Sy
Kushner is considered one of the finest
and leading accordionists and innovators in the field of Jewish
Music. He uses the accordion, alto sax, string bass, clarinet,
trombone and drums in a manner not previously heard in Jewish
music. He also introduced and included tsimbal in the ensamble,
which made it sound really authentic.
One of the Sy's recent efforts in the Field
of Jewish Music has been the transcription of 40 classic Klezmer
tunes. He transcribed the exact ornaments and melismas that
were played by the Klezmer greats of the past, so that anyone
interested in Klezmer music today can learn the traditional
style.
The term KLEZMER comes from two Hebrew words:
KLEI (instrument) and ZEMER (song) i.e. an instrument of song.
The combination of these two words became the term used to describe
musicians playing Jewish music at weddings, etc.
On a personal note, the music Sy Kushner plays
felt familiar immediately, because of my South Balkan background.
Typical rhythms of 3/8 and 9/8 and melody coloured with ornaments,
melismas and threls, are result of a direct influence of the
Middle Eastern and Gypsy musical cultures.
This CD would certainly be very entertaining
for people who enjoy Jewish music.
