RAT THEATRE PROJECT NEWS

[Bobby Mrozek <bby@earthlink.net>]

CHARM CITY KLEZMER
HOLIDAY SEASON  DANCE CONCERT
AN EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Sunday, December 19th, 2PM

Theatre Project presents Charm City Klezmer in a Hanukka Season Holiday 
Dance Concert, Sunday December 19th at 2PM. Tickets are $10 general 
admission, $5 for young persons age 15 yrs. and under. THEATRE PROJECT, 
45 W. PRESTON STREET (across Cathedral Street from the Meyerhoff 
Symphony Hall) BALTIMORE. Call 410-752-8558.

Just try to sit still, we dare you! Charm City Klezmer creates an 
exciting live musical event. Whether you come to just listen and watch, 
or join in the ecstatic dancing, an afternoon with Charm City Klezmer is 
certainly allot of fun. With the release of their self-titled CD earlier 
this autumn, Charm City Klezmer has emerged as a Baltimore favorite. 
Charm City Klezmer's performances are an inspiring hybrid of exciting 
traditional melodies with funky contemporary grooves. Their program 
includes Klezmer instrumentals, Yiddish vocal tunes, original 
compositions and Ladino selections -- all with original arrangements.

Charm City Klezmer band members are: Michael Raitzyk (guitar), Judith 
Geller (piano, French horn, lead vocals), Max Geller (clarinet), Eric 
Heavner (trumpet), Chuck Young (bass), and Christopher Lerch (drums).  
They have been playing exciting shows for three years now at venues such 
as The Kennedy Center, the Roots Cafe, the Columbia Festival of the 
Arts, and the Lodge. They've appeared on WJHU's "Marc Steiner Show" and 
WMAR-TV's "Rodrick's for Breakfast Show."  Playing for the first time, 
under the dome at Theatre Projct promises to be a real treat.  Theatre 
Project's century old historic Preston Street auditorium feature a rare 
interior acoustical band shell -- one of a very few remaining from an 
earlier time when music was played without electronic amplification.  
The extraordinary sound qualities of Theatre Project make it an 
exceptional auditorium for live musical performances.  

The concert will feature traditional and original selections, such as 
Charles Village Dance. Traditional tunes have some non-traditional 
arrangements with surprises like guitarist Raitzyk's funk-inspired solo 
on Ot Azoi (That's The Way) and the avante guard jazzy feel of Eynzam 
(Lonely). Judith Geller's rich vocals bring out the sweetness in the 
Ladino song Pesah a la Mano, as well as the upbeat energy of the Yiddish 
Lomir Zikh Iberbetn (Let's Make Up) and Ale Brider (All Brothers) and 
the haunting qualities of Eynzam (Lonely) and Undzer Nigndl (Our Time). 
Chuck Young's inventive bass work and Christopher Lerch's nuance 
drumming lay the foundation for the group's solid and varied grooves.  
Max Geller's clarinet playing is by turns celebratory and mournful. Eric 
Heavner's strong trumpet work makes the horn section rich and exciting. 
His muted jazzy solo in Odessa Bulgar is but one example of the creative 
touches the players in this ensemble bring to Charm City Klezmer 
performances. 

"The Charm City Klezmer Band's peppery version of traditional Jewish 
soul music has quickly become one of the region's best-loved music 
flavors"                                     -- Baltimore City Paper