Blog

Summer 2011

Welcome!  I am a professional clarinetist and I primarily perform Klezmer, which is Eastern-European Jewish Folk music.  I play in a band called, "Eisner's Klezmorim".  We are a five-peice acoustic band consisting of founder and fiddler, Judith Eisner, accordionist, Patrick Harison, alternate accordionist Mark Stillman, Tsimbl (hammer dolcimer), Diane Benjamin, and double-bassist, Matt Miller.  We have been together in this formation for nearly 3 years.  I have been playing with "Eisner's Klezmorim" since 2006.  We are most commonly offered performance opportunities for private weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and private celebrations, so its a rare treat when we do play for the public.  Keep checking the "calendar" section of this website to see when you can hear us live.  Our frequent "hotspots" for hearing us publicly are Cafe Maude in South Minneapolis (5411 Penn Avenue S, ph.: 612-822-5411) and the St. Louis Park and St. Paul Jewish Community Centers.

If you are a student and you are curious to hear what a Klezmer band sounds like, please contact me and you may be able to sit in on a rehearsal to listen to us, since it is less common to hear us at public venues.  
LATEST NEWS

I would like to introduce to you the newest member of the band, Mr. Matt Miller on Upright Bass.  Matt is an avid musician who plays a variety of styles from classical to tango to Balkan genres.  We are delighted to have Matt be a part of Eisner's Klezmorim!  Welcome Matt!

The Klezzers have the opportunity to play some Klezmer outside, rain or shine.
Our bassist, Matt Miller, myself, and volinist Judith Eisner will be performing in the Minneapolis Pride Parade.  We can be found in the JewPride section of the parade.  Come out and hear us jam and celebrate, GLBT-style! :)

In addition, we will be performing at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on August  18th.  This is a free event, and right by the lake.  Take a swim and then hear us play your favorite Klezmer tunes.

Lastly, I would like to mention again  that Eisner's Klezmorim has CDs for sale!  Our new album, called "Oysgemisht", which in Yiddish means "mixed up", is a wonderful portrayal of the stylings and accents of early tradtitional Klezmer music as it was performed in the Ukraine, Moldavia, Romania, Poland, and other such regions in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Our style is a unqiue blend of old and new and is selling like hot-cakes!  Be sure purchase your copy one of four ways:

on CDbaby.com
visit  Roadrunner Record Exchange
          4304 Nicollet Avenue S,
           Minneapolis, MN 55409
           612-822-0613
visit: The Electric Fetus
          2000 4th Avenue South
          Minneapolis, MN 55404
          (612) 870-9300
Email me or Judith Eisner.  Rebecca: beckoclar@gmail.com
                                                Judith:       maven@tcq.net
 One album is $15.

Thanks for stopping by and please keep in touch!
Warmest regards,

Rebecca H Erickson
www.myspace.com/eisnersklezmorimband
look us up on Facebook.com, just type in "Eisner's Klezmorim" in the search engine!

April-May 2010

Welcome to my world everyone!  I am excited to say that this spring and summer will harbor many new performances and projects.  I can't wait to get started and I know you will be there, joining me in all the fun we will have!  First off, my klezmer band, "Eisner's Klezmorim" will be having our CD RELEASE PARTY!!!! on Friday, May 21st, 7-9pm, $10 cover.  We will host this joyous event in St. Paul at The Celtic Junction. (836 Prior Ave, St. Paul, on the intersection of Prior and University).  BE THERE!!!!! 

 I also have recentl created a new Myspace and Facebook Fan Page for Eisner's Klezmorim.  You can hear sound clips from our newly released CD and book your seats at our events.  Just go to: www.myspace.com/eisnersklezmorimband and look up our name next time you are on Facebook!

We also have numerous gigs coming up: Free and open to the public, we will be playing at Mayim Rabim Synogogue on April 18th, music starts at 4pm.  We will be also playing for NE Minneapolis' Art festival Art-A-Whirl on May 15th, 3-4:30pm,  and playing a little gig at a jewish yarn shop, The Yarn Garage on June 27th, 2-4pm.  Please check the "calendar" section of this site for more information.

