Renowned clarinetist and Klezmorim Michael Heitzler gained fame with the group Kolsimcha, with which he has been traveling the world since the early '90s, leading traditional Klezmer music to new, modern shores.
Now, Michael Heitzler has formed his own band with three excellent musicians – pianist Christian Gutfleisch, bassist Michael Chylewski, and drummer Daniel Schay. Their music, showcased in the debut album "Ode Hashem," draws inspiration from the great American and Eastern European bands from the early to mid-20th century, such as Naftule Brandwein, Dave Tarras, Mickey Katz, or the Epstein Brothers. Additionally, the beautiful, deeply spiritual Nigunim (melodies) of Eastern European Chassidic Jews are a significant part of their repertoire. Michael Heitzler deliberately avoids original compositions with his band:
"With our perspective as 21st-century musicians, with all our different musical backgrounds, we want to make the music of a lost world come alive again. It is very important to me to preserve the core message and inner expression of Klezmer music while giving it a very distinct, contemporary, and personal touch through arrangement and instrumentation."
The Michael Heitzler Klezmer Band's rhythm section does not include accordion, cymbals, or other typical instruments of the genre but rather piano, double bass, and drums/percussion – the lineup of a modern jazz rhythm section. Early Klezmorim were masters at drawing inspiration from other styles and incorporating them into their music without losing their musical identity. The artists continue this tradition, or let's call it tradition, from their current perspective:
"We took identical or similar rhythmic structures that occur both in jazz or other modern styles and in Klezmer, and let the rhythm section play in the respective idiom. Voicings, harmonic progressions, and basslines are adjusted while the clarinet, strongly but not dogmatically, orients itself to the traditional playing style with its typical embellishments."
In traditional Klezmer, the rhythm section serves a purely accompanying function, quite different from Michael Heitlzer's band where it becomes a partner, a supporter, and an counterpart to the melodic instrument. Another significant innovation is the emphasis on improvisation, where the jazz background of all band members becomes evident. The result is an organically grown overall sound that sounds fresh and current but approaches tradition with great respect and love, leaving the inner musical expression of Klezmer untouched. The emotional component takes center stage. The sometimes breathtaking virtuosity never serves itself but rather contributes to expressing the exuberant and indestructible joy of life inherent in this music! In addition to the exhilarating pieces on the debut "Ode Hashem," which makes it nearly impossible to stay seated, there are beautiful, deeply touching ballads that go straight to the soul...
To conclude, a note about Michael Heitzler's Klezmer Band, not related to the music but nonetheless a clear and important message: In this band, Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and non-religious musicians with sometimes very different life backgrounds not only play alongside each other but, above all, with each other – in a productive and very, very friendly atmosphere! This sends a clear signal in our current times of growing intolerance and diverging societal groups.
For more information, visit: http://michaelheitzler.com/