Don Byron Plays The Music Of Mickey Katz CD

On DON BYRON PLAYS THE MUSIC OF MICKEY KATZ, the gifted young clarinetist performs a selection of Yiddish-American and traditional klezmer musics that were written or adapted by clarinetist-humorist Mickey Katz (former Spike Jones musical director), many of which are affectionate parodies of popular songs. Contains excerpts of Mickey Katz from the original New York cast album of HELLO, SOLLY!

No one recognized the manic possibilities of klezmer more than clarinetist Mickey Katz, whose 1945-1947 tenure with Spike Jones spawned a comedy band that launched such funny travesties as the Yiddish cowpoke ditty "Haim Afen Range" or the Jewish-Hawaiian "Mechaye War Chant." Katz used humor to expand the musical boundaries of klezmer, thrusting it into the laps of World War II mainstream America at a time when Yiddish was identified as a victim's language and most Jewish music looked backward in time because the post-Holocaust present was intolerable. Playing Katz's songs demands prodigious chops, hence the attraction of Katz to molecule-splitting clarinetist Don Byron, who demonstrates nerve presenting Katz the monologist as the equal of Katz the composer. In sum, convoluted, kaleidoscopic silliness topped with Byron's usual dazzling self. ~ Bob Tarte

Recorded at Master Sound, Astoria, New York in September 1992. Includes liner notes by Don Byron.

Personnel: Don Byron (vocals, clarinet); Avi Hoffman, Lorin Sklamberg, Rosalie Gerut (vocals); J.D. Parran (soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); Dave Douglas (trumpet, background vocals); Josh Roseman (trombone, boat whistle, background vocals); Mark Feldman (violin, background vocals); Uri Caine (piano, background vocals); Dan Hovey (Hawaiian guitar); Brandon Ross (guitar); Jay Berliner (mandolin); Steve Alcott (bass); Richie Schwarz (drums, xylophone, percussion); Jerry Gonzalez (percussion); Loretta Malta (background vocals).

Adapters: Lester Allen; Johnny Noble; Ralph Freed; Raul Ferrao; Robert Hill; Jimmy Kennedy.

Personnel: Don Byron (vocals, clarinet); Mark Feldman (vocals, violin, background vocals); Avi Hoffman (vocals, background vocals); Rosalie Gerut, Lorin Sklamberg (vocals); Daniel Hovey, Brandon Ross (guitar); Jay Berliner (mandolin); J.D. Parran (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone); Dave Douglas (trumpet, background vocals); Josh Roseman (trombone, sound effects, background vocals); Uri Caine (piano, background vocals); Richie Schwarz (xylophone, drums, percussion); Jerry Gonzalez (percussion); Loretta Malta (background vocals).

Liner Note Authors: Alta Starr; Don Byron.

Recording information: Master Sound (09/1992); Master Sound Studios, New York, NY (09/1992).

Editor: Alta Starr.

Photographer: Cori Wells Braun.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Don Byron; Mickey Katz.Down Beat (8/93, p.39) - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...Katz not only brought a bracing virtuosity to klezmer's lilting Eastern European lyricism and dizzying tempi, but also a wonderfully warped sense of humor...In Byron's hands, Katz's sublime mix of instrumental brinksmanship and pop parodies transcends novelty..."
Musician (8/93, p.92) - "...Compact orchestrations retain the drama and accentuate the frolic, and the shtick is nudged into a spot where the essence of entertainment befriends both adventure and brilliance..."