Plays the Music of Mickey Katz

Released in 1993 on Nonesuch, 'Plays the Music of Mickey Katz' is a seminal work in the career of clarinetist Don Byron and a cornerstone of the 1990s klezmer revival. While Byron was already known for his work in the New York avant-garde scene, this album solidified his reputation as a scholar-performer capable of navigating complex cultural legacies. The record meticulously recreates the arrangements of Mickey Katz - a mid-century musician and comedian known for his Yiddish parodies of American pop - but elevates them through the lens of contemporary jazz improvisation. Featuring a stellar ensemble including Dave Douglas and Uri Caine, the album balances the 'convoluted silliness' of Katz's monologues with 'molecule-splitting' musicality. It is notable for its emotional range, particularly the contrast between the frantic 'Frailach Jamboree' and the haunting seven-minute 'Epilogue: Tears', which contextualizes the humor within the broader Jewish experience.