Search - Dave Tarras :: Yiddish-American Klezmer Music 1925-1956

When swing and klezmer meet

Alessandro Agnetis | Siena, Italy | 03/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In these recordings Dave Tarras plays with several orchestras in the span of about 30 years. If you are looking for a collection of clarinet solos, for which Tarras became a legend, then this is not the right cd, but rather you should get the two cd's titled "Dave Tarras - Master of Klezmer Music" (Global Village). On the other hand, here you can find a colorful and heterogeneous collection of tunes, some of which traditional (doynas, freilekhs, horas...), others more strongly influenced by the musical trends of the thirties. In several cases Jewish traditional tunes blend gracefully with swing and jazz. Some tracks are introduced by the original radio broadcastings, which make this album even more precious. There is also an unusually long and informative booklet on Tarras. Considering that most of the original recordings date back to more than 70 years ago, the technical quality is remarkably fine."

A true virtuoso...

andrea54 | 11/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You have to bear in mind thatI know little about Klezmer, and recordings are not always easy to find in the UK. So when I saw this in our local Virgin store, I bought it as much out of curiosity as anything else.I went home a few days later, picked up a book, put the CD on - and I didn't even LOOK at the book! The music demands attention and it's now one of my favourite CDs. History, technique, fabulous musicianship - it's all there. Of course, now I'm prejudiced in favour of Tarras as opposed to Brandwein ....Thank you, Henry Sapoznik, for such a fascinating and comprehensive introduction - don't you think Dave Tarras' life story would make a brilliant film? Or has it happened and I've missed it?Thank you again."

Wisdom and humor

Alyssa A. Lappen | Earth | 08/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This selection of 23 virtuoso cuts includes five repeats from the enchanting Music from the Yiddish Radio Project, on which Dave Tarras figures a large role. The repeats include Moishe Oysher's classic nigun, Chasidic in America (1958), Dayenu (1950), Bridegroom Special (1940), Die Golden Chasene (1945), and my favorite, Abe Ellstein's rendition of Second Avenue Square Dance (1950). The music is just as wonderful a second time, even if you already own the Radio Project. Aside from the repeats, this collection offers some extremely worthy numbers of its own--which unlike the former includes a few advertisements within the cuts, not as separate ones. There's no arguing with these gorgeous renditions, complete with the tinny sound of ancient 78s. Some of the best music is in the opening number, Abe Schwartz Orchestra's 1928 version of Unzer Toirele, and the last, Rumanian Fantasy (1956). In between you'll get Alexander Olshanetsky's violin-laden Mazel in Leibe (1929) and Seymour Rechtzeit's magnificent Hopkele (1941), the Bagelman Sisters in A Vaibele A Tsenien (1942) and the Yiddish Swingette's version of Zum Gali Gali. In 1950, as it is repeated here, the number was announced on air as a "Palestinian work song," meaning of course the work of Israel's Jewish inhabitants.Tarras' doleful Branas Hassene (1941) includes the Rosh Hashonah Shofar as well as some rich brassy tones.You know Chochme (Wisdom/Humor)? That's what this recording is--both kinds."