Jewish Music to Dance To

The lights fell down on the stage at Niceto Club as an enthused and raucous crowd donned an array of festive masks. Similarly, up on stage the four band group initiated the festivities in their performance outfit complete with hat, sunglasses, and long, thick beards. The electronic drums kicked in the sound system, and at the first sound of the Jewish traditional melody, the crowd erupted into a jumping frenzy.

Eight months ago Niceto Club’s electro Jewish rave band, the Barmitzmidis had its conception when three synthesizer keyboardists and an electric drummer met rehearsing as part of a synthesizer orchestra for the group Michael Mike.

The dead time from practice with Michael Mike allowed the group which is composed of Jean Deon on electric drums, and Pin Deon, Pablo (Peta) Berardi, and Darío (Turco) Cataife all on synthesizers to let loose the creativity which Darío refers to as “some crazy moments of improvisation.”

“The musical direction came a little bit naturally. The melodies that were heard when we jammed in the practices had a little bit of everything that there is in Barmitzmidis. A little bit of Cumbia, a little bit of festive Jewish music, the rhythms had to do with this as well,” says Darío.

The idea of forming together as a band with four plugged in instruments wasn’t too conventional, and as a result the group figured their sound should also take on a unique characteristic. Jean says that it was the cultural link to Jewish heritage that drew the group members towards the culture’s traditional music.

“I think it is infrequent that you go to a party that plays electronic Jewish music, and so we liked this idea, says Jean. “Some of us have the tradition, and so it seemed fun to make a modern version of Jewish music, to bring something traditional to 2011.”

The group uses a heavy electronic rhythm to evoke a powerful pulsating dance beat, while the synthesizers mix in and out combining different melodies that contain a suggestive Jewish style. The musical result more often than not generates a fanatical fever of collective jumping.

Dario mentions that he loves to perform the traditional songs from popular Jewish culture because they come just as naturally as their own written songs, and admits that these songs are what usually bring the audience into a full blown ‘Hora’ dance.

“Almost everyone or at least every Jewish person has had a good time in a Jewish wedding when they are passed around in a chair, or the Barmitzvah which has all the spirit of the party,” says Jean. “This is the spirit we try to bring to the concerts in places like Niceto Club or other night clubs.”

The electronic Jewish and Klezmer rhythms and melodies make up the bulk of the groups song list, yet their creative influence also extend to their Latin roots.

Read the rest of the article on Club stompin´Jewish beats at http://www.argentinaindependent.com/culture/music/jewish-music-to-dance-to-/