Adrianne Greenbaum / Di klezmer flute nisht fargesn

Seeing Adrianne Greenbaum in concert is one of life's great pleasures. She plays an assortment of wooden flutes forcefully, yet with uncommon grace. It's an entirely different instrument from the modern metal flute heard in today's orchestras. In between songs she introduces the flutes (she switches between them the way the Incredible String Band used to switch between instruments), tells stories about the instrumentals, themselves, and then plays these astounding tunes.

Her mission is to remind people that the flute is a wonderful klezmer instrument, and on this new release, as on all of her previous recordings, she leaves no doubt. Backed by her former Klezical Tradition companion, violinist Cookie Segelstein, and the rest of Cookie's current West Coast-based "Veretski Pass," plus Klezmatics drummer/percussionist Richie Barshay, you couldn't ask for a better backing band. But, the stars are her flutes, inherited, rescued, repaired, treasured from all over Europe, each with its own story. One flute, played on four tracks (14–17), came from the late Lori Cahan-Simon's relative who apparently played his flute constantly until his father broke it into pieces. Lori's story is accompanied by the band in the background. Another flute, made by Julius Zimmermann, in Moscow around 1886, was hidden under the floorboards of a shtetl home during the Holocaust. It was discovered much later and brought to New York. Listening to the "Mourners Kaddish," "Dobronotch,"" and "Tish nigh fur di klezmer flute" on this instrument sends shivers down my spine.

But, the history of the various flutes is just context (for those of us who are less aware of their personalities and intricacies). What is magic is the music. Consider the amazing "Groyse Doyna" which memorializes two flautists of the last century, their doynas incorporated into a wondrous new piece by Greenbaum. Or, enjoy the sweet interplay between the flute and khazones as Hazzanim Abraham Lubin and Jack "Jackie" Mendelson, followed by a dizzying "fun der khupe." In another vein, the songs played with the "Fruchter" flute (Lori Cahan-Simon's relative, above) has a distinctly European klezmer sound. And, then, the album closes with a very jazzy American klezmer tune, "Fishberg's 'Troyben-Zayt' Bulgar". Greenbaum captures not just the beauty of the klezmer flute with music from two continents, but the spirit of the Jewish wedding and Jewish life. Amen.

Reviewed by Ari Davidow, 25-June 2026 .

Songlist

1. Goldene Yortog Marsch (mus: Adrianne Greenbaum) 2:08
2. Grupp's Kichel Bulgar (mus: from Dave Levitt; arr AG) 2:35
3. Di Groyse Doyna (mus: after Shloymke Kosch & Israel Chazin, AG; arr AG) 6:10
4. Far Di Kale (mus: AG) 3:17
5. Zay Gezunt Far Leybn 1:32 (mus: AG)
6. Seven Blessings/Sheva Brachot (mus: AG, w/voices on Sheva Brakhot from Hazzan Abraham Lubin, Hazzan Jack "Jackie" Mendelson) 4:23
7. Fun Der Khupe (mus: after Z. Gulerman; arr: ensemble) 1:32
8. Mayn Shviger's Sher (mus: after Gulerman, Triplik, S.L. Khamish, Moisei Komediant; composed, arr: AG) 6:17
9. Di Vilde Khaye Tantsn (mus: George Cloos; arr: AG) 1:17
10. Mourner's Kaddish (mus: AG) 2:42
11. Triplik's Dobranotch (mus: Triplik; arr: AG) 3:28
12. Tish Nign Far Di Klezmer Fleyt (mus: AG) 5:50
13. Di Fleyt Tantsn Nokh Amol! (mus: trad; arr: AG) 2:22
14. Di Fruchter Fleyt (mus: AG; voice of Lori Cahan-Simon, z"l, on "Shabes Khosidl") 2:00
15. Little Waltz (mus: Ray Leslee) 2:17
16. Shabes Bulgarish (mus: AG) 1:22
17. Aleykhem Sholom (mus: trad; arr: AG) 0:39
18. Fishberg's "Troyben-Zayt" Bulgar (mus: Isaac Fishberb; arr: AG) 3:17