Bart Weisman Klezmer Swing Group

By LAURIE HIGGINS
December 16, 2010

Bart Weisman is one of the busiest local musicians around. In a special holiday concert, he will play with his Klezmer Swing Group at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

Weisman, who has been playing and recording Klezmer music for more than 25 years at venues all over the East Coast, will be joined by Clayton March on clarinet & sax, Monica Rizzio on violin & vocals, Carol Wyeth on vocals, Suzanne Davis on piano and Laird Boles on bass.

The group will play traditional Klezmer songs and some holiday swing. Weisman will briefly talk about klezmer and the Jewish influence on swing music.

Klezmer is Eastern European Jewish folk music with catchy melodies and rhythms designed for dancing. Weisman was attracted to the music because Klezmer musicians improvise, giving it the nickname of “Jewish Jazz.”

Weisman also hosts the only Jazz Jam on Cape Cod from 4 to 7 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month at the Island Merchant, Hyannis. The Bart Weisman Group, featuring vocalist Carol Wyeth, performs a danceable combination of jazz, swing, Latin, pop and classic rock & roll every other Thursday at The Riverway Lobster House, South Yarmouth, where they will also perform on New Year's Eve.