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Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi will perform "Mountain Music" with special guest mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff. Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi will perform "Mountain Music" with special guest mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff.
 


Mountain Music

Hear “Mountain Music” from the klezmer of the Carpathian Ukraine to Old Time Americana from Appalachia.
By Rhoda Nevins
 

The Jewish Studies program at San Diego State University presents “Jewgrass: the Appalachians meet the Carpathians.” Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi along with special guest mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff will perform “Mountain Music” from the klezmer of the Carpathian Ukraine to old time Americana from Appalachia. The concert, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 in the Smith Recital Hall.

According to Strom, there have been several bands combining these two musical genres, but what is unique about this event is the focus on klezmer music from the Carpathian Mountains. Instruments like the bass, mandolin and violin were common to klezmer and bluegrass.

Both traditions, born in isolated and rural mountain communities, meld together spirituality, culture and geography. Musicians gathered to perform this music for community dances, parties and celebrations like weddings.

“Some of the tunes might sound like they could be performed in the hills of Kentucky as well as in the Carpathian Mountains,” Strom said.

Mitterhoff, a member of Hot Tuna, is a mandolin teacher and often writes arrangements and compositions for the ensembles with which he performs.

Musicians for Hot Pstromi include: Jeff Pekarek, contrabass; Fred Benedetti, guitar; Walt Richards, banjo; Tripp Sprague, tenor saxophone and harmonica; Duncan Moore, percussion; Elizabeth Schwartz, vocals; and Strom on violin.

For further information, please visit jewishstudies.sdsu.edu.