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Note that the latest stuff may not yet be indexed. George Robinson, GRComm@ concentric.net writes for the Jewish Week. His book, "Essential Judaism," was published in hardcover by Pocket Books, March 2000. You can find out more at his website. Articles by George Robinson, available on the KlezmerShack, are: 2004 Chanukah Roundup, by George Robinson, sent 2 Dec 2004. The Year's Best: the annual "best of" column, by George Robinson, sent 25 Nov 2002. A Religious Experience: A roundup of recent Jewish liturgical music, by George Robinson, sent 26 Aug 2002. More Than Klezmer: A sampler of Yiddish vaudeville, folk music and even art song, sent 9 Aug 2002. Spring Sephardic Music Roundup, send 3 May 2002. The Spring Roundup, part 1, sent 9 Mar 2002. The Spring Roundup, part 2, sent 9 Mar 2002. The Best of 2001 - Hanukah suggestions, sent 7 Dec 2001. Isaac Stern: Beyond the Fiddle to the Heart of a Man, sent out 5 Oct 2001. Sounds for the Jewish New Year, sent out 23 Nov 2001. Slobin on Beregovski (and the survival of Klezmer Music), sent out 30 Aug 2001. Women of Valor, sent out 15 Aug 2001. Shabbat, for Starters, sent out 3 Jun 2001. From Liturgical Rock to the Postmodern, sent out 15 May 2001. A Sephardic Passover, sent out 25 Mar 2001. Oh, Klezmer, sent out 18 Mar 2001. Jewish Classical Music, sent out 1 Mar 2001. Best of 2000, send out 23 Dec 2000. Holiday Music for Hanukkah, 6 Dec 2000. Kidding on the Square, 9/29/00, from the Jewish Week From the Catskills to Canada, 6/15/00, from the Jewish Week Sephardic Survey, 05/00, from the Jewish Week 1999 Klezmer Wrapup, from the Jewish Week Sisters in Swing, 12/15/99, from the Jewish Week Bending the Genres, October 1998, from the Jewish Week The Klezmer Drums of Passion, September 1998, from the Jewish Week Drums of Passion, summer, 1998, from the Jewish Week |
People | Bands | Album Reviews | Sources | Classifieds | Feedback | other klezmer articles on the Internet Best of 2000from the author, 23 Dec '01. by George Robinson, grcomm@grcomm.cnc.netNote: Don't click on any links until the entire file loads, or else the links won't work. I apologize for the inconvenience. webmaster
Every year the list of excellent new recordings of Jewish music seems to get longer. Maybe I'm just listening harder or hearing more. Whatever the reason, it has become impossible to reprint all of my five-star reviews of the previous 12 months in the space allotted, so I have come up with an acceptable alternative. Below, in alphabetical order, are the ten best CDs of 2000, followed by the names of the other five-star records of the year. Rest assured, you won't go wrong by acquiring any of these excellent recordings.
And don't forget: Finjan: " Dancing on Water" (Rounder). |
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Budowitz: "Wedding Without a Bride" (Buda Musique). The brilliant
European band recreates the experience of an old-world wedding, complete
with badkhones.
As with their first CD and the Khevrisa set (below), the sound is not
what you are expecting. The traditional East European klezmer sound is
driven by tsimbl and violin, with brass and clarinet taking a distant
back seat. A magnificent piece of historical reconstruction that is also
a pleasure to listen and to dance to. Rating: 5 stars.
Cooper, Adrienne and Zalmen Mlotek: "Ghetto Tango" (Traditional
Crossroads).In one of the most famous moments in Claude Lanzmann's film
"Shoah," a former Warsaw Ghetto fighter says, "If you could lick my
heart, it would poison you." I thought of that quote as I listened to
this magnificent but relentlessly disturbing record. Cooper and Mlotek
are two of the best that contemporary Yiddish music has to offer, and
this collection of songs from the ghettos of the Nazi era is brilliantly
performed. As might be expected, every song here is corrosive, even the
lullabies carry a powerful accusatory charge. A great record but
certainly not a comfortable one. Rating: 5 stars.
Leverett, Margot: "The Art of Klezmer Clarinet" (Traditional
Crossroads). A masterful showcase for one of the strongest voices on
clarinet in traditional klezmer. Leverett, an original Klezmatic who now
splits her time between Kapelye and Mikveh, works the whole range of the
instrument with equal facility and has as sure a grasp over it's
expressive voice as anyone working in the genre. She brings new insight
to old chestnuts like "Gasn Nign" and the obligatory "Firn di Mekhetonim
Aheym." Able support from an excellent group of musicians, particularly
Mimi Rabson on violin. An absolute must for anyone with an interest in
or taste for klezmer clarinet. Rating: 5 stars.
London, Frank, Lorin Sklamberg and Uri Caine: "Nigunim" (Tzadik). A
masterpiece. Three heavyweights combine forces for a set of Hasidic
tunes performed with extraordinary power. Impeccable playing and
Sklamberg's reedy tenor works perfectly here. If you are serious about
Jewish music, you should have this record. Rating: 5 stars.
Metropolitan Klezmer, featuring Isle of Klezbos: "Mosaic Persuasion"
(Rhythm Music). It sure didn't take long for these guys to emerge one of
the best traditional klezmer bands around. Their first CD served notice
that they were a force to be reckoned with and there sure wasn't a
sophomore jinx. A tighter, more unified sound than ever, with leader Eve
Sicular booting things along from her drum kit. A band that can handle
any tempo and a wide range of moods with equal mastery. Rating: 5 stars.
Pharoah's Daughter: "Out of the Reeds" (Knitting Factory). This is the
album that Basya Schechter was born to make -- reverent, intelligent and
exciting settings of classic Jewish liturgy and folksongs with superb
backing by her own band and a distinguished group of guests including
Anthony Coleman and Matt Darriau. From a haunting "Hevel" through a
niggun created from a West African melody, from an eerie "Eicha" through
the best new "Lecha Dodi" I've heard in years, a powerhouse "Shnirele
Perele," "Ija Mia" a wonderful Ladino closing -- well, there simply
isn't a false step. A bona fide, genuine, gilt-edged masterpiece.
Rating: 5 stars.
