Klezmer, from the Hebrew kle (a vessel) and zmer (song). Learn to play the joyous traditional music of Eastern European Jews! The lessons on this DVD are rich in knowledge, history, lore and invaluable musical information for all instrumentalists who want to learn more about this compelling style.

Andy Statman discusses the background, techniques and stylistic nuances needed to perform Klezmer correctly, regardless of your instrument. This stirring music, increasingly popular among Jewish musicians as well as with 'world music' enthusiasts around the globe, is highly improvisational, with powerful melodies and rich ornamentation.

Andy teaches typical Jewish tunes, playing each one slowly and unornamented, then demonstrating how trills, slurs, grace notes, vibrato and other variations 'bring out the heart that's inside the melody.' You'll learn connecting runs, classic ending, 'dangerous' ornaments to avoid, and the rhythmic underpinning of this vital music. Andy then performs each tune on Clarinet, accompanied by Zev Zions on the accordion.

The humour, wisdom and advice that Andy imparts is a must for anyone interested in playing one of the world's great musical forms.