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Topic: Steel Guitar in a Klezmer Band |
Don E. Curtis
From:
St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)
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Posted 13 Mar 2006 10:37 am |
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Yes that's right, I was the only rhythm instrument in an authentic Klezmer Band.
I've certainly played a lot of Christian and Catholic Weddings in my time but this was a first for me...but it could not have fit in better. It was perfect for the fast tunes and was absolutely beautiful in the slow songs. I believe we'll do some more shows in the future...you can check out their website at: yidnstl.com
I studied the music for one week of the old world Yiddish music and had no problem fitting the steel guitar in. Everyone enjoyed it and the groom said it sounded exactly like he thought it would. He attends the ISGC in St. Louis and just wanted a steel at his wedding. Brad Sarno was supposed to do the gig but he had to man his booth at the TSGA show in Dallas.
I truly enjoyed it as I like most all kinds of music and it is indeed always a pleasure to perform with consumate professionals like Paul Wexler.
History in the making for the next generation.
Steel Guitar Rules!
Don |
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Adrienne Clasky
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2006 12:06 pm
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This is so cool. I play Klezmer on the flute, but haven't tried it on the steel yet. On the fast pieces, did you play single notes with that pick blocking, popping sound? Did you play chords? Slides? How did you handle that strange, beautiful key with the Bb/C#? I would love to have heard it!
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Jim Hoke
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 6:50 am
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| Oh yeah, the Jewish culture has long been intertwined with pedal steel and country music. Who dosen't love "Oh It's Kvetching Time Again..." and "Oy Lonesome Me". And let's not forget "Silver Threads And Golden Dradels"? |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 7:38 am
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and how can we forget Ray Pricestein's "Oy Vey To Survive"..... 
but I really would be interested in Don's response to Adrienne....interesting question, and I would sure love to hear steel in Klezmer.[This message was edited by HowardR on 14 March 2006 at 07:42 AM.] |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 8:11 am
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| Big D, finally a venue for your craziness! Too cool! First you steel my gig, and now Brad's- who's next! JP |
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Don E. Curtis
From:
St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 10:58 am
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Well, actually, I didn’t know at first, and I know the band had doubts and anxiety over the whole concept. However, I was to be the ‘rhythm’ instrument and not necessarily the lead, and there was no way I could learn all those melodies, or sight-read them on the spot like I can a chord chart. So, when I got there early to rehearse I didn’t know what or how to approach it, even though I went to the library and got much audio, plus I have fake books with these type progressions, and the music pretty much sounded just like normal music except the vocal selections of course. But, the fast tunes reminded me of bluegrass music in minor chords, and the melodies are lying right there on the chromatic strings with a Jimmy Crawford approach with pick blocking, or actually no blocking once it’s going that fast. Plus I have my knee levers set up for a chromatic scale so the diminished 2nds and the minor 3rds are not a problem. Then on the procession tunes, which I believe were Israeli, and all very slow I played arpeggios and then actually did start sliding and using the pedal gliss, and that fit in nicely, and the VI minor to III minor, A Pedal to Eb Knee Lever was very effective, well, you know how haunting a pedal steel can be. And yes, I was the only electric instrument and they were worried about decibels, but I can play so soft they have to tell me to turn it back up.
Now the most challenging thing and exciting almost to exhilaration was the rhythms. And I cannot recall all the names, Bulgar, Horra, and others, but listening at home I couldn’t tell if it was maybe a triplet feel, but tighter eighth notes being pushed, but definitely not a dotted sixteenth. So at rehearsal Paul explained that it was actually a 5 over 1 feel with the accents on 1&4 (“ONE two three FOUR five ONE two three FOUR five”), in 2/4 Time. Wow! I was having a blast trying to stay right on with the Bass Player.
And of course the Pedal Steel has no problem with minor chords all over the place but what else blew me away was the modal approach the clarinet had as even while the chords were Major, the tune still sounded minor.
As per the odd Key, I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean, but they do play a bVIImin for the V7 a lot. But as per the Turkish tunes, the steel guitar temperament tuning has to have the 3rds flatted a significant amount to properly achieve the desired effect, Paul was very intriged that the temperament of the steel could be instanly altered to accommodate the so called, "mean-tone" type temperaments like on a harpsichord where it's more in tune in the middle of its range and the 3rds get closer together the farther you decend, that makes the decending diminsished chord get more and more disonant and then once it's resolved it's almost a relief...Unfortuantely on the spot on this impromptu gig we were not able to get too deep into it.
It was a total learning experience and it’s great to be able to utilize ones abilities on a higher level. Anytime I play with top pros it is always the greatest musical gratification I know...
And Jim, don’t worry about your gig as I’ve been replaced by a guitar holder!
Thanks for your interest in this topic,
Sincerely,
Don
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Michael Garnett
From:
Seattle, WA
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 11:39 am
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That's really neat. I'm playing bass for a Klezmer group out here in West Texas. Drop me an e-mail, we've got TONS of sheet music material from all the old-timey Eastern European folk songs all the way to modern Hebrew dance songs.
-Michael "Moishe Snellenberger" Garnett |
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Adrienne Clasky
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 12:20 pm
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| Wow. Incredible post. Thanks! |
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Charles Curtis
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 12:55 pm
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| Don, I just know that was fantastic; I would love to have heard. Thanks for sharing. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2006 3:30 pm
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Wow Don. I'm glad YOU took the gig. Whew!!! That's just amazing stuff you're talking about. I'm so glad it went well. You'll have to sit me down sometime and show me some of what you had going. Mazel Tov!
Brad
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Don E. Curtis
From:
St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)
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Posted 22 Mar 2006 11:23 am
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Here's what Ben, the groom said: "Don, thank you for your kind words and wishes. It was our pleasure to have you play and everyone is still raving about it. One of these days, I am going to make it down to the store to buy myself a steel and start taking lessons. Hopefully that will happen long before the next convention. Talk to you soon." Ben
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 22 Mar 2006 12:07 pm
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There's a fellow in New york City named Brad Catler who plays in a Klezmar band that mostly works in Europe, but as far as I know, he doesn't play steel in it.
When I last saw Brad he told me he showed the steel the the band leader, who loved it, and they were planning to integrate it into the music, but had not yet done so.
I don't know whether or not they ever did.
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My web site
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