 Listen to samples at Musicline. Click here ...In January 2005 we decided to form a band whose repertoire could put all our individual music interests and experience together. Each of us had had a contact with klezmer music in its very broad aspect and its beauty and variety grabbed all our attention. For quite a long time we pondered over an idea of the band which would realize our own music ideas. This is how the programme was born. It contains the most characteristic elements of Jewish and Balkan music (scales, rhythm, harmony). Using our former experience we have added jazz and classical touch. The final effect is our concept of klezmer music.
The name of the group originates from the word roommate and means klezmer friends. With a double ‘z’ reminding that klezmer music and jazz have a lot in common.
Our work was appreciated by the jury during the Festival Nowa Tradycja (The New Tradition Festival) in 2005 organized by Polish Radio II. We were awarded The Polonia Channel Award which we consider our greatest achievement so far.
Since the beginning (12.01.2005 – the date of the first rehearsal) there has been only one change. Our original clarinetist Maciek Bosak who started his studies at Julliard School in New York was replaced with a new member – Tomek Polak.
Mrs. Wanda Falk's review:
This music opens doors...
Much has been written about the music of five artists whose next album we can listen to. Their academic music education explains the use of forms, techniques and elements of genres traditionally considered classical music or jazz. However, you can study a few faculties in music and still you won't be able to achieve the effect which you can perceive while listening to the album "Reflections". For this level of art it would be tactless to point to the perfect craftsmanship of all the musicians, to the joy and the need of playing you can feel in every note, to their incredible sensitivity to the tone colour, to their improvising abilities, to the skillful use of composing techniques and many forms they use in their music.
Because it is THEIR music - from the start, from the beginning of the music idea, filled with the soul of Jewish music but without quoting it. The idea which quite clearly builds most of the pieces (1, 2, 7, 10...) but which evolves into many different forms, characters or climates. Klezzmates' manner of form creation is easily distingushed - it is apparent monotony where the harmonic colour of the accordion serves as the background for a few climaxes which are reached with many different means (2, 5, 7...). There is a jazz ballad (4), there are lively pieces which make you want to dance (8, 9...), there is pastiche, Marcin Wiercioch's speciality, which continues, two faces' theme (,Two Faces of Klezzmates') which we know from their first album (6).
This music shows not only, two faces' of the klezmer music but also its great capability to hold many styles, genres and forms its mulitdimensional energy. This music expresses all kinds of emotions which are brought by, nigun' - the Chassid song. Its mystic, swinging, rhytmic, melodic ostinato contains asking, sorrow, rebellion, anger, humility, joy, dance, thanksgiving... prayer.
This multilayer music in its deepest threads seems to be aimed at connoisseurs but also less analytical listeners will surely find it delightful. If you immerse in all its sound it can bring about a few reflections and open a few doors of sensitivity, intellect and imagination.
Wanda Falk
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