Here's some information about what we play:   Written by Shannon Wells

Klezmer music began as Jewish party music from Eastern Europe and
Russia.   As wave after wave of Jewish immigrant musicians from these
regions arrived in America in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they
began to incorporate the elements of American music from those eras,
particularly swing and jazz.    After World War II, Klezmer became
less popular, until it experienced a revival starting in Berkeley in
the 1970s.   Today's Klezmer can be heard in all of these forms, and
modern klezmer musicians continue to take the music to the next level,
adding progressive jazz and avant garde elements to their playing
style.

"Balkan" music in the Bay Area is not just confined to music from the
regions including Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Macedonia;
Balkan bands here also often include Russian, Ukrainian, Greek, and
even Turkish tunes.   We also play Rom (aka Gypsy) tunes from these
regions.

All instruments are welcome.

Here's the info for our sessions:
2nd and 4th Sundays at 5pm
First hour or so is a slow session aimed at newcomers
Afterward, whatever people want to play.

Our mailing list is a Yahoo group, and you can sign up here:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/klezbalkers/

Thanks for hosting us!
Shannon Wells