Traditional, pure klezmer dance tunes and tish nigunim - listening music, from an
old world, acoustic, and authentic ensemble. This is not the big band klezmer
sound of the '40's and '50's but the back to the roots sound of the klezmer revival
of the 1980's. The lush sound of Rebecca's clarinet and Patrick's button accordion
and Judith's violin comes from a dedicated effort to play in real traditional style.
This has no simple lead playing backed up by a 'back up' band or big drums with
a little melody mixed in. It has the lush texture of all of the instruments played
in the idiomatic klezmer style that creates a constantly creative mix of their
instruments' sounds. Listening with really good headphones is recommended.
Judith Eisner attended KlezKanada for eight summers, in order to learn klezmer
violin from Steven Greenman, Deborah Strauss, Michael Alpert and others. She
brought Rebecca Erickson the clarinet player, to study with David Krakauer, and
Kurt Bjorling for a couple of summers and they, as well as Doug Cole the
mandolin player, reveled in the klezmer immersion study offered there in Montreal.
Patrick Harison came to a rehearsal one day like a full force gale and just blew us
away with his knowledge of Balkan, klezmer and Turkish accordion styles. No
wonder, he had been to Turkey and Eastern Europe as well as to New Orleans
and New York City, jamming with some of the best in the world; and Patrick is
only in his mid 20's - yikes!
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