Re: survey of who is doing what jewish music

[Aaron Bousel <apbousel...>]

Hey, this is a great idea.  I've been following this list for a couple of
months and feel like the 4th child in the haggadah--the one who does not
even know how to ask.  The depth of knowledge is really impressive, and a
bit daunting for a beginner, but here's a topic ANYONE can weigh in on.

About a year ago I took a beginners class in Yiddish.  The teacher included
learning a Yiddish song as part of each class and we talked about having a
party at the end of the series of classes.  I mentioned that I had an
accordion which I played occasionally, though not too often, preferring the
piano, and that set me to work on learning some songs.  A friend lent me a
copy of "Mir Trogn A Gesang" and, later on, a copy of Brave Old World's
"Beyond the Pale" and I was off to the races.  Last summer we moved from
Montreal to Amherst, MA where I had the pleasure of hearing The Wholesale
Klezmer Band and of chatting with their accordionist and frequent list
contributor Owen Davidson.  He told me about The Button Box
<www.buttonbox.com>, a place here in Amherst that sells, tunes  and repairs
all manner of accordions and concertinas.  Having a sour sounding note on
my instrument (I am a piano technician by training) I headed down there,
talked with the repair person there and ended up with a job working in the
repair shop.  I also joined a synagogue here and have begun playing klezmer
with some of the members.  A year ago you could have offered me a million
dollars to play you a klezmer or yiddish tune (everybody use your own
definition, I don't want to get into it again) and your money would have
been safe.  Now I could keep you occupied for quite a while if I started
playing everything I know.

So that's my story.  My main interest is klezmer/yiddish music.  There's
something there that I connect to that's just not present for me in most
Israeli music.  I'm not a singer so I leave the cantorial to others.  I do
like the fact that the list covers all areas of Jewish music, however.

Aaron Bousel
Amherst, MA