Customer Reviews

Klezperanto: Re-Grooves Klezmer

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This is a truly unique CD. While it uses some of the instruments traditionally associated with Klezmer music such as clarinet (played by Ilene Stahl) and accordion (Evan Harlan), it ventures into other music styles such as jazz with Mark Hamilton on trombone and rock and funk with Brandon Seabrook playing guitar.

This CD starts off with a traditional Klezmer song entitled "Diddley Shmiddley / Kleine Princessin", in solos which introduce the listener to all the members of the band. In the second tune, "Skotchne", Grant Smith lays down a steady funk beat, while the band provides a Klezmer melody. It works surprisingly well. Track three takes the listener by surprise, played in the jitterbug style used by many big bands in the 40's. The style of this song is best embodied in Brandon Seabrook's banjo playing, which sounds like it could have come off a Squirl Nut Zippers record. They slow things down a bit in their fourth number; a very gritty sounding rendition of the traditional Greek song "I Drink to Forget", which conjures up images of smoky late-night bars and dark city streets. The sixth track has a quite unique sound; a traditional Klezmer melody ("Rozhins Mit Mandlen / Oyfn Pripetshik") played on top of Afro-Cuban rhythms and chord changes. "Lupita", the eighth tune, revisits the funk rhythms played in track two. The band goes back to it's Klezmer roots in their ninth song with a spicy rendition of "Ay Ya Bibi". The listener is introduced to yet another side of the band in their tenth tune, "Acaj Pene Rakije", which sounds surprisingly like the songs on Miles Davis's cd "In a Silent Way". The distorted electric guitar closely mimics the electric piano as played by Herbie Hancock and Josef Zawinul, while the soothing melodies of the clarinet eerily echo the emotions Miles Davis portrays with his trumpet. If that wasn't enough, the trombone's counter harmonies could easily be mistaken for those played by Wayne Shorter on the tenor sax. To prove just how innovative they can be, the band makes a grand exit with Dizzy Gillespie's classic "A Night In Tunisia", a fitting ending to this innovative CD.

This CD isn't just for Klezmer lovers. It is a one of a kind piece of art, which can easily make a home in any record collection.

Joyous, vibrant sounds played by a hot-wired band! Klezperanto ROCKS!! It is "THE BOMB": a musical explosion!!! Here is an eclectic mix of New Orleans jazz, East European village music, American swing, Meditarranean melodies, and occasionally Balkan brass band sounds ... if you like any one of these styles, you will *love* this mix! There is speed, energy, excitement in every instrument, from the prerequiste clarinet and violin, to the brass instruments, each occasionally comes to the front and provides embellishments to introduce itself, then gets back in line, letting the tune and melody crescendo and decrescendo on the traditional instruments. This music was once hidden in the ghettos of Eastern Europe and Russia ... but now it has been revisited, redesigned, redefined for a wider audience. While built upon ancient and traditional melodies, the uncommon sounds coming forth from the clarinet and violin are anything but old ... the improvisations and embellishments are original, engaging and totally mind and emotion altering. The fascinating music called "klezmer" has ancient traditions which stay true to the root sound but with the wide range of possibilities provided by the instruments, the variety of creativity is astonishing and very modern indeed! I look forward to more CDs by Klezperanto: they are a musical force to be reckoned with ... Erika Borsos (erikab93)

It is impossible to continue to be sad (if you happen to be) and listen to this album at the same time...it'll cheer and excite you.

It is filled with wonderful, lively, well executed music that is joyous and festive. Put one of these CDs in your car and listen to it on the way home from work. It'll fix the worst day.

The musicianship is stellar... Ilene Stahl and her team are concert quality talents with clever versatility and a terrific sense of humor.

I'm planning to buy more to give to my friends... they may laugh, be impressed or puzzled... but they won't be unhappy.