This is a short excerpt of my interview with 96-year old Klezmer clarinetist and composer Ray Musiker (pictured on the right next to his son Lee Musiker) for my Radiant Others Klezmer Podcast.

This interview conducted in the summer of 2019, is featured in full on my podcast Radiant Others, available here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radiant-others-a-klezmer-music-podcast/id1270478912

Or here: https://danblacksberg.com/2020/06/12/ray-musiker-living-musical-legacy-podcast/

Ray Musiker Podcast Excerpt

Some home recording experiments. On 11/3, I got together with Connor Przybyszewski to check out Jen Baker's new book on Multiphonics. These are improvised responses to what we worked on.

Dan #1

Connor #2

Connor #1

Connor & Dan #1

Variations is based on a traditional klezmer dance composition from the 1800s called a Khusidl. Dance tunes like this had no names other than which dance they were for. In the book of melodies from Ukraine where it is from, this particular one is listed as Number 8. I wrote this piece as part of my ongoing project for finding new ways of using the trombone in klezmer, and in finding ways to use klezmer as a key to open up improvisation and a wider range of instrumental expression to classically trained trombone players. The piece opens with a technique I came up with to play the Krekhts ornament ("Cry" in Yiddish) that is so characteristic of the clarinet and violin melodic styles of klezmer on the trombone. Players are offered the chance to look beyond the page just what's on the page, and phrase to the melody and accompaniment with a rhythmic drive that one could still dance to.

Trombones - Dan Blacksberg, Hayley Varhol, Frank Rein, Alan Verostic, Anthony Triplett

Variations on a Khusidl

A great bulgar by Dave Tarras. Probably recorded around 1945, but possibly a few years earlier, this tune was released as a 78rpm disc on the Standard Label as a Greek record of Tatavla - Hasapiko Standard F-9128 A&B. 
 
Dan Blacksberg: Trombone
Nick Millevoi: Guitar

Recorded by Eric Carbonara on January 22nd, 2011.

South Fallsburg Bulgar

Excerpt from a solo trombone improvisation from February 7th, 2019 at The Mothership in West Philadelphia. 

Thanks to Weston Olencki for the gift of the noise. 

Recorded by Christopher Andrews Studios

Machine Learning

Secunde for solo amplified viola 
by Dan Blacksberg 

World Premiere Performance 
part of 
Encounters @ The Mothership 
February 8th, 2019

Veronica MJ - Viola, Electronics

Dan Blacksberg

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