Klezmer Cafe Jew Zoo

by Klazzj, Hot Pstromi, Yale Strom

Overview

Klezmer, the music of the Ashkenazic Jews of Central Europe, really grew and developed in the United States, where, at the beginning of the 20th century, it flowered into something lovely, well beyond its village origins. After passing out of fashion, it returned to some musical vogue in the '80s. Since then, klezmer bands have sprung up around the U.S. and, indeed, all over Europe. Composer and violinist Yale Strom has attempted to capture the many faces of klezmer on Klezmer Cafe Jew Zoo, and in part he succeeds. Whether it's on "Birobidzhan," with its familiar frantic pace (there were many similarities between klezmer and Gypsy music), or "Horo Din Caval," led by some lovely guitar picking, or even the attempt at soul with "Ten Plagues": Strom refuses to let the genre be shackled by some stereotype of klezmer. And that's all well and good. It can produce something of great beauty, like "Shakhres," which uses just guitar and cello. The only problem is that, for the most part, these pieces lack any distinctive personality. The singing is adequate, the musicians are good, but for the most part the album lacks any distinctive stamp, and there's little fire to anything. And that's a shame, because there are plenty of possibilities here. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/20/2003
Label:	Naxos International / Naxos
UPC:	0636943702628
Rank:	150308

Tracks

1. Birobidzhan
2. Hora Din Caval
3. The Bonsetter's Last Dance
4. Stoliner Skotshne #1
5. Imenu Malkatseynu
6. Dorohoi Khusidl
7. Caf¿¿ Jew Zoo
8. Shakhres
9. Yekele the Bonesetter
10. Stoliner Skotshne #2
11. L' Chayim, Comrade Stalin!
12. Waltz Amur
13. Ten Plagues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Klazzj   Primary Artist
Hot Pstromi   Primary Artist
Yale Strom   Primary Artist,Violin,Vocals (Background)
Norbert Satchel   Flute,Shofar,Clarinet,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano),Clarinet (Bass)
Ismail Butera   Accordion,Tambourine
Diane Moser   Organ
Jeff Pekarek   Bass,Cello,Guitar
Tripp Sprague   Organ,Sax (Tenor)
Mark Dresser   Bass
Hollis "Bud" Burridge   Trumpet
Fred Benedetti   Guitar
Andy Statman   Clarinet,Mandolin
James Mussen   Drums
Gene Perry   Bongos,Congas,Shaker
Marty Confurius   Bass
Peter Stan   Accordion
Elizabeth Schwartz   Shofar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Norbert Satchel   Arranger
Dave Roberts   Engineer
Archie Barkan   Translation
Jeff Pekarek   Arranger
Traditional   Composer
Tripp Sprague   Mixing,Engineer
Fred Benedetti   Arranger,Engineer
Michael Brorby   Engineer
Yale Strom   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Barbara Barefield   Photography
Ronnie Thomas   Mastering