New article about klezmer in contemporary Germany:
New article on Yiddish Summer Weimar and klezmer in contemporary Germany (11 January, 2012):
Jerusalem Post
Latest Press
January 12th, 2012Latest Writing
September 8th, 2011Entry “Badkhn” in new encyclopedia of Jewish history & culture
Badkhn. In: Enzyklopädie jüdischer Geschichte und Kultur (Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Culture) Vol. 1, ed. Dan Diner. Stuttgart: Verlag J.B. Metzler, 2011: 230-32.
Latest Program
June 15th, 2010My little town Zloczow: A Survivor’s Memoir
Joel Rubin Ensemble with Roald Hoffmann.
Zloczow (now Zolochiv, Ukraine) was a thriving Polish-Jewish-Ukrainian town near Lwow/Lemberg. Then, during three years, 1941-44 the Jewish population perished in the Holocaust. One of the survivors, Roald Hoffmann, tells in his own words, in readings from others, and in poems, the story of the town, its rich religious and cultural heritage (reaching out to America through the Yiddish writer Moshe Leyb Halpern, the photographer Weegee and others). Hoffmann, who was named after the discoverer Roald Amundsen, received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in his new home America, while at the same time becoming known for his poems, essays, and plays. A lifelong connoisseur of music, Hoffmann’s memories of the musical traditions of his home town were revived by the music and research of Joel Rubin. Kindred spirits in their approaches to science, the arts, and religion, they began to perform together, drawing into the moving poetry and memoirs of Hoffmann and Rubin’s musical score the thoughts and the musical traditions of the great hasidic masters, one of whom was Yekhiel Mekhl, the Maggid of Zloczow. The program interweaves text with appropriate musical selections, including hasidic, cantorial and klezmer music from the region of Zloczow.
Reviews
“Few, if any, would deny [Joel Rubin] the title of the greatest living klezmer musician”
(Jewish Quarterly, London)
“without a doubt one of the greatest klezmer musicians in the world”
(Radio DRS 2, Switzerland)
“master clarinetist”
(Wall St. Journal Europe)
“Rubin … is probably the most virtuosic klezmer clarinetist in the world today”
(Dr. Eleonore Büning, S2 Kultur/Southern German Radio)
“I can barely see Rubin’s hands move, but he’s going wild. Listen to him, hopping octaves and bending notes so smoothly! Man, that dude shreds like Eddie Van Halen.”
(C-Ville Weekly)
“the researching intellect among the klezmer players”
(Stuttgarter Zeitung)
“Rubin … is clearly an important figure in the rediscovery of the Ashkenazic musical tradition”
(Jewish Herald-Voice)
“[Rubin] … has driven the art of Jewish clarinet playing to new heights … The listener who has experienced Rubin’s breathtaking solos once, is not surprised about the spontaneous outbreaks of applause at every concert.”
(Folksblatt)
“Clarinetist Rubin is considered to be the most important contemporary interpreter of klezmer music.”
(Volkszeitung, Leipzig)
“Joel Rubin has been acclaimed as the greatest clarinetist of the klezmer revival”
(Jewish Socialist, London)
“With a flawless tone that would make many classical interpreters jealous, Rubin playfully and improvisationally drew forth ever new facets, allowing the sound to rejoice and wail in the high register…”
(Münstersche Zeitung, Münster, Germany)
“… Rubin, more than any other I’ve heard, captures the authentic fibrous roughness of a klezmer clarinet…”
(San Francisco Examiner)
“Rubin … [is] now counted among the world’s foremost klezmer musicians.”
(The Oregonian, Portland)
“sheer ability to swing … witness the wailing tone of clarinetist Joel Rubin … – there’s one link with jazz and Gershwin.”
(Los Angeles Weekly)
“[Rubin] has played a leading role in the revival of Jewish music in America, has performed with many East European immigrant musicians and appeared often in radio show and films. Whoever has heard his clarinet playing will never forget it! “
(Allgemeine Jüdische Wochenzeitung, Bonn)
Latest Recording
June 18th, 2011Azoy Tsu Tsveyt Joel Rubin/Uri Caine Duo
Joel Rubin/Uri Caine Duo
Azoy Tsu Tsveyt
(Tzadik CD 8163, New York 2011)
Available since July 26, 2011
Azoy Tsu Tsveyt, the first release on Tzadik by one of the most celebrated and skilled clarinetists in the New Jewish Renaissance features Joel Rubin in a surprising and exciting new context—the fascinating and vibrant intersection between Jewish music and jazz. Joined by the versatile virtuoso Uri Caine on piano, they perform a freewheeling repertoire of Old and New World nigunim, cantorial music, klezmer classics and more. A fervent jazz fan since the age of nine, Joel shines like never before in this passionate meeting of modern Jewish masters.
Features compositions by Steve Greenman, Kal Opperman, Joel Rubin, Alicia Svigals and Kalmen Opperman, along with rethinkings of traditional klezmer tunes and hasidic nigunim.
Tzadik Records
Complete reviews
Chosen by exclaim. ca as one of 10 favorites in the category Improv & Avant-Garde for 2011 exclaim.ca Then go to p. 2 for the review.
“a must-have for any klezmer music fan” (American Jewish World, Aug. 5, 2011)
“a very good recording of klezmer music … never dull or uninspiring. Fans of klezmer, Yiddish, Jewish, big band, clarinet, instrumental, avant-garde, and jazz music will find much to love about Azoy Tsu Tsveyt” (Inside World Music, Aug. 5, 2011)
“clarinettist Joel Rubin and keyboardist Uri Caine … demolish preconceptions of klezmer. … you can’t help but marvel at the unceasing invention. … The peak of the album is ‘Yiddish Soldier,’ which is like a klezmer In A Silent Way. This is brilliant and swinging.” (exclaim.ca, August 17, 2011)
“a work of collaboration. … ‘The Pianist’ is a 13-minute masterpiece of subtle interplay. … This new release proves [Rubin’s] still got plenty to say.” (Cowbell Magazine, Sept. 2011)
Joel Rubin, c clarinet
Uri Caine, keyboards (fender rhodes, hammond organ)
Track list:
| The Pianist | 13:35 |
| Kiever | 3:44 |
| Ahavas Oylam/Eternal Love | 7:16 |
| Bessarabian Thing | 2:21 |
| Nign for Sabbath and Holidays | 3:13 |
| Yiddish Soldier | 10:01 |
| Ah Zoy | 5:11 |
| New Khosidls | 8:02 |
