Earlier this month six or eight AARC musician-members and about 20 other local musicians joined at the JCC for a workshop with three members of the Maxwell Street Band. We played for about 90 minutes, putting together two pieces, Freilechs fun der Hupe and Zol Zayn Gelebt. Photos and audio are below.
Comments from participants
- What an incredible morning. Hope there’s a chance to do it again!
- What terrific fun to play music with these folks! They took a couple dozen amateur instrumentalists, fired us up with enthusiasm, and helped us play with spirit and character. An amazing morning.
- Alex expertly assessed the abilities of over 20 musicians – from novice to skilled – who had never played together before. By the end of the workshop we were playing as a group; Alex, Don and Gail gave each of us a new challenge or musical gem. What fun!!! It was a real treat to play with Maxwell Street. Participants were all asking when the band will come back.
Freilechs fun der Hupe
Zol Zayn Gelebt
The Klezmer Concert & Workshop were organized in part by the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation with support from the Eastern Michigan University Jewish Studies, the JCC of Greater Ann Arbor, and an Impact Grant of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, as part of the Ann Arbor Yiddish Festival.
Leave a Comment