Review: Shuff!
Den Flygande Bokrullen
When Den Flygande Bokrullen contacted me on MySpace to add me to their friends list, I was immediately intrigued and looked up their profile page. Imagine, a Klezmer band from Sweden! ( I do have some Swedish heritage.) When I listened to their song samples, I was hooked. DFB (as they refer to themselves) has a street-klezmer sound that grabs you and takes hold of your soul. This is joyous, raucous music that spans several genres of Eastern European music. Besides Klezmer, there are Balkan, Turkish, and Romanian songs.
The band has a great blend of instrumentation, and everyone is featured at some point on the album. Even though the group is brass/woodwind centered, I very much enjoyed “Manos,” which features some very nice Mandolin/Piano work, and “Barbanjo,” which starts off with Banjo/Accordion. I think the most serious and lovely piece is the final “Leipzig,” a delicate brass choir piece with sax, but no rhythm section.
Of the 15 songs on the album, 5 are original compositions by members of the band. The band as a whole takes credit for all of the arrangements.
The recording has a great “live” feel to it. Even though this is a studio recording, the band draws you in and the listener feels part of the action. I’ve listened to this album several times and each time it ends I start it over again, just to hear a little bit more.
If your taste leans toward brass/woodwind klezmer do yourself a favor and give Shuff! a listen. You can thank me later.
Tak!
Shuff!
Den Flygande Bokrullen
Arko Records, 2007
Keith Wolzinger
Klezmer Podcast
Links:
Den Flygande Bokrullen
DFB On MySpace
22 October 2007
Review: Voyage- Trio Helene Engel
Review: Voyage
Trio Helene Engel
Voyage is the aptly titled album from Montreal-based Trio Helen Engel. Voyage takes the listener on a journey through the Jewish musical world. The versatile Engel sings in Yiddish, Hebrew, French, Ladino, and English. With the help of Henri Oppenheim, the arrangements have an authentic sound unique to each region visited by these songs. The album touches on the music of Poland, Ukraine, Morocco, Spain, France, Russia, Israel, and North America.
Voyage is the fifth album by Engel, though her first with the current Trio, which was formed in 2005.
The first track, Introduction, starts with the sounds of a noisy club audience, who gradually gets quiet as the band begins to play and Engel appears and begins to sing wordlessly. From there we are along for the ride as Voyage goes on its globetrotting adventure.
The musical styles vary, but the high level of musicianship is steady throughout. The backing by Oppenheim, violinist Marie-Niege Lavigne, and guest guitarist Jean Desrochers, is a perfect match for the voice of Engel. The instrumental solo breaks are well done, and I especially enjoyed the jazz violin work by Lavigne on Bai Mir Bistu Sheyn.
The CD insert is a four-page booklet with French and English bios of the band members and a brief description of the album. The lyrics, translations, and information about each song are available on Engel’s website. They are quite extensive, with the lyrics being translated into French and English. If you like a variety of Jewish song styles, and a classically-trained voice backed by a great ensemble, then have a listen to Trio Helene Engel. Bon Voyage!
Voyage
Trio Helene Engel
2007
Links:
Helene Engel
Voyage Lyrics and Notes
Trio Helene Engel
Voyage is the aptly titled album from Montreal-based Trio Helen Engel. Voyage takes the listener on a journey through the Jewish musical world. The versatile Engel sings in Yiddish, Hebrew, French, Ladino, and English. With the help of Henri Oppenheim, the arrangements have an authentic sound unique to each region visited by these songs. The album touches on the music of Poland, Ukraine, Morocco, Spain, France, Russia, Israel, and North America.
Voyage is the fifth album by Engel, though her first with the current Trio, which was formed in 2005.
The first track, Introduction, starts with the sounds of a noisy club audience, who gradually gets quiet as the band begins to play and Engel appears and begins to sing wordlessly. From there we are along for the ride as Voyage goes on its globetrotting adventure.
The musical styles vary, but the high level of musicianship is steady throughout. The backing by Oppenheim, violinist Marie-Niege Lavigne, and guest guitarist Jean Desrochers, is a perfect match for the voice of Engel. The instrumental solo breaks are well done, and I especially enjoyed the jazz violin work by Lavigne on Bai Mir Bistu Sheyn.
The CD insert is a four-page booklet with French and English bios of the band members and a brief description of the album. The lyrics, translations, and information about each song are available on Engel’s website. They are quite extensive, with the lyrics being translated into French and English. If you like a variety of Jewish song styles, and a classically-trained voice backed by a great ensemble, then have a listen to Trio Helene Engel. Bon Voyage!
Voyage
Trio Helene Engel
2007
Links:
Helene Engel
Voyage Lyrics and Notes
04 October 2007
Review: Budowitz Live
Review: Budowitz Live
Budowitz
Budowitz Live is the latest release from Budowitz, a klezmer group that brings new life to the music of the Eastern European Jews. I first became aware of Budowitz in 2001, but it was only recently that I took the next step and became seriously interested in the the group and the truly wonderful music that they bring to the world.
