...A Rollicking Party in the Concert Hall
: A review from Fuerther Nachricten (Germany), March 16, 2007
Click here for original in German (pdf)
(photo) The caption under the photo says: On Klezmer dances, nobody can fool dance master Steven Weintraub. When the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band started playing, Weintraub invited the audience to dance.
A Rollicking Party in the Concert Hall
Dance Master Steven Weintraub and the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band at the Kufo
At first glance, Klezmer dance look as if it would be easy to dance: Alternately moving one foot forward, lifting one's arms, linking arms with one's neighbor, or spinning round - the reality being, however, that the moves are tricky. One quickly gets confused in the surging crowd that meanders through the room like a tapeworm, stopping suddenly and then regrouping in circles. For a beginner, it is easy enough to get lost.
But Steven Weintraub, the world's best dance master for Eastern European Klezmer dances, is totally different: he skillfully guided the cheering crowd through the Kulturforum and created a buoyant atmosphere comparable to a Jewish wedding. After all, Klezmer is music made for dancing and celebrations; and when the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band from Chicago joins in, the result is a memorable evening. Two visitors commented during the intermission that, after the pop-music-influenced and jazzy Klezmer Festivals of the last years, this was great.
For Klezmer novices, the Americans in fact sounded "traditional." Their texts deal with the old days in the Eastern European "shtetl," with celebrations and amusing family incidents: a bride's resolute mother warns the future family of her daughter to treat her well because this young Jewish lady is not to be meddled with! The various guests of the wedding appear in a very funny pantomime ("Mazl Tov Dances") and the next topic is the world of Jewish immigrants during the American 20s and 50s. The sound becomes wild and Kimber Nussbaum dances and sings faster and faster.
By contrast, band leader Lori Lippitz casts a spell on the audience with her intimate singing and understated presence. Violinist Alex Koffman stands out among the excellent musicians of the band. The enchanted audience embraced the lively/upbeat performance with their enthusiastic applause and clapping along, and at the end of the night it was hard part company with these engaging artists.
-Claudia Schuller
(photo) The caption under the photo says: On Klezmer dances, nobody can fool dance master Steven Weintraub. When the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band started playing, Weintraub invited the audience to dance.
A Rollicking Party in the Concert Hall
Dance Master Steven Weintraub and the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band at the Kufo
At first glance, Klezmer dance look as if it would be easy to dance: Alternately moving one foot forward, lifting one's arms, linking arms with one's neighbor, or spinning round - the reality being, however, that the moves are tricky. One quickly gets confused in the surging crowd that meanders through the room like a tapeworm, stopping suddenly and then regrouping in circles. For a beginner, it is easy enough to get lost.
But Steven Weintraub, the world's best dance master for Eastern European Klezmer dances, is totally different: he skillfully guided the cheering crowd through the Kulturforum and created a buoyant atmosphere comparable to a Jewish wedding. After all, Klezmer is music made for dancing and celebrations; and when the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band from Chicago joins in, the result is a memorable evening. Two visitors commented during the intermission that, after the pop-music-influenced and jazzy Klezmer Festivals of the last years, this was great.
For Klezmer novices, the Americans in fact sounded "traditional." Their texts deal with the old days in the Eastern European "shtetl," with celebrations and amusing family incidents: a bride's resolute mother warns the future family of her daughter to treat her well because this young Jewish lady is not to be meddled with! The various guests of the wedding appear in a very funny pantomime ("Mazl Tov Dances") and the next topic is the world of Jewish immigrants during the American 20s and 50s. The sound becomes wild and Kimber Nussbaum dances and sings faster and faster.
By contrast, band leader Lori Lippitz casts a spell on the audience with her intimate singing and understated presence. Violinist Alex Koffman stands out among the excellent musicians of the band. The enchanted audience embraced the lively/upbeat performance with their enthusiastic applause and clapping along, and at the end of the night it was hard part company with these engaging artists.
...Great musicians, great performance. We loved it! Thank you for participating in KlezVienna 2005.
