Klarinet Archive - Posting 000454.txt from 1995/05

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Klezmer arrangements?
Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 06:40:04 -0400

On Sat, 13 May 1995, Lisa Clayton wrote:

> I've been enjoying the listing of music and arrangements for
> clarinet. I've been saving a lot of them for future reference.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone here knows of any klezmer arrangements
> that are along the lines of dixieland arrangements-- i.e., books
> of arrangements that are arranged for all the instruments in
> the ensemble.
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.

Lisa,

I believe that the book Ken Ulansey referred to is the Kammen
International series of "Dance Folios," which, it seems, have been published
for time out of mind by J. & J. Kammen Music Co. I have four books
that comprise Folios Nos. 1 and 9 for Bb tenor saxophone/Bb clarinet and
piano accordion. There are also books for piano solo, violin/mandolin, Eb
alto saxophone, tenor banjo, cornet/trumpet, trombone, and drums.

There's a lot of mix and match stuff involved here, with
considerable unison playing. There are, however, or have been, groups that
play special arrangements, possibly along the lines that might interest you.
One is the Jerusalem Jazz Band from Israel, which plays a style they call
"Dixie Frailach." I don't know if they have anything published, but for
the last two or three years they have performed at the annual Sacramento
Jazz Jubillee during the Memorial-Day weekends, and I have one of their
commercial tapes.

Another group, which is no longer in existence, was Mickey
Katz's, which, for many years, performed on a weekly radio program in
Los Angeles. I have a tape of some killer recordings that group made ca.
the 1950s, and I wonder if that music might be published. If, in your
search, you are able to track down some of this music, I would
appreciate knowing what you found.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California