The group is fronted by Josh Horowitz (Tsimbl/Accordion) and Cookie Segelstein (Violin) who together wrote most of the arrangements on the album. They are joined by Christian Dawid, a favorite Clarinet player of mine, and string players Tamas Gombai, Sandor Toth, and Zsolt Kurtosi. Some of the songs are original compositions, but blend completely into the soundscape that Budowitz so ably lays out for us.
The 2-disc set is taken from live performances in Switzerland and is organized into suites from ten geographic regions of Eastern Europe, including Mogiolev, birthplace of my paternal grandfather. I find it particularly helpful to regionalize these songs, as there is a clear distinction between the musical styles and emotional impact these songs convey, based on the locality of the people who originated them. Budowitz takes us on tour with them through the villages and countryside of these areas, evoking a strong sense of place and community from each song.
You know, being slightly Geekish, I always have to say something about the quality of the sound. For those of you who opt to get the CD, or a high-quality download, you’re in for something special. This has to be one of the most pristine live recordings I’ve heard. Live recordings can be dicey, especially when using two venues for the performances. Budowitz assembled a first rate team for recording, mixing, editing, and mastering this intricate material. The mix sounded great on computer speakers, earbuds, and my home stereo. But, when I tried it on my home theater system and switched to the DTS Neo:6 mode and listened in 6.1 surround, I felt like I was in the front row of the concert. Trust me, give it a try!
Finally, I want to mention the 12-page insert booklet that comes with the CD package. Produced by Horowitz and Segelstein, the booklet does not contain lengthy “liner notes”, but rather, short descriptions of each song, stating its purpose and origin. That’s enough for me. We don’t all have to be musicologists to enjoy great music. We also are treated to four pages of a photo collage that give us a glimpse into the life of the group while on tour (plus what appears to be some klezmer-loving pets!).
What more can I say? I’m a brass player, but I love this album. If you are into string/tsimbl/accordion style klezmer you will love the authentic feel and presence this album delivers. I highly recommend you make room on your shelf or hard drive for Budowtitz Live!
Budowitz Live
Budowitz
Golden Horn Records
2007
Keith Wolzinger
Klezmer Podcast
Links:
Budowitz
Golden Horn Records
Klezmer Podcast
Budowitz
Budowitz Live is the latest release from Budowitz, a klezmer group that brings new life to the music of the Eastern European Jews. I first became aware of Budowitz in 2001, but it was only recently that I took the next step and became seriously interested in the the group and the truly wonderful music that they bring to the world.
The group is fronted by Josh Horowitz (Tsimbl/Accordion) and Cookie Segelstein (Violin) who together wrote most of the arrangements on the album. They are joined by Christian Dawid, a favorite Clarinet player of mine, and string players Tamas Gombai, Sandor Toth, and Zsolt Kurtosi. Some of the songs are original compositions, but blend completely into the soundscape that Budowitz so ably lays out for us.
The 2-disc set is taken from live performances in Switzerland and is organized into suites from ten geographic regions of Eastern Europe, including Mogiolev, birthplace of my paternal grandfather. I find it particularly helpful to regionalize these songs, as there is a clear distinction between the musical styles and emotional impact these songs convey, based on the locality of the people who originated them. Budowitz takes us on tour with them through the villages and countryside of these areas, evoking a strong sense of place and community from each song.
You know, being slightly Geekish, I always have to say something about the quality of the sound. For those of you who opt to get the CD, or a high-quality download, you’re in for something special. This has to be one of the most pristine live recordings I’ve heard. Live recordings can be dicey, especially when using two venues for the performances. Budowitz assembled a first rate team for recording, mixing, editing, and mastering this intricate material. The mix sounded great on computer speakers, earbuds, and my home stereo. But, when I tried it on my home theater system and switched to the DTS Neo:6 mode and listened in 6.1 surround, I felt like I was in the front row of the concert. Trust me, give it a try!
Finally, I want to mention the 12-page insert booklet that comes with the CD package. Produced by Horowitz and Segelstein, the booklet does not contain lengthy “liner notes”, but rather, short descriptions of each song, stating its purpose and origin. That’s enough for me. We don’t all have to be musicologists to enjoy great music. We also are treated to four pages of a photo collage that give us a glimpse into the life of the group while on tour (plus what appears to be some klezmer-loving pets!).
What more can I say? I’m a brass player, but I love this album. If you are into string/tsimbl/accordion style klezmer you will love the authentic feel and presence this album delivers. I highly recommend you make room on your shelf or hard drive for Budowtitz Live!
Budowitz Live
Budowitz
Golden Horn Records
2007
Keith Wolzinger
Klezmer Podcast
Links:
Budowitz
Golden Horn Records
Klezmer Podcast
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