Re: Alia - klezmer band from Russia

[Ashkenazim <ashkenaz...>]

Tayerer Evgeny,
I would not say that the group "Aliya" is the only classic style klezmer
band left in Russia now. I think that "Aliya" from Samara created its own
popular and very interesting style. I like them very much. The group is one
of the brightest Jewish groups in Russia now. BUT it  have never been real
klezmer. I know they work hard to be klezmer, but their musical upbringing
didn't happen to be klezmer.

Unfortunately, most of Jewish musicians in Russia never knew and never heard
klezmer music. Unfortunately, most of them play in a very classical or
popular style.
I hope (and I do hear it in the arrangements), that their leader Mark Kogan
realizes that. That is why the musicians of "Aliya" study at the Klezfests
in St. Petersburg and Ukraine every summer. We just arrived from the one in
Kiev. It was fabulous! It is unbefuckenlivable how we all jump from one
level of understanding klezmer to another with a help of our teachers! All
my work is a struggle to convince people in the former USSR that Tum
balalaika and popular songs from Odessa does not represent Klezmer style.We
must study a lot here in Russia before we pretend to be real Klezmer.
Ale best,
and my love to "Aliya"
Paulina Achkinazi

----- Original Message -----
From: <Eugeny(dot)Sattler (at) RU(dot)NESTLE(dot)com>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 9:36 AM
Subject: Alia - klezmer band from Russia


> Klezmer band Alia from russian city Samara seems to be the only classic
> style klezmer band left in Russia now.
> Regrettably, they have no own website yet.
> This page on Estafeta CD shop website http://www.estafeta.ru/alia/alia.htm
> contains their MP3 samples.
>
> CD shop is here http://www.estafeta.ru/cgi/shop.pl , but interface is in
> Russian.
> If anybody has difficulties buying their CD, I could help with
translation.
>
>
> --
> Eugeny
>
>
>

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