March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 52 F

333 Coffeehouse presents Charm City Klezmer

333coffeehouseThe 333 Coffeehouse, Annapolis’ monthly listening space for folk and acoustic music, is pleased to present Charm City Klezmer.

Admission: $12 (students, senior citizens and members $10).

Performer Bio

Charm City Klezmer is a high-energy group whose rich cultural hybrid plays well to any audience. The group creates music for the simchah, or joyous occasion or celebration. Their repertoire covers a wide variety of Klezmer and other Jewish (Ashkenazi and Sephardic) music, with vocals in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew.

The group is partly a family band – leader and long time Baltimore guitarist Michael Raitzyk says of playing klezmer, “I married into it.” Michael’s father-in-law, former CCK clarinetist Max Geller, played in klezmer and jazz bands for decades. His wife, Judith Geller (vocals, piano, French horn), has mastered enough Yiddish to deliver the lyrics of this Semitic, Eastern European folk music with passion and conviction. And their daughter, Rebekah Geller, is now the band’s violinist. As of 2015, the lineup is rounded out by award-winning jazz clarinetist Todd Marcus, bassist David Frieman, and drummer Chuck Karner.

Given the band’s diverse influences, the dancing can take many forms. While Charm City treats the increasingly popular klezmer tradition with respect, it’s not afraid to break into an occasional James Brown tune, integrate a reggae rhythm into a horah (a celebratory circling dance), or open up the Cole Porter songbook. The players’ commitments to jazz (Raitzyk also leads his own jazz trio, and Marcus leads ensembles performing his original compositions) inform even the most traditional Yiddish songs with an improvisational flair.

The band has played many times at Tonic, a club on New York’s Lower East Side, and is included in a CD anthology of live klezmer music entitled A Night @ the Winery (Tzadik). They have also released their own CD, Charm City Klezmer.

Event: 333 Coffeehouse

Who:  Charm City Klezmer

When: Friday, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, 7:30 PM (Doors open at 7:00)

Where: Annapolis Friends Meeting House

351 DuBois Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401 (off N. Bestgate Rd)

333 Coffeehouse presents Charm City Klezmer

About 333 Coffeehouse

Now in its 24th year, the 333 Coffeehouse is an acoustic concert series held the third Friday of the month at the Annapolis Friends Meeting House. It features traditional folk performers and songwriters. 333 is listener-centered, volunteer powered, non-profit, and smoke- and alcohol-free. Inexpensive hot and cold beverages, desserts and snacks are offered. With an intimate performance space and a modest admission price, 333 is a terrific entertainment value.

333 is a program of the Annapolis Traditional Dance Society, an Annapolis 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting tradition-based music and dance.

Web: 333concerts.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/333-Coffeehouse/218270908228826

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @333Concerts

Charm City Klezmer:

Web: mraitzyk.com

Email: [email protected]

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