MEDIA CONTACTS: Terri Berns
561-297-1164, tberns@fau.edu or
Carol Lewis
561-297-0245, clewis36@fau.edu
BOCA RATON, FL (December 6, 2007) – The innovative, critically acclaimed Klezmer Company Orchestra (KCO) will hold a party and performance to celebrate the national release of “Beyond the Tribes,” its studio-produced debut album, on Sunday, January 6, at 3 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University’s Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, in the University Center, on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. The $18 admission includes the new CD.
“Beyond the Tribes” is an anthology of KCO’s greatest hits, composed and orchestrated by Aaron Kula, KCO conductor and director of music collections and performance at FAU Libraries. The recording defies classification with its unique mix of ethnic jazz orchestrations and exotic melodies from around the globe.
The CD pays tribute to seven cultures from around the world. “Diversity is reflected in the CD’s title ‘Beyond the Tribes,’ which relates to a multi-cultural community, whether it’s Afro-Cuban, Persian, Latin American, Spanish, Mediterranean or Jewish,” said Kula. “This makes the CD universally appealing.”
The CD opens with an energetic song titled “JewOrleans March,” which blends New Orleans Jazz with a 100-year-old European Klezmer melody, found in the libraries’ print music collection of over 30,000 pieces.
A prolific composer and active conductor, Kula is credited with composing and orchestrating more than 150 works for KCO. “Every piece we recorded was inspired by an original composition from the collection,” said Kula.
One of Kula’s favorite songs on the CD is “Dos Mambo Freylachs,” which translates to “Two Joyful Dances.” The song is a fusion of the Eastern European melody with a Latin beat. “It’s like a Jewish melody on hyper drive. Even the orchestral musicians are tired after they play the piece,” said Kula.
During the party, KCO, which is the professional ensemble-in-residence at FAU Libraries, will perform selections from the CD followed by an interactive question and answer session with the audience.
The celebration kicks off the orchestra’s 11th year and takes place on the same stage as its first major concert in 1997. Kula’s goals now are to take the music nationally, and ultimately to perform at Carnegie Hall.
KCO has performed before thousands at sold-out concerts in South Florida and has received rave reviews for its unique style, innovative arrangements and high-energy performances. The ensemble features jazz and classical musicians to create a multi-dimensional musical idiom that relies on both written orchestrations and improvisations.
“This is a point of arrival and a point of departure,’’ said Kula. “KCO needed a decade to learn and experiment with the original music so we could find our own voice and take the music to another level.”
The CD release party and performance is being co-sponsored by FAU Libraries and the FAU Student Union. For tickets, call 800-564-9539 or visit www.fauevents.com. To experience KCO, visit www.klezmercompany.com.
-FAU-
