Album Notes

Bucovina Klezmer is known in Southern California as a 'gigging' band. As such, we have played an extraordinary number of private parties including weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries and even the occasional circumcision. We've learned, as any old world klezmer band would have learned, the public's taste and how that varies according to age, background and other individual proclivities.

The recording, "Bucovina Klezmer and Friends" is a reflection of our far-reaching repertoire. Whether playing for klezmer purists, those of mixed Jewish background, those with eclectic tastes or those who simply want a good band and couldn't care less about 'authenticity,' we've learned our lessons well. The CD is a mix of traditional klezmer, Yiddish theater, Sephardic melodies and repertoire from Israel. Additionally, we pay homage to the Russian violinist and composer, Joseph Achron through our interpretation of his "Hebrew Melody." We have wonderful solo performances by John Bilezikjian and vocal soloist Gary Weitz. Finally, band leader Miamon Miller wrote a "Peter and the Wolf" type of programmatic composition titled "Mazyk." The story is told entirely through music and describes two 'type A' instrumentalists (violinist and clarinetist) trying to coexist in the same band- life meets art.

Bucovina Klezmer's music has been used in the film "Keeping Up With the Steins" and in the documentary "Swimming in Auschwitz."