Say You'll Understand

This eight-piece big band ensemble specializing in mid-20th century klezmer and Yiddish classics and its own compositions in a klezmer-jazz crossover was founded in 1998 by Alex Kontorovich ’02, Ben Holmes ’01, Inna Barmash ’01, and Adrian Banner *02. To celebrate its 10th anniversary last fall the band released its third album. Produced by Anthony Branker ’80, director of the Princeton University Jazz Ensemble, where several members of the group first met, this CD features Kontorovich on clarinet and alto sax, Holmes on trumpet, Banner on piano, Amy Zakar ’99 on violin and vocals, Firestone Research Librarian Audrey Betsy Welber on tenor sax and alto sax, Susan Watts on vocals and trumpet, Heather Chriscaden Versace on bass and vocals, and Gregg Mervine on drums. The CD, wrote Time Out New York, “features supple, swinging Yiddish melodies sung by Susan Watts, as well as rambunctious klezmer rave-ups spotlighting Alex Kontorovich’s clarinet.” To listen to tracks www.klezdispensers.com