Flying start of the new year by the Amsterdam Klezmer Band with music from the new CD BENJA, Gangsters Entertainers, based on stories by Isaak Babel.
The New Year’s concert at the Bimhuis is all about the performance BENJA: Gangsters & Entertainers by Amsterdam Klezmer Band. In BENJA the members of AKB play like their lives depend on it. Their engaging mix of mainly new work plus original classics is adapted for theatre by director Dirk Hauser of Hauser Orkater fame. BENJA has toured through The Netherlands before and will now appear on CD.
BENJA is based on the lively and entertaining stories of Isaak Babel. The Dutch and Russian lyrics cross-reference ancient Odessa as well as the here and now. Passion and emotion eventually lead to grand victories, in a classic, compelling Amsterdam Klezmer party!
BENJA is inspired by Babel’s story about the legendary gangster Benja Krik, king of the robbers from the Jewish mafia in the Russian port Odessa, early 20th century. Odessa has been compared to Naples or Marseille. The character of Benja is like a cross between Robin Hood and Al Capone.
‘The great surprise is singer/percussionist Kopyt, originally from Odessa, whose voice and gravedigger-like presence stand out perfectly. He carries the slower songs. The lyrical solos by Gijs Levelt and Janfie van Strien show a completely different side of the band in the second part of the evening’ (NRC Handelsblad).
The Amsterdam Klezmer Band started 18 years ago as a street orchestra playing traditional Jewish dance music. It quickly grew out to an ensemble that dares to take on every style, with the age-old blend of Jewish, Eastern-European and Turkish influences as a foundation. The group travels all over the world and plays everywhere from theaters, parties and weddings to major pop festivals such as Lowlands and Sziget.
The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 til 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis Café is open (free entrance).
BENJA, GANGSTERS & ENTERTAINERS
AFTERWARDS JALLACLUB DJs AT THE CAFE
Job Chajes altsax/zang, Gijs Levelt trompet
, Joop van der Linden trombone, Janfie van Strien klarinet/percussie, Theo van Tol accordeon, Jasper de Beer bas, Alec Kopyt percussie/zang