Tuesday’s concert in the RBA was at the unusual time of 5.30pm and it was rammed.  Whether that was a function of the time slot or the following that Schmaltz and Pepper have built up in the short time they have been around I don’t know but it was impressive.  And so was the concert.  Schmaltz and Pepper consists of some amazingly versatile and virtuosic musicians; Rebekah Wolkstein on violin and vocals, Eric Abramovitz on clarinet, Drew Jurecka on lots of stuff,  Jeremy Ledbetter onb piano and Michael Herring on bass.

I first saw this band at TSM last year and I was very impressed.  On Tuesday they presented some of the material they did then, like the very funny I’m Sorry Mama and The Gefilte Fugue but a lot was new including a Beethoven medley Ode to Oy; which gets extra points for featuring the slow movement from the Seventh Symphony, and a rather gently melodic number Neshama.  There was also another overbearing parent song but it was mother-in-law problems this time.

I think there are three things that draw me to this band.  They blend a range of styles (though mainly klezmer and Yiddish swing) in fun ways, they are incredibly good musicians and they just exude fun.  (They also sell hats… everybody does these days it seems).  They are scheduled again at Toronto Summer Music this year (July 16th @ Walter Hall) and they have a CD about to be released (May 18th at Heliconian).  Keep tuned for a review.

Photo credits: Karen E. Reeves.