On and off topic: The next computer virus and Old/New World klezmer

[George Robinson <grcomm...>]

Khaverim --

Well, we've settled the Middle East, the cost of Jewish community and
computer viruses. What else can we discuss on this list? Oh, yeah, how about
Jewish music?

But first, a word from our sponsor.

All kidding aside, since we've all been victimized by the SoBigF virus
already, you may be interested in this article on what comes next:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-5070393.html

And now for something completely different, a question about Jewish music.

I was listening earlier today to the new CD by Fialke -- very nice by the
way. With guest artist Joshua Horowitz on tsimbl, the recording is the
latest of many that seem to me to be hearkening back to an earlier version
of Jewish simkha music (what we now call, for better or worse, klezmer). My
gut tells me that with Alicia Svigals' "Fidln'" album and Khevrisa and
Budowitz we began to see a new trend in the New Klez world, an attempt to
create a modern equivalent for an earlier music, some of it
pre-recording-era and all of it really rooted in the old Eastern European
traditions, rather looking ahead to a more "new world" sound.

Maybe I'm full of . . . stuff, but my instinct tells me that there is
something slightly different going on in these records than in the more
swing-pop-oriented music of the first waves of New Klez (i.e., the
Klezmorim, KCB, Kapleye, not to mention all the jazz-and-other-hyphenate
bands).

I know that many of the musicians in question are on this list and I'm dying
to hear from all of you. Let me warn you beforehand that I'm considering
doing a think piece for JWeek on this, so unless you ask me not to, I may
quote you, Ari permitting.

Many thanks,

George (Back to the Future -- or to the Wall) Robinson

Cry later, but for now let's enjoy the laughter.

 --Tupac Shakur, "God Bless the Dead"


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