Reviews

Scholar and musician Sapoznik (The Complete Klezmer) gives us the first complete history of the Jewish band music known as klezmer. Beginning in early 19th-century PolandÄwith a profile of Michael Joseph Gusikov, the grandfather of modern klezmer musicÄSapoznik tracks its musical and cultural history in 19th-century Europe and 20th-century America. He shows how klezmer was influenced, in the United States, by such factors as bluegrass, swing, jazz, theater, music publishing, radio, and recording. He also highlights the contributions of such prominent musicians as George Gershwin, Paul Robeson, and Itzhak Perlman, all of whom had ties to klezmer. This is a laudable, important contribution to the history of Jewish musicÄand since klezmer is gaining in popularity today (paralleling a renewed interest in Yiddish culture), patrons interested in music or Jewish culture are likely to seek this book out. Recommended for academic and public libraries.ÄKathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.