound is really a unique thing that we all love to hear and be a part of. The band started off as a klezmer band playing traditional klezmer music. We all have brought different tunes, styles and strengths to the table over the years and have collectively evolved the band into what it is today. Klezwoods has it’s roots in klezmer music, but is now truly it’s own sound that you just have to hear to experience!
The Klezwoods show is truly an amazing experience. The mix of fiddle, horns, rhythm and percussion sections blend together in a way that must be heard in a live setting. Blazing fast melodies, beautiful and emotive improvisation, dancing and singing can be expected at every show!
Eric Rosenthal, drums, has developed a prominent career playing jazz and improvised music, recording and performing internationally with the big band Either/Orchestra, Roswell Rudd, Anthony Braxton, blues artist David Maxwell, John Voigt, Bhob Rainey, Jack Wright and others. He is currently a member of the Charlie Kolhase Quintet, the Dave Bryant Quartet (Dave is a former member of Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time) and the avant klezmer group “Paul Brody’s Sadawi” based in Berlin.
