New Orleans Klezmer Allstars Documentary

The New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars is entering their 20th year as an active performing ensemble. In these times when folk music has meant rigidly sticking to a cliched format or hackneyed stylistic features, the klezmer all stars have attempted to challenge and stretch the boundaries...but without sacrificing the most exciting features of social music; driving rhythms, passion, clear melodies that are sublime but at the same time memorable.

By using the inspiration of the city where they began, the band has formed a unique approach to traditional melodies, and also come up with something more unique, a way of writing in the style that leads to a sort of Yiddish Impressionism that keeps audiences dancing but cuts to the depths of their cultural imaginations, even where they didn't realize they had one.

The band is formed of a driving rhythm section that has featured notables such as Mean Willie Green of the Neville Brothers and Galactic's rising star, Stanton Moore.

Accordionist Glenn Hartman and guitarist Jonathan Freilich have been providing the driving harmonies and writing much of the material for many years.

Ben Ellman (sax) and David Rebeck (violin) provide the ecstatic melodies so essential to the klezmer experience.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• NOLA
• klezmer