SATURDAY: Eatala: A Life in Klezmer

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SATURDAY: Eatala: A Life in Klezmer

POSTED: Friday, December 3, 2010, 9:00 PM

Filed Under: Movies | Music | screening | Philly Bands Show

Elaine Watts (right) with her daughter Susan Watts.

A movie about a life in music. A month in advance of the film's debut Facebook was buzzing with the Klezmer community reaching out from Texas and beyond urge friends to show some love for Elaine Watts and the film about her pioneering percussion life, Eatala: A Life in Klezmer. Debora Kodish, founder of The Philadelphia Folklore Project which produced the film, was touched to hear that Watts is getting the wide recognition she deserves. Clearly PFP believes in her. "We've spent three and a half years on this project and the film is only 36 minutes long!" The PFP was diligent in conducting interview with people whose life Watts has touched. The film includes footage of Gerry Brown, former student, famed jazz drummer who credits everything to her. Gospel music and opera endorsements are also part of this film, along with footage of a Watts in concert with contemporary Klezmer luminaries like Hankus Netsky and Henry Sapoznik. PFP also dug deep in research, "We even have a picture of the boat her family sailed on to this country." Watts is renowned for being the first woman to graduate Curtis with a degree in percussion. She is also the daughter of legendary Klezmer (Jewish secular celebratory music) band leader, Jacob Hoffman. Hard as it was for Watts to break the gender barrier to work as a drummer in popular music, she will tell you that the only way she ever worked Klezmer back in the day was when he dad hired her. Eatala is her dad's pet name for her and she was certainly daddy's little drummer, stumbling blocks be damned, To this day, in her 70s, she continues to make his memory proud. Clearly 36 minutes does not an evening's entertainment make, it's more like an appetizer. Watts will perform along with her daughter trumpeter Susan Watts, herself another contemporary Klezmer star, as well as West Philly's pride, Daniel Blacksberg on trombone, Jay Krush playing tuba and all-around go-to accordionist Katt Flagg. Music and dance and latkes provided by Betty the Caterer — what's not to like? Sat., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., $10-$30, Crossroads Concert, Calvary Center, 4740 Baltimore Ave., 215-729-1028, crossroadsconcerts.org. Watch some concert footage and a video postcard for the film here.

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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