Music With a Variety of Accents

Blend Eastern European Jewish folk, Dixieland, ragtime and spice it with Latin and Greek rhythms. What do you get? The Ventura Klezmer Band. Sound enticing? Experience it from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday--for free. It is all happening at Constitution Park in Camarillo.

“Some of what we play is 100 years old,” said band director Ron Fink, who is also accordionist for the group.

“In the U.S.,” he said, “the music evolved into a strange combination of early jazz and Eastern European Jewish folk music. It has Asian-sounding scales with early jazz rhythms. We also do things that are Latin in style, including Greek rhythms.” And, he said, the group performs jazz pop tunes from the 1940s.

Fink said the band’s instrumentation is similar to Dixieland, “plus we add a mandolin and an accordion.”

Concert-goers, basking on the grassy park lawn, will be encouraged to dance to this lively blend of music.

Accompanying the band will be the four-member Balaton Dancers.

“They have extensive folk dancing experience,” Fink said. “They will dance to four of our songs and lead anyone in the audience who wants to join them.”

Constitution Park is at Paseo Camarillo and Carmen Drive. Concert-goers should bring blankets or chairs. For more information, call 987-7847.