Cranky Crow World Music, CD Review: The Klezmatics (USA), Rise Up! (Shteyt Oyf!) (Rounder Records) >>
Release date---May 13, 2003. While you can expect a band that calls themselves the Blues Travellers to perform blues in their repertoire, you can also expect a group called The Klezmatics to perform Klezmer music (often heard at Jewish weddings). However, The Klezmatics stray from the assumed course and add Bulgarian, salsa, jazz and experimental musings into the mix. When I listen to Rise Up's 15 tracks, I visualize one of those paint splattered lofts with a rusty sink found at Manhattan's Soho District. In other words, this CD oozes with arty intentions along with social messages du jour. It is only the band members' musicianship that saves this release from sinking into the depths of pretentiousness. That and the group's sincere desire to bring peace into the world.
The Klezmatics include founding vocalist/accordionist Lorin Sklamberg, bassist Paul Morrissett, trumpeter/composer Frank London, multi-instrumentalist/composer Matt Darriau, fiddler/composer Lisa Gutkin and drummer David Light. All of the musicians bring more to the group than their individual musical talents. They perform in other groups, they compose soundtracks for film or music for theatre productions and they bring other culture influences to The Klezmatics recordings thus creating a rich cultural stew. For instance, Cat and Mouse (Kats Un Moyz) composed by London, throws in Klezmer, jazz and salsa (compliments of guest pianist Steve Sandberg) into the shteytl party mix. And God, The Master of this Universe (Yo Riboyn Olam) features lyrics sung in Aramaic and guest pianist Myra Medford accompanying on a Qawwali-style harmonium. The track nods to the group's fascination with ecstatic music, especially music from the Hassidic tradition.
Some of the album's highlights include the romp, Tepel composed by the notorious Klezmer clarinetist Rudy Tepel, an iconoclast of the 1960's who carried a pistol in his clarinet case, Davenen (Prayer) which features Gutkin's fine fiddling abilities and Vanity of Vanities, a song which starts out slow, but grows more passionate as it picks up its tempo. The Klezmatic's cover of Holly Near's I Ain't Afraid comes across as a cross between a mantra and an anthem. It's too catchy and you might find yourself trying to remove it from your thoughts throughout the day. Many of us would love to live in a peaceful world, but are tired of having politically correct song lyrics hammered into our heads. Somehow, politically correctness and peace do not belong on the same page. Give that last statement some thought.
Thankfully, most of the tracks on Rise Up! avoid this trap and instead offer a variety of moods ranging from melancholy to celebratory. So rise up and dance. For more information go to www.rounder.com
PLH 05/09/03 >> go there
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