Yiddishe Cup plays an eclectic mix of traditional klezmer, Borscht Belt tunes and soul music.
The Cleveland-based band has performed at the Chautauqua Institution (NY) Amphitheater, Brooklyn (NY) Center for the Performing Arts, and many times at Cain Park. The band has also made five excursions to Florida, four runs to Missouri, and three to Texas, but who’s counting? Also, the band has played internationally — the Windsor, Ontario JCC! The band’s music has been used in the film Harley, Son of David, about Jewish motorcyclists, and has been featured in an exhibit at the Jewish Museum in New York.
Bert Stratton, clarinet, sax and bandleader. He also writes a blog, “Klezmer Guy” and has published many op-eds (mostly about music and real estate) in the Plain Dealer, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. He lives in Cleveland Heights.
Alan Douglass, keyboards and vocals, is the band’s “glue,” playing chords and basslines simultaneously on keyboards. He is an original member of the band, founded in 1988. He lives in Cleveland Heights.
Tamar Gray, vocals, is a vocal music teacher in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school system. Her mother and aunts were the Hampton Sisters band, which won an Indiana music heritage award. Tamar lives in Cleveland Heights.
Vernondo Parker, drums, has played with many Cleveland-area blues and R&B artists, like Robert Jr. Lockwood and Wallace Coleman. Vernondo lives in Cleveland.
Alice Stratton, dance leader. She is a retired Cleveland Heights schools physical-education teacher. She teaches Pilates. She lives in Cleveland Heights.
Steven Greenman, violin, is renowned throughout the world for his klezmer violin playing. He has performed and/or taught classes in Spain, Japan, Austria, Italy, Poland, Germany, and throughout the United States. He guides the Case Western Reserve University klezmer band. He lives in Orange.
