Don Byron - Plays the Music of Mickey Katz

Plays the music of Mickey Katz es un homenaje del clarinetista Don Byron a la figura de su colega Mickey Katz, innovador de la música klezmer (género musical étnico originado en la tradición askenazí, es decir, propia de los judíos asentados en Europa central y oriental; asociado a bodas, bar mitzvah y otras celebraciones judías).

En cuanto a los méritos de semejante esfuerzo, las por demás diversas opiniones se pueden resumir en que Don Byron parece no haber escuchado jamás a Mickey Katz o que estamos en presencia de una obra de culto.

A mi criterio, Don Byron no tiene la pretensión de hacer una copia fiel de los géneros y estilos abordados en sus grabaciones, sino más bien de divulgarlos y revitalizarlos y, en todo caso, debería ser valorado por su espíritu inquieto.****

1.Prologue: "...shed no tears before the rain..." 4:08 (Don Byron)

2.Frailach Jamboree 2:34 (Mickey Katz)

3.Haim Afen Range ("Home On The Range") 2:49 (Traditional)

4.Mamaliege Dance 2:23 (Nat Farber/Mickey Katz)

5.Sweet and Gentle 3:02 (Monterrey Portal/George Thorn)

6.Litvak Square Dance 2:08 (Mickey Katz)

7.C'est Si Bon 2:27 (Jerry Seelen/Henry Betti/Andre Hornez)

8.Trombonik Tanz 3:14 (Nat Farber/Mickey Katz)

9.Bar Mitzvah Special 3:02 (Louis Singer/Nat Farber)

10.Dreidel Song 4:48 (Traditional)

11.Seder Dance 2:12 (Mickey Katz)

12.Paisach in Portugal 3:08 (Adapted from "April in Portugal" by Raul Ferrao and Jimmy Kennedy)

13.Berele's Sherele 1:48 (Benny Gill/Nat Farber)

14.Mechaye War Chant 2:50 (Mickey Katz)

15.Kiss of Meyer 2:20 (Adapted from "Kiss of Fire" by Lester Allan and Robert Hill)

16. Epilogue: Tears 7:12 (Don Byron)

17.Wedding Dance 2:26 (Mickey Katz)

The Band

Don Byron, clarinet, vocals on Mechaye War Chant, conductor

J. D. Parran, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, flute

Mark Feldman, violin, background vocals

Dave Douglas, trumpet, background vocals

Josh Roseman, trombone, horse lips, boat whistle, background vocals

Uri Caine, piano, background vocals

Steve Alcott, bass

Richie Schwarz, drums, percussion, xylophone

Lorin Sklamberg, lead vocals on Sweet and Gentle, Litvak Square Dance,

C'est Si Bon, Trombonik Tanz, Dreidel Song, Seder Dance,

Paisach in Portugal and Kiss of Meyer

Avi Hoffman, lead vocals on Haim Afen Range and

Mechaye War Chant, background vocals

Guest Artists

Brandon Ross, guitars on Prologue and Haim Afen Range

Jerry Gonzalez, Latin percussion on Sweet and Gentle

Dan Hovey, Hawaiian guitar on Mechaye War Chant

(and guitar) and Epilogue

Jay Berliner, mandolin on Paisach in Portugal

Loretta Malta, background vocals on Paisach in Portugal

Rosalie Gerut, additional vocals

Excerpts from the Original New York Cast album

Hello, Solly! performed by Mickey Katz on Prologue and

Epilogue

Recorded September 1992 at Master Sound, Astoria, New York

Elektra Nonesuch 79313-2 (1993)