Dave Tarras & Sam Musiker

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Dave Tarras & Sam Musiker · Dave Tarras and Sam Musiker were father-in-law and son-in-law, and together they represent an important step in the history of klezmer. In the 1920s Tarras brought the musical traditions of the Old World to New York. Sam Musiker, born in New York in 1916, was a clarinettist and saxophonist and worked in both jazz and klezmer. He played in bars, restaurants and studios among jazz and swing musicians, and just as much at weddings and in hotels in Jewish musical life.

Music and breakthrough

From 1938 Musiker played in Gene Krupa's orchestra, until it broke up in 1944, and could be heard on most of that band's records. He also played with Glenn Miller and with Sarah Vaughan and wrote arrangements for NBC. In klezmer he often worked with his brother Ray Musiker and with Tarras. In 1955 he led the album Tanz for Columbia, on which Tarras and Ray Musiker also played. It includes The Roumanian Fantasy.

Influence

Musiker brought elements of jazz and swing into klezmer and so created a New York sound of his own. His arrangements sound busy and driving: the drummer provides accents, the bass holds the pulse and piano or accordion plays the chords on the off-beat. He often used accordion to make a small band sound full. His brother Ray later passed that experience on to the klezmer revival.

Listening

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  The Roumanian Fantasy · Dave Tarras & Sam Musiker, 1955