Andy Statman Plays Jazz version of Modzitz Chasidim Melody

The Heichal HaNegina blog recently posted this wonderful video of Andy Statman (clarinet), with Jim Whitney (bass) and Larry Eagle (drums) playing a house concert in Nashville, TN. Statman is playing a jazz version of a traditional Modzitz Chassidic melody. Modzitz is a Chassidic dynasty known for it's nigunim. The Modzitzer's have a web page with lots of their traditional nigunim. They're well worth the listen. I immediately recognized and was signing along with Ani Monim.

Andy Statman Trio: Live In Nashville

Hat Tip to BlogInDm for pointing me to the Heichal NaNegina post.

Japanese Klezmer, Roma, freeform band

I love this kind of thing. Start with some good squawky guitar, then break into something that sounds like a freilach crashing downhill into a junkyard. The musicianship isn't quite top notch, but who cares. It's a glorious mess.

I haven't been able to figure out an English translation for the name of the band (Babelfish translates the video title as "Is that that?") but I'll keep trying. Here's the video description...

"A very rare band from Japan playing Klezmer (Jewish) and Gypsy (Roma) music. The band formed in 1999. Not using any electrical instruments at all, the band's sound reminds one of nostalgic circus music and old jass bands. With all the different backgrounds of the musicians from Ding-Dong(A Japanese advertising Marching Band), Jazz, Rock, Pop, New Orleans, Latin, Musette, Irish, to Classical, and their free style performance, the band is able to create a distinctive world of their own. They are active on the streets, event spaces, and clubs in and around Osaka. They played together and opened for bands like: "Fanfare Ciocarlia"・a Rumanian Gypsy brass band, "Think of One" from Belgium, and "Willem Breuker Kollektief" from Holland, and more"

それはそれでありか


Hat tip to Tazy1969 for posting the video.