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what was that?

Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-12-22 14:03

While at Midwest last week I stopped at the Spertus Museum a couple of buildings north of the Hilton. It is a Jewish Museum and I was looking for klezmer recordings and books.

I picked up a CD by Dave Tarras entitled "Tanz." Great CD....but here is the kicker. On the CD they call Tarras "the Jewish Benny Goodman." Wouldn't that be a bit like saying John Paul II is the "Catholic Pope?"

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas,
Jean

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Re: what was that?

Author: ChrisC
Date: 2003-12-22 17:37

The "Jewish Benny Goodman" thing was indeed a term used to describe Tarras during his lifetime. It's actually fairly easy to understand, considering that Benny Goodman *never* played klezmer music in person or on record, with the exception of And the Angels Sing, which was an arrangement by his trumpeter Ziggy Ellman of a traditional klezmer tune. I wasn't around back then, but I could imagine that Benny Goodman's Jewish background may not have been apparent to much of his audience, and even those who were aware of it may have been inclined to forget it. Tarras, on the other hand, never played anything besides klezmer, and his jazz chops were known to be nonexistent. While Goodman was an international star, Tarras would have been known only to Jewish-American audiences. The designation of Tarras as the Jewish version of Goodman, while ironic, and perhaps intentionally so, nonetheless makes a good deal of sense, considering that during their lifetimes both men were the foremost clarinetists in two completely distinct styles.

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Re: what was that?

Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-12-22 22:07

Chris,
I already knew everything you wrote...I thought it was just very funny that they used the term Jewish....I don't think of Jewish as a style of music, but as a religion. Are you familiar with the Tarras CD? It is a lot of fun to listen to.

There are also times when "jewish" sounding music slips into Artie Shaw's music. I believe on a version of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." Don't quote me on that, it has been a while since I listened to that particular Shaw CD.

Jean

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