Machaya Klezmer Band

More about Machaya Klezmer Band

For bookings and info:
Machaya Klezmer Band
6220 Wagner Lane,
Bethesda, MD 20816

E-mail Machaya
(Barbara Hess)

Also by Machaya Klezmer Band

Machaya Klezmer Band / What a machaya! (reviewed 6/29/96)

Machaya Klezmer Band
6220 Wagner Lane,
Bethesda, MD 20816-1029

E-mail Machaya
(Barbara Hess)

I've been holding out on everyone. I've been listening to this CD for several months and enjoying it thoroughly. It's an unpretentious recording by good musicians of familiar material. The choice somehow includes many of my favorites, ranging from "Oy Avrum" and "Mein Ruhe Platz" (a weepy I first encountered, I believe, with a Miriam Dvorin vocal on an early Klezmorim album--here it is no less haunting or beautiful, maybe even moreso). Instrumentals include just the right freilachs, a lovely Sid Beckerman Medley and lots of Naftuli Brandwein. What more could one ask for?

I should also note that the band has nicely and carefully documented the music, with an introduction to terms such as "Terkish" and "Hussidl." They are obviously used to having newcomers to the music at their performances and dances. All in all, this album is a pleasant outing and sure to be enjoyed by all afficionados of traditional klez and Yiddish folk music.

Reviewed by Ari Davidow, 5/4/96

Personnel, this recording

Songs

1. Der Glater Bulgar (tarras) 3:16
2. Oy, Avrum (traditional) 2:39
3. Wedding Freilachs (traditional) 2:28
4. Kolomeike (traditional) 3:20
5. Mein Ruhe Platz (Morris Rosemfeld) 3:40
6. Yid in Yerushalayim (Brandwein) / Beckerman Bulgar #24 (traditional) 5:00
7. A Sid Beckerman Medley (traditional) 5:31
8. Papirossen (Herman Yablokoff) 5:03
9. Russian Sher (traditional) 1:45
10. Oy, Tate (traditional) 1:50
11. Bei Mir Bist Du Sheyn (Secunda & Jacobs) 1:52
12. Firm Di Mekhutonim Aheym / Der Heyser Bulgar (Naftuli Brandwein) 5:00