The globally-renowned world music superstars The Klezmatics are returning to the Twin Cities to play at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Saturday evening, October 24th, and TC Jewfolk readers get a special discount to see the show. [Update: Free Tickets No Longer Available.]
Since erupting out of New York City’s East Village in 1986, The Klezmatics have revitalized klezmer. Their music is steeped in Jewish spiritualism and Eastern European tradition while incorporating more provocative themes such as social rights and anti-fundamentalism with eclectic musical influences such as gospel, punk, and Arab, African, and Balkan rhythms. Over the course of more than twenty years, they have released nine albums of wild, spiritual, provocative, reflective, and ecstatically danceable music, forever redefining and transcending traditional labels. They are the only Klezmer group to win a Grammy, and have won numerous other awards as well.
Want to win a free pair of tickets to see The Klezmatics live in concert at the Cedar?
The Cedar has given TC Jewfolk two pairs of tickets to raffle off to our lucky readers to see the Klezmatics on October 24th. To win, between now and 6:00pm on Friday, October 9th, go to the comments section of this blog post and answer this question. If you were to explain Klezmer music to someone who had never heard of it before, how would you define it in two sentences or less? We’ll enter your name in our raffle (drawn randomly with the help of The Hat). One submission per person.
The Cedar is also offering TC Jewfolk readers a 20% discount on tickets to the show. Get the 20% discount ($20 tickets) by calling 612.338.2674 ext.2 and mentioning Tcjewfolk.com.
Watch the Klezmatics live in this video, or listen to a selection of the Klezmatics’ songs online.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBby_P9nkYs
I describe Klezmer the traditional secular music of (mostly Eastern) European Jews. A fusion of local folk musics that bring to mind a Jewish wedding or Fiddler on the Roof, which means that it’s generally meant for dancing.
I usually describe it as sounding very Eastern European with American folk overtones and sometimes a more American jazzy beat.
It’s always fun to have someone listen to it for the first time who has never heard it before. =)
Klezmer is the ultimate travelers’ music, as it has traversed a wide swath of landscapes, cultures, and time periods. What was once a folk music has exploded onto the world music scene as a fusion-intensive, cutting edge boundary-defying ethnic music. Imagine slavic folk music (eastern/central European+Mediterranean grooves),some new world jazz, and of course a splash of chutzpah.
I was just telling a friend about Klezmer recently. I described it as Jewish jazz.
Congratulations Rachel and Naomi! You are the winners of our free pairs of tickets to see the Klezmatics on October 24th. Thanks for playing. And check out our newest contest – we’re giving away free tickets to hear Sephardic Israeli singer Yasmin Levy at the Ordway.