Music Music Music...

Saturday, March 14
8 to 10 pm
Burnsville Town Center
BANDANA KLEZMER

Yes, once again we here in the Yancey-Mitchell communities find ourselves on the cutting edge of the music scene. In our midst, among musicians of every genre, is WNC'S one and only klezmer band, Bandana Klezmer. Think dancing fiddles, accordions, and the tinkling sounds of the hammer dulcimer.

Come to the Burnsville Town Center on Saturday night March 14 at 8 p.m. to hear this toe-tapping music. Admission is $12.00, with students paying $6.00. Gourmet desserts and organic coffee are included in the price.

What's a klezmer band doing in the mountains of North Carolina, you ask? The answer is, "Quite a lot!"

Several years ago Bandana Klezmer began playing Old World klezmer music, which comes from the Carpathian mountain regions in eastern Europe. There are no twists or fusions, nothing too modern other than an occasional original tune. Melodies have been collected from older klezmer players, scratchy records, and out of-print manuscripts. The band has been kept busy playing festivals, holidays, weddings & concerts in synagogues, churches, dance halls, living rooms and cemeteries.

"We have so much fun playing these tunes," says Rob Levin. "The rhythms are really infectious; even the slower tunes make you jump up to dance. Both Marc and I have played old-time music for years, and that music translates real well into klezmer -- it's just from different mountains! And when Meg & Naomi sing harmonies together, it's really beautiful."

Since most of this music is traditionally played for dancing, Debi Miles will lead some simple dances for anyone to join. This will be a special evening of lively & spirited music!

Bandana Klezmer is: Meg Peterson (accordion & vocals), Naomi Dalglish (fiddle & vocals), Michael Hunt (percussion & tsimbl [hammer dulcimer]), Rob Levin (guitar), Andy John (cello & harmonica), & Marc Rudow (fiddle).

The Toe River Arts Council thanks Appalachian Java for donating the organic coffee for the Java Jam. And thanks so much to our community which has been coming out to celebrate life through dance and music at the monthly Java Jam for the last three and a half years.