POZA

Diadromes

Original Klezmer and Gipsy Music from the Streets of Odessa

featuring Karsten Troyke
RR 11397


POZA presents street songs of Eastern Europe. This tradition goes back a long way and is one of the most common performed artforms of nomadic people of the East. The view on life with the eyes of the migrant is early expressed in songs about love, sex, gambling, drugs and other addictions.
The source of POZAs inspiration is the music being played by Gipsies and Jews in such popular dance styles as klezmer, hasapiko and ziganochka. However, the atmosphere created is the one of joy and vitality – whether a song or instrumental – it is always dance music.
The group's image is especially imprinted by Raymond van Houten – the Dutch „Greek” – playing the „klarino” and Odessit Alec Kopyt the accordion-player, who sings with his raw voice drawn from life. These recordings are the result of weeks of touring Europe accompanied by the hipster Leonid Soybelman playing the guitar and tuba. Spontanously invited to join the recordings at the end of the tour in Berlin, Karsten Troyke enriched two of the songs (4, 10) with his unmistakable voice.

Musicians:
Alec Kopyt – accordion, vocals
Raymond van Houten – clarinet, spoons, backing vocals
Leonid Soybelman – guitar, tuba

special guests:
Karsten Troyke (voc 4, 10)
Suzanna (back-voc 10)

„Living on the street is hard and it doesn't make wealthy at all as far as you consider wealth a large amount of money. The band POZA found a different kind of treasure on eastern European streets. Songs and dances by Jews and gypsies, happiness and sadness, performed with virtuosity by the three musicians ...”
(Freie Presse)