First Blog

This is the first of an series of intermittent recountings of my previous and upcoming adventures in Klezmer. Within, I promise nothing but my own musings which may amuse only me. All opinions are my own. I represent no one (officially). If you want controversy, please ask nicely.

What is Klezmer? Well, it really depends on who you ask. If you've found me here, you probably don't need me to tell you, but if you're some random visitor, here's an attempt at a definition.

Klezmer is primarily Eastern-European Jewish (Ashkenazi) instrumental dance music. I say "primarily" because the current klezmer scene has grown to encompass Yiddish song, dance and other cultural forms. It has also come to see a flourishing of klezmer fusions with other musical styles and genres.

I'm prompted to write a blog because, while I have spent a great deal of the past 10 or so years playing and researching klezmer, I will be spending almost the entire summer of 2010 engaged in klezmer-related activities.  Also, it'll keep my mom off my back for updates on what I'm doing.

My itinerary:

Saturday, June 26, 11pm: Performing original "klezmer-fusion" with my band, KlezFactor, in Montreal, Quebec at the Ghetto Shul during the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Monday, June 28 - Saturday, July 3: enjoying the 20th Jewish Cultural Festival in Krakow, Poland.

Sunday, July 4 - Monday, July 19: study klezmer with some of the best musicians in the world at Yiddish Summer Weimar in beautiful Weimar, Germany.

Tuesday, July 20 - Saturday, August 7: Enjoy Europe! I am trying to find some klezmer jamming opportunities for this time...

Sunday, August 8 - Saturday, August 14: Enjoy KlezFest in London, England.

Monday, August 16 - Sunday, August 22: Study at KlezKanada in Lantier, Quebec, Canada.

Sunday, August 22: Play a wedding with members of KlezFactor at home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All in all, a busy summer of travel, learning, and great music, framed by a couple of gigs!

Stay tuned for more.