These days klezmer music includes a large variety of styles and ways of interpretation: it is relevant to think klezmer nowdays more as a wide musical family than as strictly restricted traditional music.
Doina Klezmer (founded 1996) aspire to respect the tradition of klezmer, but also to step ahead and create music which reflects the life of our time. Klezmer music offers a rich soil to create another level beside the tradition: an own, fresh impression. In the music of Doina Klezmer can be heard the wide variety of impulses the musicians have gathered when working in the finest orchestras, modern jazz groups and world music groups in Finland.
The repertoire of Doina Klezmer consists of traditional klezmer arranged by the members and contemporary klezmer works composed by Sampo Lassila. In the new klezmer music of Lassila can be heard the influences of the Finnish culture and a special northern soundworld.
After establishing of Doina Klezmer, klezmermusic has reached growing audiences in Finland and the concept of "Finnish klezmer" has started to form. The group has performed in Sweden and in the most important festivals in Finland with own concerts , beside the gigs in clubs and various happy occasions. Doina Klezmer has also succesfully collaborated with other artists like Tommi Kitti, Mikael Baran and the Yle Radiotheater.
As a part of Tommi Kitti's choreography "Asetelma neljälle" the music composed by Sampo Lassila and performed and arranged by Doina Klezmer took part in the Bagnolet international competition of choreographers after being chosen as a representative of Finland. Kitti's choreography was one of the three prize-winning choreographys.
As they meet, the Finnish bare soundworld and the joyful beauty of klezmer arouse a tensioned musical state where contrasts exist strongly.
Another meeting, the deep mentality of a Finn and the extrovertness of klezmer feed each other and give musicians new paths and impulses to follow in interpretation and improvisation.
Third meeting, the meeting of improvisation and tradition gives the music a unique and living nature, connecting also to the past.
On these meetings is based the musical state where Doina Klezmer lives. In this music the distant elements combine in a unique and new way. This group is not just a klezmer band, it is a Finnish klezmer band, so as they call it: an "ugriklezmer" band.
Doina Klezmer