Published on Dec 21, 2000
As far as I’m concerned, the coolest thing about the Internet
Age is the amount of cross-culturalism that can go on, right-wing
fears of the New World Order notwithstanding. I find it a wonder
that yours truly, a goyim Episcopalian-turned-Wiccan from the
Midwest, can call a Ukranian Jew from New York family. And December
being what it is around our household, today we honor the first day
of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, with a look at The Best Little
Klezmer Band In Texas’ (hereafter shortened to TBLKBIT)
Schleppin’ West.
For those of you who haven’t had the fun of discovering klezmer,
it is traditional Jewish folk music, strongly influenced by but
separate from Eastern European folk music; Broadway star Joel
Grey’s father, Mickey Katz, was one of the earliest American
performers. Traditional instruments include violin and clarinet, as
well as brass instruments; klezmer is music best enjoyed either
laughing, crying, or dancing. Despite almost being lost in the
destruction of Jewish culture in Europe during the Holocaust, the
music has undergone a renaissance in the last twenty years, and is
now a rich community, vibrant and growing. (At this rate, it’ll be
about ten years before someone somewhere – probably Paul Simon –
starts to rip them off).
TBLKBIT is a delightful example of klezmer, plain and simple.
They have the historical knowledge and reverence to understand and
perform klezmer traditionally, as well as the chutzpah to add other
elements (including rumba and jazz rhythms).
Schleppin’ West is just plain fun, infectious and rhythmic,
but still serious; in many ways, klezmer music is living history, a
testament to the insistence of the Jewish people that they will
survive, come what may.
As a recording, it is close to flawless; high praise indeed for
a small label, self-produced release. The production is elegant,
perfectly suited to the brass, string, and reed heavy sound, sparse
without being parched. Vocalist Malke Schwerling has a rich,
expressive voice, similar in feel to filk/Celtic vocalist Heather
Alexander, and she’s a joy to listen to. Most insidious of all, you
might find yourself being educated; the liner notes are brief, but
touch on musical and historical connections that we don’t always
hear about, pulling in sources from Benny Goodman to Vladimir I.
Lenin.
If you’re Jewish and want to learn more about the music of your
own culture; if you’re not and want to learn about another
culture’s music; or if you’re just looking for a good time
musically, The Best Little Klezmer Band In Texas is a darn fine
place to start, bubbulah. Me, I have to go grate potatoes for
latkes. I’ll let TBLKBIT say it for me: “Hot A Gutn Chanukah”!