“Raise Your Spirits, Klezmer Meets Gospel”

By Journalist Ms. Jones

KINGSTON – On August 6th Rich Chiger and Rene Bailey performed with the Saints of Swing at “Raise Your Spirits, Klezmer Meets Gospel.” The event was held at the Arts Society of Kingston.

Klezmer is a musical custom of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. Gospel music has origins in the black oral tradition and can be traced back to the early 1600s.

Chiger performed the Klezmer part of the show, while Bailey held down the gospel.

Vindora Wixom, Executive Director of the Arts Society of Kingston was so moved that she cried during Chiger’s performance.

“I understood every word,” said Wixom even though she’s not Jewish.

Local Celebrity, Chiger started performing at the age of six. His music style is a combination of Yiddish and Broadway.

Bailey is affectionately known as “Lady Sunshine” and brings light to any stage. Her musical style is a variety of gospel, blues, and jazz.

Bailey was raised in the church where she sang gospel music.

“When I was a teenager in school we had a group… we were the Gospel Lite Singers… of Georgia… and all of the big wheels that would come from up North… to do a concert, we would open the concert for them…. The Soul Stirrers, the Clara Ward Singers… I worked with Aretha Franklin in my hometown, Thomasville, Georgia,” said Bailey.

Bailey began singing jazz with famous organ player Doc Bagby. She has also shared the stage with B.B. King, Sam Cooke, and Louis Armstrong.

Bailey performed many traditional favorites, including “You Can’t Hurry God,” “God Will Take Care of You,” “Glory, Glory Hallelujah,” “Steal Away,” “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” “Give Me Jesus,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Ezekiel Saw a Wheel.” The audience sang along and clapped their hands throughout the performance.

Bailey is the lead singer of the Saints of Swing Band which is based in the Hudson Valley/New York Metropolitan area.

“The band is called the Saints of Swing. When I pick up my tuba we’re the Saints New Orleans Dixieland. When I pick up the bass we’re the Swing Jazz Band,” said David Winograd, leader of the Saints of Swing.

Winograd is known as the Dancin’ Tuba Player and didn’t disappoint as he led the crowd in marching around the room after him in the grand finale “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

The band members that performed included Lee Stowe on keyboard, David Winograd on tuba/bass, Larry Balestra on drums, and Dale DeMarco on saxophone/clarinet/flute/vocals.
Bailey just completed her first solo gospel CD project titled “Good Old Songs.” Her CD Release Party will be held at the Rosendale Theatre on Sunday, August 20th at 3 pm. The Saints of Swing will be there to help her celebrate.

For more information go to www.rosendaletheatre.org. For more information about the Arts Society of Kingston, visit www. askforarts.org.