New York City band plays Klezmer music, a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews, often played at joyous occasions and accompanied by dancing

To borrow a line from NPR, "Golem ain't your grandparents' Klezmer."

The New York City band will bring their unique blend of punk-Klezmer music to Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Monday, October 27, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event is part of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days Concert series that honors the memory of the slain journalist. Fairfield University's Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies is sponsoring the concert. No tickets are required, but call (203) 254-4000, ext. 2066, to reserve a seat.

Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe, often played at joyous occasions and usually accompanied by dancing. Making use of such instruments as the clarinet, fiddle, and accordion, klezmer infuses centuries-old Jewish music with the sounds of Eastern European folk music, Roma (gypsy) music, and early jazz. Annette Ezekiel Kogan, founder and bandleader of Golem, is an accordionist.

The Washington Post observed of the band: "Golem produces the sort of music you'd expect if the shtetl were filled with punks instead of peasants."

Its four albums and concerts around the world prove just that.

The six-member group was founded in 2000 in New York City by Kogan. Since then, the band has become a leading re-interpreter and innovator of Yiddish and Eastern European music, pushing tradition forward into the 21st century.

After their self-released album, "Homesick Songs" (2004), Golem released two albums, "Fresh Off Boat" (2006) and "Citizen Boris" (2009) on the independent Jewish label, Jdub Records. Their new release, "Tanz," (2014), is on the prestigious Mexican label Corason Digital and produced by Tony Maimone of Pere Ubu. It marks a conscious move into new territory with mainly original material, according to the band. The album was critically acclaimed. Music critic Milo Miles of NPR commented that with "Tanz," the group manages to find new ways to balance urban irreverence with folk tradition.

Golem has performed across the globe, from Joe's Pub in Manhattan to Mexico City and Poland. In addition to having its music featured in several films, the band's music was heard on a recent episode of the TV series, "Louie."

To hear Golem's music, visit http://golemrocks.com/ .

To learn more about the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, and for directions to the Quick Center for the Arts, visit www.fairfield.edu .

Daniel Pearl World Music Days Concert - Golem: A Klezmer rock band featuring Yiddish and Eastern European music with a contemporary edge
Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Free. No tickets are required but call the Bennett Center at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2066 to reserve a seat.

Photo Credit: Pascal Perich

Posted On: 10-01-2014 03:10 PM

Volume: 47 Number: 70