The Klezmatics with Richard Stoltzman Celebrate the Holiday Season At Bass Hall

"The Klezmatics aren't just the best band in the klezmer vanguard... they rank among the best bands on the planet. Jewish traditional music is just the starting point for songs that jump, rock and swing-sometimes all at the same time."- Time Out New York

"If Mr. Stoltzman is not one of a kind, who might the others be?" - The New York Times

In an Austin-only engagement, the world's hippest klezmer band, The Klezmatics, is joined by two-time Grammy Award winning clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, for a Holiday celebration to remember, Tuesday, November 30 at Bass Concert Hall.

Considered world music superstars, The Klezmatics offer klezmer steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality while incorporating contemporary themes such as human rights and anti-fundamentalism. Their eclectic musical influences include Arab, African, Latin and Balkan rhythms, jazz and punk.

Emerging from the vibrant cultural scene of New York City's East Village in 1986, The Klezmatics have produced nine albums and have stubbornly continued making music that is wild, mystical, provocative, reflective, and ecstatically danceable. Their 2006 release, Wonder Wheel won the Grammy Award that year for Best Contemporary World Music Album, making them the only klezmer band to win the prestigious award.

Richard Stoltzman's virtuosity, technique, imagination, and communicative power have revolutionized the world of clarinet playing, opening up possibilities for the instrument that no one could have predicted. He was responsible for bringing the clarinet to the forefront as a solo instrument, and is still the world's foremost clarinetist.

Campus & Community Engagement Event:

The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground (feature-length documentary)
Monday November 29th, 7pm
Congregation Agudas Achim Sanctuary
7300 Hart Lane

The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground is a feature-length documentary about the Grammy Award-winning, New York-based klezmer band. The Klezmatics have made numerous television and radio appearances. Director Anjou and crew followed The Klezmatics for over three years capturing the band's highs, lows, and relentless march forward.

On hand for discussion and Q&A after the film will be Lorin Sklamberg (vocals), Lisa Gutkin (violin), and Paul Morissett, (bass and tsimbl). Rabbi Neil Blumofe of Congregation Agudas Achim will facilitate the conversation.

Cosponsored by Texas Performing Arts, Jewish Community Center of Austin, Congregation Agudas Achim, the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, and the Austin Jewish Film Festival.

To be held in the CAA Sanctuary. Free and open to the community.
For more information contact aliza.orent@shalomaustin.org or call 512-735-8030.

Pre-Performance Lecture: Rabbi Neil Blumofe
Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 7:00 p.m.; Bass Concert Hall Lobby

Neil Blumofe is the senior Rabbi of Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin. He holds a BA in English and Political Economy from Tulane University as well as Masters Degrees in Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, Sacred Music, and Rabbinic Studies. He holds Rabbinic Ordinations from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York and the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles. Rabbi Blumofe also holds the diploma of Hazzan (Vocal Cantorial Arts) from JTS. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and St. Edwards University, teaching courses about Jewish Identity, Theology, Literature and Culture.

He is also a sacred singer, composer, teacher, and a classically trained pianist, schooled in jazz saxophone in New Orleans.

CALENDAR LISTING

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 8:00 pm -Texas Performing Arts presents the The Klezmatics with Special Guest Richard Stoltzman at Bass Concert Hall (E. 23rd St. and Robert Dedman Dr). A map of the campus:
TexasPerformingArts.org/visit/maps_directions. Tickets ($24 - $32 / Limited $10 student tickets / discounted tickets available for UT faculty & staff, seniors and Military) are on sale now at authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO (2386).

 

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