The Music of Chagall's Childhood: The Khasidim and Itinerant Klezmorim

Yale Strom

Yale Strom is one of the world's leading ethnographer-artists of klezmer & Roma music, culture and history. His klezmer research was instrumental in forming the repertoire of his klezmer band, Hot Pstromi, based in New York and San Diego. Since his first trip to the Eastern Bloc in 1981, Strom has conducted over 75 such ethnographic research treks. He has personally contributed to the revival of Jewish culture in countries like Poland, and has inspired a generation of fellow artist-researchers. Strom's prodigious body of work includes 13 books, his new release being "Shpil: The Art of Playing Klezmer" (Scarecrow) Press), 14 recordings (new Cd of Yiddish songs by Shmuel Polonski), 8 documentary films, many photo exhibitions and 4 dramas. His latest play is a drama called "Chagall" about the life of this world renown artist which will premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in Dec. 2015. In addition to his art, Strom is artist-in-residence in the Jewish Studies Program at San Diego State University.