Michael Heitzler's Klezmer Band: ODE HASHEM

Michael Heitzler - clarinet; Christian Gutfleisch - piano; Michael Chylewski - bass; Daniel Schay - drums & percussion

Renowned clarinetist and Klezmorim Michael Heitzler gained recognition with the group Kolsimcha, with whom he has been touring the world since the early 90s, pioneering traditional Klezmer music into new, modern territories.

Now, Michael Heitzler has formed his own band with three outstanding musicians - pianist Christian Gutfleisch, Michael Chylewski on double bass, 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 band incorporates the beautiful, deeply spiritual Nigunim (melodies) of Eastern European Chassidic Jews into their repertoire.

Consciously, Michael Heitzler's band refrains from original compositions:

"With our perspective as 21st-century musicians, with all our diverse musical backgrounds, we aim to recreate and revive the music of a lost world. It is very important to me to preserve the core message and inner expression of Klezmer music while imbuing it with our own, contemporary and personal touch through arrangement and instrumentation."

Thus, the rhythm section of the Michael Heitzler Klezmer Band is not comprised of typical instruments of this genre like accordion or cymbals but rather piano, double bass, and drums/percussion - the lineup of a modern jazz rhythm section. Just like the early Klezmorim, who were masters at drawing inspiration from other styles without losing their musical identity, these artists continue this tradition from their current perspective:

"We have taken identical or similar rhythmic structures, which occur in jazz or other modern styles as well as in Klezmer, and let the rhythm section play in the respective idiom. Voicings, harmonic progressions, and bass lines are adjusted, while the clarinet, although strongly, does not dogmatically adhere to the traditional playing style with its typical embellishments."

In traditional Klezmer, the rhythm section has a purely accompanying function - quite different in Michael Heitlzer's band, where it becomes a partner, supporter, and counterpart to the melody instrument. Another significant innovation is the emphasis on improvisation, where the jazz background of all band members is clearly evident. The result is an organically evolved overall sound that sounds fresh and contemporary yet approaches the 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 becomes an end in itself but serves the expression of the exuberant and indestructible joy of life that is so inherent to this music! In addition to the exhilarating pieces on the debut Ode Hashem, which hardly allow one to sit still, there are beautiful, deeply touching ballads that aim directly for the soul...

To conclude, a remark about Michael Heitzler's Klezmer Band, which is not related to the music but should be understood as a clear and important message:
In this band, Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and non-religious musicians, with sometimes very different life backgrounds, play not only alongside but above all with each other - in a productive and very, very friendly atmosphere! With this, they send a clear signal in our current times of growing intolerance and drifting societal groups.

For more information, visit: http://michaelheitzler.com/