Michael Winograd “Neier Doina” into “Der Cholum Fun Yid”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Michael Winograd’s new live version of the songs “Neier Doina” into “Der Cholum Fun Yid” from his forthcoming album Michael Winograd plays TANZ!, set for release in early December. The album was produced by Michael Winograd, recorded by Christopher McDonald and Jeremy McDonald, and mixed and mastered by Don Godwin.
The live event was produced by Michael Winograd and Aaron Bendich Recorded live in concert at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan on February 16, 2023.
“Neier Doina” into “Der Cholum Fun Yid” is Michael Winograd on clarinet; Marine Goldwaser on clarinet; Alec Spiegelman on tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, and clarinet; Frank London on trumpet; Will Holshouser on accordion; Carmen Staaf on piano; Zoe Guigueno on bass; and David Licht on drums, with Katie Scheele on English horn.
People don’t think of klezmer as American folk music but give this a listen and you’ll hear it’s undeniably so. This collection of jewish folk instrumentals, a fresh revisioning of the 1956 album bu Clarinets Sam Musiker. Kick back and lose yourself in this, it’ll be worth it.
As Michael Winograd tells us, “The songs ‘Der Neier Doina’ and ‘Der Cholum Fun Yid,’ are a pair of original compositions by clarinetist Sam Musiker. A fun aspect of the original 1956 album is that while Muisker and his counterpart clarinetist Dave Tarras trade off as soloists, they also jump between playing roles as the “folklorist” and the “modernist.” Given that Sam split his time between Jazz and Klezmer, this came naturally to him. These songs show off his folkier, more traditional side. He composed this doina, and slow hora (or zhok) with more traditional boundaries than some of his other songs on the album (“Sam’s Bulgar” e/g,) yet even so.. he just couldn’t help drawing on his deep sense of modern harmony and technique to give an extra shine to these numbers. These are a particularly fun set to play in concert – as they give the band an opportunity to really lay into the schmaltziness of the style. Every note and phrase is deeply drenched in ashkenazi musical fat, and sops with tradition. And while some of the faster, more boisterous tunes on TANZ! bring the listener in, it’s often these rich slower ones that pack a good punch!”
You can find the music here. https://borschtbeat.bandcamp.com/album/michael-winograd-plays-tanz-live-in-new-york-city
Check out some tour dates:
December 17 – Somerville, MA – Somerville Armory (Boston Jewish Music Festival)
December 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Center for New Jewish Culture (17 Eastern Parkway)