Monday, December 7, 2015

Khevrisa: European Klezmer Music - The Khevrisa Ensemble - Steven Greenman, Violin - Zev Feldman, Cimbalom - Alicia Svigals, Sekund (Trad. Fidlling) - Michael Alpert, Sekund - Stuart Brontman, Bass - Smithsonian Folkways 2000

I received a comment by Cecille, a representative of Smithsonian Folkways and thus the file to d/l this album I have removed. I am leaving the rest of the post here in hope that the cover art (and my enthusiasm!) will motivate you to seek it out and buy it,  as I did. Here is the Smithsonian Folkways
website (there's also a ton of important, historic recordings in their discography; one of my absolute favorites is all the original (1930s-40s) recordings of the legendary bluesman Leadbelly. Incredible stuff). Oh, I started to ramble, here is the website: http://www.folkways.si.edu/  Whether it's via Amazon or the direct link provided, please support this not-for-profit record label!!

Again, just the album art and my thoughts remain below:

Here's a very fine disc of traditional klezmer music; this is actual type of ensemble and music that my great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents and other relatives living in Poland, Ukraine, and Russia heard growing up, whether walking through their villages or during times of celebration. I have quite a sweet spot for this music, and I was really obsessed with klezmer for a good period of time (traditional, modern/avant-garde/jazz inspired/"downtown NYC" and so-called radical "New Jewish Music", as is best represented on many Tzadik recordings (John Zorn's Label). The musicians here are some of the finest in the world, and all of them have performed in many ensembles, modern and more traditional over the years (such as Alicia Svigals, founder of the 'Klezmatics', Michael Alpert and Stuart Brontman, both of 'Brave Old World', and Steven Greenman and Zev Feldman, the founders of the 'Khevrisa' ensemble heard here).I have seen the Klezmatics and Brave Old World at least 10 times each, and the atmosphere created by these passionate players in concert-ecstatic and mournful both, is hard to describe. I can say it's a rollicking good time though!   





9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Thank you so much.

Mark said...

Tzadik- here's an article I recently wrote on klezmer that might amuse you. http://jewschool.com/2015/11/38407/charan-po-rantan-klezmer-without-borders/

Bear said...

I'm a huge fan of klezmer, but I found this recording to be rather dark and depressing. The players seemed to be lacking in the customary joy that klezmer usually offers. Just my 2 cents worth, but when I next reach for a klezmer album I'm more likely to reach for Kroke or the Budapest Klezmer Orchestra.

Having voiced my criticism, thank you for the Jewish themed recordings you've been posting lately. Always appreciated!

SmithsonianFolkwaysRecordings said...

Thanks for your interest and support of this Smithsonian Folkways Klezmer recording.

Smithsonian Folkways is the non-profit record label of the national museum of the United States. Our mission is to document the music of the world and distribute it while respecting the artists that make the music. As such, we collect revenue from music sales and distribute money back to artists as well as fund new recording projects.

Please help our artists and help support our mission by removing the links to full-length downloads of this album and instead link to one of the many websites that distributes music legally. The Smithsonian Folkways website (www.folkways.si.edu), Amazon.com, eMusic, Rhapsody, Napster, iTunes, Pandora, and All Music are all good places to link.

Thanks again for your support of Smithsonian Folkways.

Cecille Chen
Smithsonian Folkways

Tzadik said...

Dear Cecille,

Please accept my apologies for sharing this album. I realize that Folkways is a non-profit, and to be
completely honest it simply slipped my mind, otherwise I would not have shared it. I have removed the file to the music, I am only leaving the album art and my own writing - perhaps it will inspire visitors to seek out this great recording!

Sincerely,

Tzadik.

Tzadik said...

Hello Bear

Well, this album is traditional klezmer, as performed in Eastern Europe over the last couple centuries. I hear you, I for one love modern klezmer/interpretations, especially David Krakauer's 'Klezmer Madness' projects on Tzadik records (among dozens of others also on the label!), The Cracow Klezmer Band, Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Klezmatics (obvious..), Brave Old World, Hot Pstromi, Klezperanto, Kol Simcha (they have an album from 1997 called "Klezmer Soul", and it's one of my all-time favs, quite the mystical edge to the music) and so on!

And you are of course welcome for all the music :)

Best,

TZ

Tzadik said...

Thank you Mark I will take a look over the weekend.

TZ

Anonymous said...

Excuse me but cannot see the direct link to download,
first time happen to me, is it anywhere?
Thanks and excellent work

Anonymous said...

It a shame this one is gone. But, I can understand!