What's the Matter with the Klezmer?: The Peter Sokolow Story

Peter "Klezmer Fats" Sokolow likes the “real sound”-the Jewish sound. But how many musicians are left who appreciate klezmer music as an art form and not a nostalgic artifact? In this short film, Sokolow retells his compelling life story, from growing up the son of a musician in New York, to performing for the Yiddish-speaking communities in the Catskills, to ultimately discovering and mastering klezmer under the mentorship of some of the world's most renowned klezmer musicians. As he sits at his piano, once student, now master, Sokolow ponders whether cultural authenticity will persevere or become a vestige of the past.
To learn more about the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project, visit: www.yiddishbookcenter.org/tell-your-stor­­y

[@dugifiddler]

My hero. I sat at his feet at klez Kanada and became a serious klezmer, an old world klezmer musician.Thanks Pete!

[@fluffythepitbull]

A lot of the younger bands do like to mess with it a bit and do this kind of klezmer "fusion", but there are plenty of recordings of the older stuff and even some newer bands who lean towards the older style. One of the things that makes this an interesting time to be alive is having resources like RUclips and Google where you can ferret out almost anything that interests you. All is not lost!

[@michaelisaacson]

Enjoyed listening to Peter's viewpoint. I think every musical age has regressives, progressives, and passives. Peter is hardly passive and prefers not to be progressive. God bless him and his contribution to Jewish music.

[@FlipPeters]

I had the good fortune to play a few gigs with Peter back in the 1980s. A great musician and a fun guy to work with.

[@TamaraGalloway1]

What a fascinating, enjoyable video!

[@thanbo]

He played at my wedding, with my cousin Sid Beckerman a"h.

[@uhoh007]

Fantastic. Missing link really, and an element of Tin Pan Alley seldom referenced. At 63, a jazz fan since 1980, Klezmer the name is new. Kelzmer the sound.....very familiar. That really says something....

[@jeffweiler9382]

Fascinating.

[@rubinsteinway]

I have to take issue with one detail. Just because the customer doesn't know, that doesn't mean there is no improvisation in klezmer. Listen to Naftule. BTW, authenticity is another issue in classical music: the tension between authenticity and feeling. I digress. Thank you for your video. Another question: what makes klezmer music Jewish?

[@marcwolman2719]

"What makes klezmer music Jewish?" Klezmer is rooted in the Old and New World wedding music of Yiddish-speaking Jewish people

[@sammyfisher4793]

לאב איט

[@notme437]

ע׳׳ה