Klezmer meets Bluegrass at RAG!
Although there will be formal seating at The Roxbury Arts Group on Saturday July 28 at 8 pm when Klezmer clarinetist Margot Leverett joins forces with today's stars of klezmer and bluegrass to explore the shared musical spirit of two genres literally worlds apart, RAG staff is betting that very few in the audience will be able to sit still in their seats for most of the evening. Appalachian and southern fiddle tunes by Bill Monroe meet klezmer melodies from pre-war Russia and Eastern Europe, some newly discovered. The resulting medleys and improvisations are at once raw, funny, soulful and footstomping. $12 adults, $5 children. (607) 326-7908.
Margot Leverett, (bandleader, clarinet) is one of the foremost of the new
generation of klezmer clarinetists. Classically trained at Indiana University
School of Music, she was involved in avant-garde music when she first heard
klezmer, the dynamic East European music traditionally played at Jewish weddings.
Leverett was a founding member of the Klezmatics in 1985 before moving on
to launch a solo career. Her first CD, "The Art of Klezmer Clarinet," is
a tribute to classic Klezmer of the 20's and 30's, and was released in 2001
on Traditional Crossroads (CD4296) to glowing reviews. She tours internationally
and has performed and taught traditional and original klezmer music at festivals
and workshops around the world.
Marty Confurius(bass) has appeared with virtually all the top people in both bluegrass and klezmer music. His credits include work with Vassar Clements, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Andy Statman, and klezmer legend Dave Tarras.
Joe
Selly (guitar) has appeared with Phoebe Snow, Vassar Clements, Barbara Eden,
Melissa Manchester and Tex Logan and toured nationally with the Lombardo
Orchestra. He is featured on countless recordings and is in demand as both
performer and instructor in bluegrass, jazz and swing.
Kenny Kosek (fiddle) has appeared with Jerry Garcia, John Denver, James Taylor,
David Byrne, and his own Angelwood bluegrass band. He appears on numerous
recordings, and has published dozens of instructional books. He is the bluegrass
instructor for Homespun videos and is well known in Bluegrass, Irish, country
western, and rock and roll violin.
Barry Mitterhoff (mandolin/guitar) is a leading figure in bluegrass music as well as klezmer. He has played with Tony Trischka and Skyline, John Gorka, Jorma Kaukonen and Hazel Dickens. He has been a featured performer at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, the White House, the Library of Congress, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival as well as bluegrass festivals across the country and Canada.
Danny Weiss (vocals) has been singing and playing guitar for over 45 years . He is currently the guitarist and lead singer with the acoustic trio Silk City, l A founding member of the pioneering newgrass band, Tony Trischka and Skyline, Danny has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Bottom Line, and more and appeared with Vassar Clements, Tex Logan, and David Bromberg.