Michael Winograd Klezmer Ensemble

Thu., Oct. 16, 8 p.m., $15, Settlement Music School, Mary Louise Curtis Branch, 416 Queen St., myspace.com/mwinfection.

by Shaun Brady

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Published: Oct 14, 2008

World/Jazz

Sure, klezmer is all about tradition, but Michael Winograd has no fear of getting a little "Crazy" with it. The Brooklyn-based clarinetist sneaks a rendition of the Gnarls Barkley hit onto the end of his latest CD, Bessarabian Hop (Midwood Sounds), establishing his ensemble as the wedding band of choice for only the hippest of shtetls. But Winograd makes that case pretty strongly without the winking covers, penning tunes that playfully traipse in and out of the heritage, from the languid "Morning Song" to the jaunty little "Freylekh for Gwen Stefani." Winograd crosses into the Brooklyn and Downtown N.Y. music scenes when not logging time with the Klezmer Conservatory Band, Klezmatics and other Klez-prefixed ensembles, and draws on both worlds for his own group. The Winograd Klezmer Ensemble's Richie Barshay is Herbie Hancock's latest drummer, and bassist Nick Cudahy's résumé includes Combustible Edison and Chicha Libre. The septet also includes Philly's own Daniel Blacksberg, whose trombone slides regularly between the klez, jazz and experimental worlds.

Thu., Oct. 16, 8 p.m., $15, Settlement Music School, Mary Louise Curtis Branch, 416 Queen St., myspace.com/mwinfection.

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