I am a fan of klezmer music. That’s why I attended Sunday’s performance of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band at the Highland Park Public Library.
However, there is more to this story…
I attended the 4th of July parade in Highland Park, standing at the start of the route on St. John’s Avenue. I was using his iPhone to video the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band musicians playing on the flatbed. Suddenly people with horrified faces started bumping into my viewfinder. My short video that started with Klezmer music — Klezmer is a Yiddish word used to describe Jewish music that originated in Eastern Europe — of people fleeing a massacre in which gunmen killed seven and wounded over 48. Finished recording.
my video — posted on my @lynnsweet Twitter account — went viral and has received over 2.1 million views worldwide. The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band became part of many news accounts of him, including in the Jewish press, because Highland Park is so Jewish.
The band has been at the Highland Park parade for 11 years and played suburban events for most of the band’s nearly 40-year career.
On July 4th, they stopped playing the opening song “Freilechs fun der Hupe” after not completing a single song. After about 16 bars, which in Yiddish means “wedding depression” or “dance from the wedding canopy”, when it becomes clear that something terrible is happening.
On Sunday, the band returned to Highland Park for the first time since the parade, performing at the library for an afternoon concert attended by more than 100 people.
Lori Lippitz, director of the Klezmer Music Foundation and the band’s vocalist, said when speaking about Highland Park on Saturday, “All associations are very, very, very happy, except what happened this summer. And that’s where we want to go with this program.”
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) of Highland Park stood in front of the band and delivered the opening remarks. he invited himself. When speaking about the news coverage of the July 4th shooting, Schneider referred to my video, not my name. “You always saw the truck and the band behind me.”
Schneider said he came to the concert “because, figuratively speaking, the music just keeps going on, literally today.”
“No matter what happens, and even if our community suffers a terrible tragedy that brings us to our knees, we will rise and find strength in each other.” said Schneider.
Band — Lippitz and Natasha Bodansky, vocals. Alex Coffman, violin. Bartek Walkocinski, clarinet. Ivo Brown on trumpet. Gail Mangalten, keyboards; Jim Cox on bass. Howard Prager, Tuba—plays “Chilibim, Chiribon.” “Shpil di Fidl, Shpil;” “Idle mitten fiddle” More.
Near the end of the concert, Lipitz said it was the first time the band had returned to Highland Park. “
The audience was invited to sing along to the Hebrew prayer “Oseh Shalom, Let there Be Peace”, a song the band dedicated to Highland Park. This word was known to everyone in the audience. As the band swept through the classics, people started singing and dancing in single file, billowing around the room. “Hevenu Shalom Alekhem“
After the concert, I spoke with Prager outside the library. We were about 100 steps from where we were on that awful day that videotaped the band as the terror unfolded – pacing Sunday.
Prager said the concert “was all about bringing peace and joy, and this community needs as much peace and joy as it can after what happened this summer.”
Bandleader and violinist Alex Coffman (left) and clarinetist Bartek Walkocinski.
Anthony Vasquez/The Sun Times
Members of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band celebrate Bartek Walkocinski’s birthday during a performance at the Highland Park Public Library.
Anthony Vasquez/The Sun Times
The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band played 16 bars of music on their floats before the shots rang out at the 4th of July parade. They returned to Highland Park on Sunday, bringing peace and joy.
Anthony Vasquez/The Sun Times
Bassist Jim Cox (left) looks at sheet music by Howard Prager playing the tuba.
Anthony Vasquez/The Sun Times
Crowds dance in a line at the Highland Park Public Library.
Anthony Vazquez, Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Alex Coffman leads the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band and plays violin.
Anthony Vazquez, Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
A tuba on the ground after a performance by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band at the Highland Park Public Library. “No matter what happens, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy that will bring us to our knees.
Anthony Vazquez, Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
