Re: Chassidic dance sets?

[Lionel Mrocki <amrocks...>]

Dearest Lori,

One would think your clients have been lurking on this list and
have discovered that they are subsidising your indulgence in your
art and have decided that those who pay the piper call the tune!

There is the argument that the traditional jewish musician (aka
klezmer, kapelye etc) in days of old in Eastern Europe played for
all sorts of audiences, jewish and non-jewish alike. To survive,
he learned and played Kolomeykes, Polkas, and many other
non-jewish dances and musical forms.

So maybe, unless we play Dancing Queen at our host's request, we
aren't really klezmer!

(Mind you, you should've heard our impromptu attempt at "Stairway
to Heaven" on double bass, accordion and one screaming vocal who
switched to clarinet for a wailing klezmerised version of the
guitar solo!)

Like the bass player said many years ago  "I'm a whore, if
they're paying, I'll play anything!"


MaxwellSt (at) aol(dot)com wrote:

>  "Where do YOU draw the line?"   Will you play Zodiac and sing
> Yoya, but not the Electric Slide?  How about if they hire a
> klezmer band for the wedding but the bride's favorite song is
> Dancing Queen?  Is the Hokey Pokey hokey enough to be a
> classic, therefore kosher?
>
> >From these experiences, we came up with "The Matzorena" (a
> Jewish macarena) and "Ich Vel Survive" (use your imagination).
> On a more serious note, is it worth it to get enough gigs to
> make a living if you have to lead a limbo contest every
> weekend?
>
> Lori

--
Regards,

Lionel Mrocki and Karen Amos

"The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is probably
the day they start making vacuum cleaners." -Ernst Jan Plugge

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