Klezmer ‘swings’ across the Cape
By Cheryl Kain
Wednesday, December 6, 2006

The Russian Mother says to her child, “If you practice, practice, practice every day, you’ll be a great classical musician. If you don’t, you’ll be a Klezmer.”

Known as Jewish folk music, or “Jewish Jazz,” Klezmer originated in Eastern Europe; Klezmers are deemed party-type musicians, in contrast to serious classical. The tunes are standards, and Klezmer musicians all know the repertoire. Innovative Cape musician Bart Weisman will lead a double-bill of Klezmer and Swing in two separate concerts on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Buddy Rich; singers like Dinah Shore, and other Jewish musicians in America realize the connection between jazz and Klezmer, and the latter’s stealth influence in our music. One shining example is Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, whose clarinet solo’s grand crescendo is a big nod to Klezmer. “Klezmer is actually like jazz – there’s a beginning of the tune; then you improvise, and come back to the tune again”. 

“Whenever I talk about Klezmer, people smile. You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate it,” says Weisman, who is excited to be showcasing talented, versatile musicians in a concert he thinks is a natural. “Let’s show how easily these musicians can go back and forth between the two genres. They’ll play Klezmer, then a set of swing tunes, then go back and play Klezmer again”. 

Weisman has been playing Klezmer music for over 30 years. One of his first gigs in Washington, DC was with the Deutsch Sisters in the 1970’s, one of the most well-known singing groups in the Jewish community. Weisman played many Klezmer parties, toured and recorded, and worked with the Capital Klezmers. Since moving to the Cape, he’s wanted to play Klezmer again.

Traditional Klezmer uses clarinet, violin, accordion, bass, drums and vocals. Two of the most well known Klezmer bands are the Klezmatics and Klezmer Conservatory Band. When Weisman’s group switches over to swing music of the ‘30’s and ‘40’s, they’ll play saxophone, bass, drums, piano and vocals. The concerts will feature Weisman’s longtime friend and collaborator Daniel Rozas on clarinet and sax. Rozas resides in Washington, DC and was born in Lithuania. Bart says “You can take the boy out of Europe, but you can’t take Europe out of the boy,” laughs Weisman. “Daniel was born to play this music, he really has ‘it’,” he adds.

Drummer Weisman is also joined by East Sandwich player Ted Jellinek on accordion and piano, Orleans’ Denya LeVine on violin, Brewster’s Carol Wyeth on vocals, and Eastham’s Michael Ryle on bass. Weisman is looking forward to his first time working with LeVine, a world music fiddler/vocalist who specializes in Jewish, Irish and Scottish music, performing widely on the Cape and throughout New England. 

The swing portion of the shows will feature Wyeth on vocals, with some Andrews Sisters, Duke Ellington, and more. The Klezmer sets include a Chanukah song, and a medley of Hora songs, including “Havah Nagilah.” The concert is very uplifting, and interactive. The Klezmers of Europe would play some music, speak some Yiddish and have a great time. The music will appeal to everyone from ages 8 to 80. “By the end of the Klezmer set, you’ll feel like you know all the songs,” promises Weisman.

These musicians will be schlepping from Provincetown to Falmouth in one day, bringing much naches, which is Yiddish for pride and joy, to Cape listeners.