Hard Times Kapelye
The Hard Times Kapelye are a Manchester-based six piece Klezmer group playing a mixture of traditional Klezmer tunes and original numbers inspired by the music of the Balkans.
The band formed as a subset of the larger Hard Times Orkestar, a group of friends and neighbours who dusted off their old instruments and started playing together. Many of the pieces that the Orkestar plays are original compositions written by Richard, and the Kapelye's repertoire also contains a number of his compositions and arrangements. The name "Hard Times" refers to his affinity for slightly unusual time signatures - such as 7/8, 10/8 or even 13/8.
Although none of the band has any Jewish ancestry, they all quickly developed a love for the music, inspired by Richard's interest in Balkan and eastern European music, and particularly the Klezmer tradition. Much of their music is made up of traditional Klezmer tunes, interpreted in the band's unique, lively style.
The band are :
Richard Fay - horns, helicon, other brass
Bob Shaw - guitar
Mike Beaumont - fiddle, percussion, mandolin
Colin Watson - clarinet, alto saxophone
Derek Davies - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Simon Ingram - fiddle, mandolin
The Other Side: EP
Both Hard Times Kapelye and its parent - The Hard Times Orkestar - involve friends, neighbours and colleagues dusting off their underused instruments to enjoy playing music together.
All tracks, with the exception of Reubenstein the Magnificent (written by Richard Fay), are re-interpretations of traditional Klezmer based tunes. The first track is a re-imagining of the way Klezmer may have sounded in the late 19th century and slowly changed its shape through the the 1920s until you hear the present interpretation. The final track is a reprise of the modern interpretation on the studio recording but is a live recording of the same - our own idiosyncratic realisation. To be enjoyed at least as much the audience appear to have done!
Released 05 March 2016
