Woodwind Faculty: David Krakauer
Internationally acclaimed clarinetist, David Krakauer, redefines the notion of a concert artist. Known for his mastery of myriad styles including classical chamber music, Eastern European klezmer music, the avant-garde, rock and jazz, Prof. Krakauer lies way beyond "cross-over." He is a natural storyteller who has long dazzled colleagues and the public with his ability to shift and meld musical gears. On any stage, he exudes an emotionally raw yet genial presence, baring a tireless spirit, humor and generosity. His best-selling classical and klezmer recordings further define his brilliant tone, virtuosity and imagination.
Prof. Krakauer is in demand worldwide as a guest soloist with the finest chamber music groups. Recent collaborations have included the Tokyo String Quartet (with fellow NYU faculty 1st violinist Martin Beaver and cellist Clive Greensmith), the Eroica Trio, the Kronos Quartet, the Lark Quartet, the Mendelssohn String Quartet and the Empire Brass Quintet. Programs ranged from Brahms and Bartok to Schoenberg and Golijov.
As one of the foremost musicians of the vital new wave of klezmer, Prof. Krakauer tours the globe with his celebrated Klezmer Madness! Ensemble. While firmly rooted in traditional klezmer folk tunes, they "hurl the tradition of klezmer music into the rock era" (Jon Pareles, The New York Times). Prof. Krakauer's compositions also pay homage to R&B, jazz, classical and funk.
His discography contains some of the most important klezmer recordings of the past decade. His first release on the prestigious French jazz label Label Bleu (harmonia mundi usa), "A New Hot One!" garnered France's prestigious Diapason d'Or Prize and has been hailed a masterwork by the International Herald Tribune, Le Mond, Télérama, Jazzman, Jazz magazine and Les Inrockuptibles.
Krakauer has been the subject of numerous profiles in major media venues such as New York Times, New Yorker, International Herald Tribune, and Downbeat, Jazz Times, Jazziz and Chamber Music.