From Conga To Klezmer
I
he likelihood of 89X ever playing "Lena from
Palesteena" is, admittedly, nil. But that doesn't mean
that the Klezmer Conservatory Band can't throw
down, girlfriend.
It takes more energy to sit still during a concert by the
11 member ensemble than to just give in and move to the
funky, ornamental rhythms. Besides, if you're Jewish,
klezmer — Yiddish pop music with medieval roots that
traveled with Eastern European immigrants to this coun-
try in the 19th century — is in your bones.
Jewish folk tinged with Gypsy, Romanian and Turkish
influences, klezmer then drew upon Dixieland and ragtime
once it reached America. Hey, the Andrews Sisters even
popularized a little klezmer ditty decades back.
In the past five years, the
The Klezmer Conservatory Band
music has made a comeback,
was one of four klezmer groups
and the 15- year-old Klezmer
featured in the television
Conservatory Band has been
documentary and CD ltzhak
at the forefront of the revival.
Perlman: In the Fiddler's House.
The group has paired with
such musical luminaries as
Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman, released seven albums (in-
cluding the raucous Oy Chanukah, A Jumpin' Night in the
Garden of Eden), collaborated with Robin Williams and
the American Repertory Theatre, and guest-appeared on
Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion."
So whattaya waiting for? Grab bubbie, zayde and
the kids and get ready to conga in the aisles of the West
Bloomfield High School Auditorium. You'll feel guilty if
you don't.
-
—
Liz Stevens
e
The Klezmer Conservatthy Band, presented by the
Jewish Community Center, performs at 8 p.m. Saturday,
Jan. 13, at West Bloomfield High School. Reserved tick-
$28/non-members; general admis-
sion is $18/members, $20/non-members; tickets for
seniors/stuclents are $19/ members, $15/non-members.
Call (810) 661-7649.
This Week's Best Bets
creative process which made the
ART
artist famous. Through Jan. 14,
Collage. Showcase of original
art by Susan Roth, illustrator of
children's books. Through Jan.
13. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sat-
urday; 6-8:30 p.m. first Thurs-
day of each month. Elizabeth
Stone Gallery, 536 North Wood-
ward Avenue, Birmingham.
(810) 647-7040.
1996. 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays-
Sundays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs-
days. Tickets: $4/adults,
$2/full-time students, children,
and seniors. Center and South
Galleries, Cranbrook Art Mu-
seum, 1221 North Woodward
Ave., Bloomfield Hills. (810)
645-3312.
Chimera: Lynda Benglis.
Art To Wear: A Group Jew-
elry Exhibition. Seventeen
Benglis' ceramic forms seem to
pulsate, slither and writhe, ac-
tions indicative of the energetic,
artists display their work, re-
defining the idea of jewelry as or-
nament. Through Jan. 20. 11
a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday;
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays. Ha-
batat/Shaw Gallery, 7 North
Saginaw, Pontiac. (810) 333-
1070.
Chrysler Designers: Other
Art Forms. Another perspective
of the Chrysler Corporation, in-
cluding painting, sculpting, jew-
elry, ceramics and drawings.
Through Jan. 27. 9:30 a.m.-4:30
p.m. Monday-Saturday. Birm-
ingham-Bloomfield Art Associa-
tion, 1516 S. Cranbrook Rd.,
Birmingham, just north of 14
Mile. (810) 644-0866.
Art Works by Charles Ai-
mone. On exhibit are wall pan-
els which were used as
backdrops for his puppet film,
Flying High. Through Jan. 31.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thurs-
day; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday; 10
a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; noon-4
p.m. Sunday. Atrium Gallery,
109 N. Center, Northville. (810)
349-4131.
Walter Crane. Exhibit featur-
ing original artwork, first edi-
tions and manuscripts. Through
Jan. 31. 1-5 p.m. Tuesday -Sat-
urday. Detroit Public Library,
5201 Woodward Ave. (313) 833-
1476.
Jean Lind. Paintings on display
through Jan. 31. Woods Gallery,
located on the lower level of the
Huntington Woods Library,
26415 Scotia, south of 11 Mile
and west of Woodward. (810)
399-9031.
Tanya Roth, Oak Park Li-
brary's "Artist of the Month" dur-
ing January. Exhibition of oil
paintings throughout the month.
Oak Park Library, 14200 Oak
Park Blvd. (810) 691-7480.