klezmer bass

marcner · #1 07-30-2007, 12:31 PM

Ive recently joined a kelzmer band and looking for any tips for authentic lines and any groups/players to look out for in this genre. any advice would be great

Reuben · #2 07-30-2007, 07:15 PM

Hi marcner,

It's spelled Klezmer. It means "vessel of song."

Check out Stuart Brotman with Brave Old World. His bulgar feel is my favorite. They have a lot of records out there. Also check out the bass work on records by the Klezmer Conservatory Band. Very instructional if not so moving...

bribass · #3 07-30-2007, 10:49 PM

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/klezmerfest

Reuben · #4 07-31-2007, 07:57 AM

That's a good record.

Jason Sypher · #5 07-31-2007, 08:32 AM

Another way to approach it is to examine peripheral ingredients of what became Klezmer, namely, Hungarian/Romanian/Eastern-European dance music. I find a lot more 'bass recordings', including older sources, of this music than "klezmer". Some archaic recordings will give you a good idea of the arco style while more modern recordings will hip you to all kinds of slap pyrotechnics to chew on. You also want to get an overview of the rhythmic underpinnings of various dances such as 'hora's' 'bulgars' 'frehliks' etc. I am by no means an authority on the music though I do get calls to play it now and then. A little research will go a long way towards adding something to the ensemble rather than just getting through the chart. I have a lot to learn myself.

bribass · #6 07-31-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuben

That's a good record.

Thanks Rueben. Klezmerfest is a cooperative group that has been together for more than ten years now. We're finally going to record a second album this month.

BG

bassist14 · #7 07-31-2007, 11:56 AM

i like this band:
http://www.nikitov.com/

Reuben · #8 07-31-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bribass

Thanks Rueben. Klezmerfest is a cooperative group that has been together for more than ten years now. We're finally going to record a second album this month.

BG

Say hi to Aaron for me. Just played with him in Vienna last month at the Klez-More fest...

Reuben · #9 07-31-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

i like this band:
http://www.nikitov.com/

+1 !

Jason Sypher · #10 07-31-2007, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the support guys, I really appreciate it. We're beginning a short tour in Europe on Saturday. We haven't played in months due to the birth of my little son Mathias. I'm looking forward to getting back into it and see what comes out. Hey Rueben, you mentioned Brotman for his bulgar feel. Who do you like for Horas? I'm constantly unsure about getting the feel right and avoiding a waltzy kind of vibe. We are not a klezmer band but I certainly want to get my grooves to be right. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Reuben · #11 07-31-2007, 10:18 PM

With horas, you know your role is so regemented, it's all about feel. So I really listen to drummers who nail it. David Licht from the Klezmatics has an amazing hora feel, as does Aaron Alexander from the CD mentioned a few posts back. I've listened to a lot of old source recordings with some crazy hora feels but there's rarely a bass. Sometimes a tuba or baritone horn. Their vibe is hard to cop, but I am pretty much leaning toward bowing almost everything in klezmer if possible. You get a much more old world vibe and the feels are way cooler. It's still fun to pizz a sher or a terkisher, but in general the bulgars, freylachs and horas are going to sound more swinging arco.

I didn't used to feel this way, but after hearing Stu Brotman, and Jim Guttman I'm pretty down.

bribass · #12 07-31-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuben

With horas, you know your role is so regemented, it's all about feel. So I really listen to drummers who nail it. David Licht from the Klezmatics has an amazing hora feel, as does Aaron Alexander from the CD mentioned a few posts back. I've listened to a lot of old source recordings with some crazy hora feels but there's rarely a bass. Sometimes a tuba or baritone horn. Their vibe is hard to cop, but I am pretty much leaning toward bowing almost everything in klezmer if possible. You get a much more old world vibe and the feels are way cooler. It's still fun to pizz a sher or a terkisher, but in general the bulgars, freylachs and horas are going to sound more swinging arco.

I didn't used to feel this way, but after hearing Stu Brotman, and Jim Guttman I'm pretty down.

Aaron and Dave are very close friends and the best Klezmer drummers I know. They're both great w/ having totally different styles. I've been playing arco alot more often as well w/ bulgars, freilachs and horas and it can be a great feel, but sometimes I do feel that piz is called for because of the added percussive quality it can bring. I think for me it depends, on the particular situation...concert or dance setting, acoustics, instrumentation, general volume level of the band, etc.

Marty Confurius, if you're out there lurking why don't you weigh in on this?

Rueben, I'm rehearsing w/ Aaron on Thurs. for a concert in Clevland on Sun.
I'll say hello for you.

It's good to see a TB thread on Klezmer.

BG

Jason Sypher · #13 08-01-2007, 07:27 AM

I agree. In a way it's a similar thing with Hungarian music. Most of it is , in reality, bowed although a lot of folks want it plucked. I tend to think the reason is an insecurity in the band. Plucked is easier for the other players to latch on to and makes them feel rhythmically secure. I was in Hungary for a few tours last year and was just blown away by the bowing. There is a reason those guys get that huge sound; they're strings are an inch or more off the board and they cover the stick with rosin. One guy wrapped rubber bands around the strings where he bowed them! I couldn't hardly get a note out of his bass. I love that super fat sound, it's arco with a thump. Of course, I'd have to have a bass set up for just that purpose. In the meantime I'm paying close attention to Brotman, Guttman and others who get a nice combination of zzzzzzz and pushed air (if you know what I mean). I'd love to get with you sometime Ruben when I'm back in the city and talk shop (basses in hand) in reference to all this Eastern European music.

marcner · #14 08-07-2007, 11:30 AM

thanks guys this is all really helpful stuff it seems i've more to learn than i imaged. if theres any sites or books that would have the basics in terms of the different feels or dances please let me know, marcner

Reuben · #15 08-07-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

I'd love to get with you sometime Ruben when I'm back in the city and talk shop (basses in hand) in reference to all this Eastern European music.

Call me up, Jason! I'm around until Sept 10 then in Spain, Portugal, and southern France until 9/30.

R

Reuben · #16 08-07-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcner

thanks guys this is all really helpful stuff it seems i've more to learn than i imaged. if theres any sites or books that would have the basics in terms of the different feels or dances please let me know, marcner

Closest thing is the Complete Klezmer: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...33676107&itm=1

The introduction has a decent rundown of backing style, though it's only a beginning, and the charts, while indispensble, are over-harmonized. The chords were written down by a pianist, and no one I've ever played with plays them all. They do much more simplified versions of the changes. If you do them like they are in the book it's too corny.