-Roman Grinberg, Program Director KlezVienna
...The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band from Chicago gave a fabulous concert at the sold out Mozart-Saal of the Wiener Konzerthaus...The concert was a perfect combination of traditional Klezmer music and Jewish-American Jazz and dance music from the 1930's - 1950's, also containing film music and theater songs...The performance was full of energy and humour...I can indeed recommend the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band to other venues all over the world.
-Amanda Rotter, Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna
...On behalf of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to you for Maxwell Street Klezmer Band's participation in Day of Music...Almost 15,000 people attended...Your generosity was very much appreciated...and helped to make this day an extraordinary community experience.
-James M. Fahey, Assistant Artistic Administrator, CSO, Chicago
...The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band gave an absolutely first class performance tonight and charmed the 1200 audience at the Barbican with their versatility, warmth and first rate musicianship...What is more, their teamwork and ensemble playing made it not just a concert, but a show!...I also want to tell you what a pleasure it was to meet the members of the band and work with them...Thank you again for all the excellent and meticulous arrangements for the tour, leaving nothing to chance...We look forward to working with you again in the future.
-Geraldine Auerbach, Trust and Festival Director, Harrow, Middlesex, England
...The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band's return performance at the Fourth Annual Jewish Arts Fest of Dallas was a highlight of a special day that drew more than 5,000 people to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center...The band's outstanding musicians, performing traditional repertoire that was fun, exciting and filled with energy, had people dancing in the aisles...Dallasites are still raving about Maxwell Street's performance...We look forward to working with you in the future.
-Judy Cohn, Culural Programs Director, JCC Dallas
...I've been to these Monday night concerts for 19 years and I don't think my prejudices are showing when I say it was the most well-attended, well-appreciated concert in all those years...Almost everyone I talked to was in awe of the band's musical talents and wonderful showmanship...I hope the band considered it a worthwhile evening they'd be willing to repeat before too long.
-Marc Lebovitz, Coordinator, Media Relations - ISU, Illinois
...The concert of your band at Gastieg's Car-Orff-Saal was sold out long before and every single musician gave the audience what is expected: an exhilarating, delightful high-voltage performance...The concert will remain in our mind and heart for (a long time)...It was a pleasure to meet the band and work with you, we are looking forward to your (next) concert in Munich.
-Ilse Ruth Snopkowski, Gesellschaft zur Förderung jüdischer Kultur und Tradition, Munich.
...The crowd of 40,000 people raved about the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band's Performance and the standing ovation that you received served to underline our crowd's appreciation...Our Festival was a huge success and Maxwell Street brought to our program a "taste" of Yiddishkyte that would be hard to duplicate.
Susan Bender - Director, Dan Shuster - Chair: Valley Jewish Festial, California
...I think I've recovered from the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band concert Monday night, now. These guys do a very perfect vintage '30s jazz and klezmer and theatre music show. Lots of great shtick. Lots of great mugging for the audience. One of the tightest bands I have seen in a long time...I expected good, but this was really, really good.
-Ari Davidow, Ari Davidow's http://www.KlezmerShack.com, after the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band's performance at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.
...Even more outstanding than the opera piece, was a piece entitled 'Klezmer Rhapsody' an incredible piece of music that incorporates Klezmer, Jazz, and Classical music with the natural ease and aplomb of Gershwin or Weill. This melodic piece alternated between feeling like a jazz movement and a Broadway show tune. Alex Koffman brilliantly soloed on violin. In addition, the audience more than welcomed an encore of the last few measures of this exciting piece. Are you listening CSO?
-William Gregory, http://www.midwest-ursine.com, reviewing a live performance of a new classical-klezmer piece composed by Ilya Levinson for Alex Koffman of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. (This composition is available on Maxwell Street's new album - Old Roots, New World.)
I attended your Summerdance concert with Steve Weintraub instructing...it was one of the best times I have ever had.....I could not stop dancing for a minute!... You make a great combination! Where else will I be able to dance with you together in the metro Chicago area? I am telling all my dance friends. It was so entertaining!
-A satisfied Maxwell Street customer