On a final note, I am very honored and excited to announce that I will be starting my own band with talented klezmer guitarist, Alex Berkman.  We are in the process of looking for a double-bass player and accordion or another guitar player, so if you know anyone who knows Eastern-European styles, let me know!  This band is still a fresh thought in my mind, and we haven't even come up with a name-- but I will be sure to let you know more information as it unfolds.

That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by!

Rebecca

March 2010

Hey thanks for stopping by!  So much is happening in my little musical world.  With gigs on the periphery, many musical connections are being made right here, right now, and as always, I  am so excited for you  bato be a part of my musical endeavors!  

Eisner's Klezmorim, my Jewish Folk band just finished producing our very first album called "Oysgemisht", which in Yiddish means "mixed up".  That pretty much sums up our band.  We span two decades in age, and represent a multitude of ethnicities, including Jewish, Anglo-Saxon, Norweigian, Swedish, and South Korean.   You can purchse our album at CDbaby.com, or directly from me.  I am in the process of organizing Eisner's Klezmorim's CD Release Party.  We are going to throw the loudest, craziest, biggest Jewishy party that you have ever attended!!  Paul Fonfara, from acoustic local band "Painted Saints" will open for us.  Leave your Saturdays open towards the middle of May because you don't want to miss this glorious event!

On a final note, be sure to hear us live at Cafe Maude (5411 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis 55419)  on Friday, March  5th from 9-midnight.  And remember, the restaurant is always packed on the weekends, so if want to sit while listening to  us, make reservations at:  612.822.5411

Stay Awesome!

-Rebecca

 

11.5.09

Yo fellow music peeps!

Its my pleasure to introduce to you the lovely and busy month of November.  Wow, my good 'ol Klezmer band is cooking up some great gigs.  Come out and hear us play for a silent film at the legendary Oak Street Cinema located at 309 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis, 55414. We will be performing for  the 1925 silent film "Jewish Luck" for the Yiddish Film Festival November 21st and 22nd.  After that Saturday performance at the Oak Street Cinema, we will be running over to Cafe Maude, 5411 Penn Avenue S, Mpls., to perform there a second time!  No cover at Maude's and amazing food, be sure to drop by and hear us.  Music starts a 9pm.

The Klezmorim is also in the process of finishing up our debut album.  We are highly anticipating the CD release party sometime Spring 2010.  Be sure to check this site for further exciting details!!

In addition to tooting away with Klezmer, I have recently began some musical projects of my own.  I recently interviewed with a student from the University of Minnesota who is doing a research project on Klezmer music.  He inspired me to begin teaching Klezmer to any instrumentalist who wants to learn, so if you are interested or know anyone who is, just drop me a ring.  I have also been practicing the original re-scored and re-dubbed  film score to the Hollywood film  "Seven Pounds", starring Will Smith.  Composer Adam Conrad has composed this music and later this month I will be hitting the recording studio to perform his film score!  I have also recently joined a second band.  Guitarist John Wills needed a clarinetist for the recording of his second album and I agreed to be his clarinetist.  I am greatly anticipating this project.  I will let you know when our album will be released.

Well, what a mouthful!  Thanks for tuning in and be sure to check in next month for more juicy details!

Ciao for now,
                         Rebecca

10.1.09

Hello music-lovers,

I apologize for being slow on updating my website. I have been having some technical difficulties lately. Anyway, October is where more of the Klezmer action is at! My band, Eisner's Klezmorim (www.myspace.com/eisnersklezmorimband) will be performing around the city at venues such as the Hosmer's library and the Minneapolis Jewish Community Center. We will also be performing on a live radio show on KFAI public radio on Sunday, October 11th at 10:30am. Be sure to listen to us then! Feel free to browse the calendar for a complete listing of performance dates.

In additon to rockin' it out around town with my Klezmer folk, the band will also be making our very first recording in a few weeks. This long-awaited musical gem of a record will be sold for cheap at our gigs, so be sure to get one!
On a final note, I would like to welcome our newest member of Eisner's Klezmorim, Miss Emma Jeanmarie Marlow on percussion. We are in need of a good drummer and we are delighted to have her join us. Welcome Emma! Well that's all for now. More following the holiday season....