Re: Bluegrass Klez

[Eric Goldberg <ericgoldie...>]

>Several years ago I saw a film on Klez where one of the revivalists spoke
>about coming to the music out of a bluegrass career.  Since then I've heard
>that others also started out that way.


You are probably talking about Andy Statman who started with groups like
Breakfast Special. He played mandolin and sax with that group prior to his
becoming a klezmer clarinet player after studying with Dave Taras.

>
>Does anyone have any information on the connection between bluegrass/country
>music and the klez revival?  Are there any musical similarities in the two
>musics, or is it just a coincidence?

Although they are not interrelated klez and bluegrass do share some common
threads. Of course klez used a lot of minor keys, while bluegrass doesn;t,
the chord structures tend to be rather simple and the chords themselves
rarely go beyond the basic 7th chord. In neither music will you find the
sophisticated chords of the jazzman. Also the bass parts tend to be
extremely simple often just a two beat on the one and the five ofthe chord.


>
>While not klez, Kinky Friedman has several excellent country songs on Jewish
>themes including the humorous "They Don't Make Jews Like Jesus Anymore" and
>the moving and subtle holocaust song "Ride Em Jewboy." Does anyone know of
>other Jewish-themed country or bluegrass songs.

There are a few bluegrassish jewish recordings although each music is best
when it is presented somewhat in a pure state.

You might find the Andy Statman Dave Grishman album SONG OF OUR FATHERS
interesting, Among other places it is available from Tara music at
1-800-Tara-400 or www.jewishmusic.com.

Eric Goldberg