Customer Reviews

Klezmer: Marriage of Heaven & Earth

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my first purchase of Klezmer(though it would be an excellent wedding gift to any of your Jewish friends), and it ended up being a great guide to the field. It comes with a well produced book that explains the basic lingo of Klezmer(lots of pictures!) and introduces you to the diverse artists that recorded these tracks. After listening, I could spring-off and focus on the various artists of the collection that I liked the best... Mixing traditional sounds and new, including strong steps toward Jazz-Klez, I found many of these cuts to continue for years to be my favorites. #1 is a good begining that eases you into the flow of whats to come. #2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9 I find to be good basic examples of the genre that you would expect to fill your interest scholarly or your heart inspirationally. #5 by Andy Statman shows why he is famous for his instrumentations. But its #8,10,11, and 12 that ROCKS! If 10 doesnt put you straight to the study of the Kabbalah with its mysterious percussions and angelic like horn, your heart will swell with joy to the borders of Shamayim by listening to #11. Feverishly building and building, with a few small breaks to catch ones breath, this collection takes you from tradition to "NOW-TRADITION" in a prosaic and well demonstrative pattern of Klezmers history(and diversitive roots).
Perhaps its fitting that the last cut is a "lost cut", for #13 is neither documented in the books credits, nor on the disc itself(apparently not Amazons info either). How appropriate that this ethereal and meditative piece has no credit, could some Seraphim have broken from Heavenly duties of chanting the Trisagion to sneak this soothing jam onto the disc without Michal Shapiros knowledge?

Michal Shapiro's anthology presents a very telling survey of American neo-klezmer music that includes some of the best traditional interpreters as well as the more eclectic groups. There is a lot of talent on this CD -- but overall the music lacks the natural folk qualities and expressive power of the likes of Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras. Still, the Budowitz esthetic appealed to me: Horowitz and company are trying to recreate an older, less extroverted sound than klezmer fans usually hear. And Andy Statman is incredible on both his clarinet doina and the mandolin piece. The CD is worth the money for these two tracks alone.

The artists of the third piece on the compilation go by the name of Di Naye Kapelye, not Ki Naye Kapelye.