Where popular meets tradition
Don't be surprised if audience members at Saturday night's Klezmerica concert with Joe Vass start dancing in the aisles at Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts.
The Minneapolis-based band headlines this year's holiday show, called Lollapajewza IV, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
"It happens all the time," says Vass, an Oak Park native. "I can't explain it, except that our music makes people feel like dancing."
Vass and his Klezmer-styled six-piece band, says the name fits, since Klezmerica performs its traditional Jewish music, wrapped in a contemporary American sound.
"It's contemporary Jewish music that is lively and accessible -- but good," adds Vass, the band's leader who plays piano and composes much of their original music.
They will be performing during the Prairie Center's fourth annual Lollapajewza, which takes place in December every year.
"As part of our holiday season, we've presented a Hanukkah-themed concert for many years," says Betsy Armistead, Prairie Center executive director.
"We think this year's concert is truly something special, appealing to many musical tastes," she adds. "It's a post-Hanukkah, pre-Christmas, mid-December stress break."
Klezmerica has played gigs across country, and is the only North American band to play in the International Klezmer Festival in Israel, a few years ago.
Each of the six musicians brings a rich professional repertoire to the band, but even more, members share a mission of wanting to preserve the music of their heritage, Vass said.
Band members include Jay Epstein who plays drums, Dale Mendenhall on woodwinds, Dave Jensen on trumpet and Gary Schulte and Chris Bates on guitar.
"We want to share this really great musical tradition," Vass says, "and at the same time bring it up to date. We're rooted in tradition, but we're wrapped in a contemporary sound."
Of course, the notion of an "American sound" is debatable in itself, since George Gershwin, one of the most iconic of American composers, Vass says, was Jewish, and his famous Broadway show tunes reflects his heritage.
In fact, Vass designed a concert around that connection, calling it, "Gershwin the Klezmer." It's played to rave reviews across the country.
"This is very high quality music," Vass says, "that's family-friendly, and fun."
If you go
What: Lollapajewza IV featuring the band, Klezmerica with Joe Vass
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court
Cost: $20, $18 for seniors and students
More information: (847) 895-3600 or visit www.prairiecenter.org