 The Ethnic Clarinet
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-08-30 03:18
Someone posted a thread regarding "top 10" clarinet recordings on the other part of this list. I thought I'd start one here with specific regard to ETHNIC clarinet playing. (Gee, you're all surprised, right?) I figure there are many fewer in the ethnic realm than in the "general" realm, hence the "top five," but if you have more than five, have at it!
Mine, in no particular order (and not including Klezmer, which I consider actually a separate category...lol):
1. Ivo Papasov, Balkanology (Bulgarian Rom)
2. Laver Bariu, Songs From the City of Roses (Albanian)
3. Selim Sesler, The Road to Kesan (Turkish Rom)
4. Yiorgo Anestopoulos, self-title (Greek)
5. Ferus Mustafov, Macedonian Wedding Soul Cooking (Macedonian)
6. Yuri Yunakov Ensemble, Roma Variations (Bulgarian Rom)
7. Fanfare Ciocarlia, self-title (Romanian...so it's a brass band, but the clarinet playing is AWESOME...)
Ok, so I put more than 5 too...lol
Katrina
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-08-31 05:34
Thanks for the list.. now I know what to buy:)
I have Yuri on *Balada*
An Ivo that's on a very cheap cassette
Someother Bulgarian CD, all in Cyrillic; the musicians look like gangsters.
And a lot of Zlatne Uste
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-08-31 17:09
You've got good stuff, Steve. Unfortunately the two Ivo cd's on Ryko are now out of print. I think they're pretty accessible on the folkdancer-salespeople market (Opet folk shop for one...), but I don't know how easy they are to find online.
Balada is my least favorite of the three Yuri recordings. I don't think I can put the reasons into words, though.
I LOVE those Bulgarian cd covers!!! They either have these tough looking dudes in dark suits or half-naked women!!! Makes me giggle every time...
Katrina
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-08-31 19:13
Oh, and by the way, I've just limited myself to non-klezmer stuff cause it's what I know best. Please include this if it's what you know; I'd love to hear about klezmer stuff I don't already know about! 
K.
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-09-02 22:33
i haven't seen the covers with the 1/2 - naked women yet:-) I'll have to check them out next time I'm at a festival where Opet is exhibiting.
Maybe you don't like Balada because there's too much electric sound? Or does Yuri use electric sounds in everything he does? In concert, they sure are LOUD.
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-09-04 01:15
Well, the newest Yuri disc, "Roma Variations", has lots of synth too. I think the problem with "Balada" is probably that it was the first one that he did with the current lineup. It feels more tentative to me. The synth stuff isn't as good as on "Roma Variations." I think the singing on the first disc, "New Colors in Bulgarian Wedding Music," is better than it is on Balada as well. There isn't any synth on the first one, but I believe there is electric guitar or bass.
I absolutely LOVE how loud they are in person. I sat in the front row when they played here. I was pretty much right in front of him. Ok, so I wasn't in front of the _speaker_ but it was still really loud!
Also, I gave the wrong title for the Fanfare Ciocarlia cd I listed above. It's really called, "Radio Pascani." Sorry for any confusion.
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-09-04 07:14
Kat, re: Ferus Mustafov: I found an audio sample of him a while ago, sax with accordion at manic speed. Which does he play, the sax or the accordion (couldn't tell from the website)?
The accordion was really on steroids!
Re: Yuri: Going deaf yet?
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-09-04 16:21
Ferus plays sax and clarinet. I saw him live about 5-6 years ago in Chicago.
By the way, Ivo Papasov will be in Chicago on October 4, if anyone is around...
No, I'm not deaf... I suspect because I didn't spend my youth listening to loud pop and rock music. In fact, I didn't go to a rock concert until I was 25 (9 years ago, for those who are counting...)
Katrina
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Author: Seamus Kirkpatrick
Date: 2002-09-05 22:22
Ok, here's five from me in no particular order (I've included Klezmer, what does lol mean?)
Don Byron - Plays the Music of Mickey Katz
This band is sooo good. And Don Byron plays like a monster, and isn't afraid to have extra musical opinions all integrated.... How often do we get that nowadays?
Giora Fiedman - Yiddish Soul
When I first heard Klezmer I thought it should be played like this, but when I did everyone got very cross but now I don't feel so alone anymore.
Anour Brahem - Astrakan Cafe
The first time I heard Barbaros Erkose play and it freaked me out and got me obsessed with all sorts of new stuff that I didn't even know existed. And this a stunningly beautiful and quiet cd.
Barbaros Erkose Ensemble - Ling Ling
Don't have to buy this one from Turkish websites and it's really good. Good technical liner notes about the music, unfortunately the recording itself isn't great. Still, very beautiful.
Fanfare Ciocarlia - Radio Pascani
This band rocks. Like Slayer arranged for Brass Band. The clarinet playing is unbelievable.
Honourable mentions Mustafa Kandarili - Caz Roman (legend!) and Istanbul Oriental Ensemble - Gypsy Rum (How the hell does he make the clarinet sound like that? It drives me crazy!)
I actually don't have any recordings of Bulgarian stuff, a situation I'm obviously going to have to rectify soon. (More Turkish stuff first)
Thanks for listening
Seamus
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-09-07 00:27
Seamus,
Have you seen Barbaros Erkose live? I've seen him once, but will miss his second appearance here in town. He's gonna be here with Anour Brahem, too...ARGH...wish I didn't have rehearsal that night!
He's such a fabulous live performer, too...
lol...means laughing out loud...
Don Byron is one of my favorite all-around clarinetists too. Have you heard his recording "Bug Music"?? It's my fave that I've heard...but I actually have never heard the Klezmer one. He used to play with the Klezmer Conservatory Band ages ago too...
Katrina
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Author: Christoffer
Date: 2002-10-03 16:27
My top five, in no particular order:
Petro-Loukas Halkias & Kompania
Ivo Papasov, Balkanology
Mustafa Kandirali, Caz Roman
Ferus Mustafov, Macedonian Wedding Soul Cooking
Nikos Karakostas ... on a couple of tracks on an anthology of greek-oriental rembetika.
Yet another personal favourite is not a recording, but a live experience: an old anonymous, probably gypsy/rom, clarinet player I once heard on the street in Piraeus, Greece in the autumn of 1999. I loved his sound, and that was the very moment when I once and for all decided that I had to learn to play that instrument myself.
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The Clarinet Pages
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