Re: klezmers and fusioneers

[MaxwellSt <MaxwellSt...>]

In a message dated 12/09/1999 11:34:48 PM Central Standard Time, 
ari (at) ivritype(dot)com writes:

<<  In the paper I am theorizing that for some people use of the term is 
ignorance, and for others it provides a way to imply "Jewish" without saying 
"Jewish." >>

My 2 cents:
When people hire us, it is usually because they have an IMAGE in their mind 
of what the music will do for their party or audience.  They are looking for 
a spirit (ruach) with which to infuse the hall or event that has a 
retro/nostalgic feeling.  Example: the desire to hire two instruments (what's 
a rhythm section), the violin and clarinet.  Example: "Which specific 
musician was it that you liked?" "The one in the hat."  (This always baffles 
us because all the men wear hats, but one of the musicians--the one from 
Russia--has such a classic, 1920's Jewish look when he dons his Stetson, that 
he projects the image that we all strive for.)  Standards of beauty change, 
and the nose job and name-softening of the past is passe for Jewish music 
performance.  So I am not convinced that Klezmer says Jewish without saying 
Jewish, so much as it says it in a fresh way unburdened by imagery of the 
past.

Lori
Maxwell Street

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