Cappuccino Soul

Cappuccino Soul

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A Little Lower Eastside in My Ride


The Klezmatics recording called “Shvaygn=Toyt” is what I listen to now as I’m driving to and fro these days. It’s a great find from one of my neighborhood libraries (that’s right, I have two libraries that are near me).

A CD selection playing in my car has to be above average in quality because I’ll listen to the recording for days or sometimes weeks before I go on to the next CD. (My daughter also has to approve because she simply won’t stand for listening to poorly made, uninspiring music as she sits in the back seat of the car and hums or sings along.)

This group of Manhattan musicians infuse strong klezmer, mazltov, Eastern European, and some American musical influences into their artistry. In their music, you hear jazz in one number, traditional Yiddish clarinet riffs and trills in another, Russian songs, and even some touches of rock in other tunes.

The harmonies, dance rhythms, and cries of instruments make for a spiritual-klezmer delightful treat. I’m simply taken away to another land (or at least the Lower East Side) when these people play. The musicians on “Shavaygn-Toyt” include: Kurt Bjorling on clarinet, David Licht on drums, Frank London on trumpet, Paul Morrissett on bass, Lorin Sklamberg on piano, accordion, and vocals; and Alicia Svigals on violin.

I like to check out music from the library to test out the sounds before I go out and buy the CD. This is a selection that I simply must have.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know much about this kind of music, but I'd like to maybe check this out.

Cappuccino Soul said...

You'd be doing yourself a favor!