Kick off your summer at Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek’s annual outdoor community concert and picnic on Sunday, June 25, offering free entertainment with the music of Bivolita Klezmet Quartet. This young group’s repertoire is drawn from the early European sources of Jewish instrumental wedding music, but finds contemporary interpretations to reveal the diverse musical experiences of its members. Through years of travel and research, the program includes suites that link nearly forgotten ritual melodies with more commonly known American klezmer repertoire and co-territorial Moldavian dance music. This musical cosmopolitanism leads to a rich interaction between Jewish and Gypsy musicians, and the infusion of both musical styles with Ottoman, near Eastern and Mediterranean influences. Their ensemble draws on this legacy to guide us in both selected repertoire and stylistic orientations. As this infectious music ensues you might find yourself dancing.

Members include: Christina Crowder on accordion, who has been performing and researching Jewish music for over 20 years, beginning in Budapest, Hungary in 1993; Gretchen Frazier on viola, who is currently assistant principal viola of Eastern Connecticut Symphony and section viola in New Haven Symphony; Brian Slattery on violin, who is also a member of Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps; Keryn Kleiman on violin, a New York based violinist specializing in Jewish and Eastern European folk styles and is a member of a number of klezmer groups, including Kadya’s Project and the New York Fidl Kepelye. The concert will start at 5:00 p.m., and is free and
open to the public and no reservations are necessary.

Jointly produced by our Music & More and Social Action committees, it is intended not only as a joyous music treat, but something that will benefit those in need. Although there is no charge for the performance, concertgoers will have plenty of grilled summer fare to purchase and other foods with proceeds benefiting local charitable organizations. Make sure to bring a lawn chair or blankets to sit and enjoy the music and food. The concert will take place at Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway, Chester. For more information, visit our website, cbsrz.org or call (860) 526-8920.