La
Musique
...now if only I
practiced my clarinet...
Music
I Play
I have played the
clarinet since fourth grade, but have played less consistently since starting
college in 2001, only joining the UCLA Symphonic Band for sporadic periods
of time. However, in the past two years or so, I have played at three performances
of Trans/Giving,
LA's only art series dedicated to supporting and providing a performance
space for transgender, genderqueer, and intersex artists. The first two
times, I did it solo, playing some klezmer tunes from my days in Klezkidz!
back in high school. (Klezmer is eastern-European Jewish music, the kind
you would dance to at weddings.) Then, I recently joined Gay Gezunt, the
klezmer band at my synagogue, Beth Chayim
Chadashim. So we all played together at the last Trans/Giving, and
we were a hit! It feels so good to be playing in a band again. It makes
me keep up my playing, so I don't go downhill too much from lack of practice.
If you're interested in T/G or BCC, check out the links above!
Music
I Listen To
I like
to listen to all
kinds of music, everything from Tchaikovsky
to Lauryn Hill...from Red Hot Chili Peppers to the Indigo Girls. Here
are some musical links:
Raining
Jane
is a group from LA that I found out about when they performed at
the UCLA ResFest. They're an all-girl rock band, and played at
Westwood Plaza (on campus at UCLA) several years ago.
Left to right: Chaska
(guitar & vocals), Mona (drums & vocals), Mai (guitar &
vocals), and Becky (electric bass)
I've never seen such a
big turnout at a musical performance in Westwood Plaza
before! The band is getting more and more popular, and has been touring the country
for months.
Rebecca
Riots is a
radical folk group from Berkeley who broke up a couple of years ago. I've been
listening to their music since I was in high school, and yet their music still
finds new
ways
to
inspire
me.
Indigo
Girls - Anyone
who knows me, knows I'm addicted to them.
Sara
Bareilles is
an amazing musician who we saw in a show also featuring Raining Jane.
You've got to check her out!
Dar
Williams is a singer/songwriter that spends most of her time on
the east coast, but makes an appearance out here everyone once in a while, and
has the most soothing voice. I love her song "The Christians and the Pagans."
Yid
Vicious is a klezmer band that is actually continuing to put out new
CDs. They're great, and very accessible to new listeners. I have a copy
of their "Klez Kez, Goy Mit Fez" CD, and I love it.
Hatikvah
Music is a store on Fairfax
in Los Angeles. It's here that I found most of the klezmer that I listen
to today, thanks to the store's owner. If you're at all interested in Jewish
music, you have to see this site!
Take me home!