Klezmer-Greek-Turkish Bassists

[caeman]

Do you play bass in a klezmer band or some form? Talk to me.

I have recently started a klezmer music project with a clarinet-playing friend. We have a violinist that comes from an Irish Trad and classical background. I am focusing my contribution to the project on bass.

For for the first few songs we have been learning, I have been primarily doing a 1-5 bluegrass-type thing. It seems to fit and helps to reinforce the rhythm and tempo of a song like Hopkele, Zemer Atik and Choson Kale Mazel Tov.

The clarinet player has many, many years experience with klezmer and it quite happy to have found someone else willing to make a go of it. It is fun music and puts a smile on one's face.

[kesslari]

Can't quite join. I played percussion in a klezmer band for years, though. Grew up listening to it, but my family didn't call it klezmer.
1-5 is where it's at. Catch the "freilach" rhythm when called for
12312312 phrasing where the notes are
1-51-515

For some crazy original klez, check out Naftule Brandwein. Amazingly expressive musician.
Also if you can find it (Netflicks) get the movies "Carpati" (explores the musical relationship between Gypsy and Klezmer music in the Carpathian mountains) and "The Last Klezmer". Both documentaries, both good.

Feel free to PM me for details, questions, etc.

[caeman]

My klezmer project met last night. We worked on learning 5 songs. This is the third meeting and things definitely sounded more together. Klezmer is new to our fiddle player, so she is sticking to the music for the now. The clarinet player is enjoying filling in an adding stuff when he feels like it. I almost have the songs memorized on bass.

Fun stuff!

[glivanos]

I've been playing Greek music for 30 years. Its pretty close. Does that count?

[caeman]

Close enough for me! Come on in and talk about your shtuff. Maybe I can get a mod to edit my thread subject to be "Klezmer-Greek-Turkish" instead of just klezmer.