JOELLEN LAPIDUS on clarinet, accordion and dulcimer
Multi-instrumentalist and founder of “EXTREME KLEZMER MAKEOVER”, Joellen Lapidus, brings her rich background of American and Jewish folk, Indian, Arabic and classical music to the group. A true Renaissance woman, she is a musician, musical instrument maker, songwriter, author and psychotherapist all in one. Her dulcimer instruction book, “LAPIDUS ON DULCIMER” pioneered contemporary playing, songwriting and instrument building for the fretted dulcimer. Her American folk group, “THE SHIMMERING ORCHESTRA”, performed in clubs, museums and television in Southern California during the 1970's. She currently teaches a high energy Klezmer Band Workshop and quarterly dulcimer workshops at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica and has written 2 of EKM’s greatest hits: “Always Russian” and “Grandpa Benny’s Chicken Market”.
DAN RADLAUER on accordion, mandolin and guitar
Our accordion, mandolin and guitar player Dan Radlauer is equally at home playing jazz, classical, techno, or rock music. His original compositions have been heard around the world on TV, radio and at theme parks. He writes the scores and themes for 3 currently running TV shows including VH1's “THE SURREAL LIFE” and “FILTHY RICH”. His group “ACOUSTIC ASYLUM” is a cutting edge jazz, R & B, Cajun, even a little klezmer, acoustic ensemble featuring some of LA’s top musicians. He’s also written the majority of EKM’s original tunes including “Ellis Island Rag”, “Grandma Dora’s Latkes”, “Aftermath”, “Distant Cousins” and “Isaac’s Lament”.
DAN DUNGAN on upright bass
We stole our pumping, slapping, and comedic bass player, Dan Dungan, from the blue grass music world. He currently plays with three different bluegrass bands including the “BRANT VOGEL OUTLAW COUNTRY MUSIC BAND”, the “STEPHEN ROWE AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC BAND”, “THE STAGE ROBBERS”, and “THE TRAILER PARK TORNADOES” who play 30's and 40's jazz.
TOM TALLY on viola and violin
Tom Tally is a classically trained violist who attended C.S.U. Northridge for his degree in music performance. He has toured extensively from Europe to Asia with a diversity of groups from the Casals Festival to Sainte Chappelle's Bach Festival, to the first all Chinese American orchestra to tour to Taiwan, and Indonesia with Monty Montanas Jr's country music consortium. After touring with Micheal Crawford and Shirley Bassey in the U.S., he settled down in Los Angeles and was engaged to produce 'string tributes' for Vitamin Records. His credits include many recordings for artists such as Leonard Cohen, Counting Crows, Chaka Kahn, Stevie Wonder, Wille Nelson, Kanye West, Maroon 5, Michael Jackson, Arron Neville, Tracy Chapman, and many more. He has appeared as a musician in T.V. and films like Nixon, Beethoven 1, Mafia, Bold and the Beautiful, Fantasia 2000, The Visitor, and a live performance and recording of Beethoven's string trio in Eb on The Other Sister as well as many more. He can be seen in the latest episode of the TV series House (Ep #5023 “Under My Skin”) in the theater orchestra scene.
BRUCE MILLSTEIN on Middle Eastern drums and percussion
Bruce began his professional music career at 14, playing drums in rock and soul bands in his hometown of Philadelphia. Bruce moved to Los Angeles in 1990 and began recording with rock and R & B bands. When Bruce joined the industrial Arabic bellydance troop, Raks Majnoon, as lead percussionist, he took his career in a whole new direction. This led him to study and play with Arabic and Moroccan musical masters Salah Takesh, Abdurah Tamerogan and Joshkun Tamer.
While continuing to perform as a soloist and with many well established acts, Bruce placed a song in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and moved into the world of music for film, TV and commercials. He has created and produced music for Tupac Shakur, Ras Kass, Cannon Printers, MTV, the TV series “Monster House”, “Monster Nation” and “Plastic Surgery Before and After”. He has worked as a songwriter, musician and/or producer for recording artists including Herbie Hancock, Will Smith, Paula Abdul, Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, Benny Malpin, David Coleman, Jonathon Melvoin, Carl Graves, and Morris Tepper.