CD Review: David Broza & The Andalusian Orchestra Ashkelon's 'Andalusian Love Song'

David Broza & The Andalusian Orchestra Ashkelon
Andalusian Love Song
Magenta/Eight Note

Hailing from Israel, David Broza rocks the world with a delightful, Andalusian album that bridges the music of Spain, the Middle East, and North Africa into one indelible result. The seventeen tracks are sung in English, Spanish, and Hebrew with instrumental influences arranged in classical, folk, pop, and roots medleys. The vocals are strong and timeless. The edgy percussion, soaring strings, and multi-layered instrumental arrangements make Andalusian Love Song a very pleasant listening experience. The diverse influences and instrumentation provide a more balanced result that is not boring or redundant. The sweeping, "Dangerous Autumn," contains beautiful instrumental parts, alongside heady vocals in Hebrew. It is impossible to pick one of the best tracks, as all of them are unique and worthy of number one. Fans of North African, Middle Eastern, and European orchestral music will find the album to be a perfect ten! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Idan Raichel's 'At The Edge Of The Beginning'

Idan Raichel
At The Edge Of The Beginning
Cumbancha

Israel's Idan Raichel has the rare ability to create meaningful and beautiful melodies that transcend not only borders, but time, as well. This is especially relevant on his latest release, At The Edge Of The Beginning. The album opens with a sweeping piano medley with mixed instrumentation in a great arrangement worthy of repeated listens. The rest of the tracks contain vocal tracks with an array of instrumentation, including kamanche, trumpet, bass, guitars, baglama, sax, tuba, accordion, piano, and various programming. Special guest and sintir player, Hassan Hakmoun, lends his talents on "Be'Chamesh Shniyot." Idan's "Delet Mistovevet" is one of the best tracks on this album. All things considered, Idan creates a moving, contemporary, and authentic mix of ear-candy that contains a plethora of melodies and moments that should not go unnoticed. The title touts Idan may be at the beginning of something really great. Actually, he has been great since he started and he will not let you down here. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Yom's 'Le Silence de L'Exode'

Yom
Le Silence de L'Exode
Buda Musique

Yom is a composer and clarinetist with a passion for making music inspired by the Old Testament's Book of Exodus describing the forty years of Jewish people wandering in the deserts of Egypt. The result is an album of plaintive, yet powerful sounds that evoke magical feelings of hope, love, and conquest. The music is rather laid-back and poignant with all of the music created by clarinet, cello, double bass, zarb, daf, and bendir. There are no vocals. The music is very cinematic in parts and aimless in others. The rather varied tones represent a mix of emotions and feelings in the listener. As a result, the tunes are not named in order for the listener to determine his or her own exodus journey. It is a rather consistent one-hour journey that is both nostalgic and refreshing. The instruments move about in dizzying ways at times, while other times the music is very dreamy. At any rate, anyone will find Yom to be an excellent guide for those seeking salvation in music from a heavenly source. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Cocek Brass Band's 'Here Comes Shlomo'

Cocek Brass Band
Here Comes Shlomo
Self-Release

The five-piece brass band, Cocek Brass Band, instills the Balkan spirit of brass and jazz on their debut release, Here Comes Shlomo. The band formed in the Northeastern U.S., but their roots extend far beyond the borders of North America--with swirling, bubbling brass melodies blurting out from two trumpets and a tuba--all highlight the band's international style and presence. The music is a mix of Roma, gypsy, klezmer, New Orleans jazz, and Dixieland orchestrations that are highly-textured and classically-significant. The sauntering tunes are completely instrumental without any vocal accompaniment, which suits the music perfectly. The album is based on Balkan cocek dance tunes. Anyone with an interest in traditional Balkan music will find the music very entertaining and upbeat. All jazz, brass, and band fans unite! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Pharaoh's Daughter's 'Dumiyah'

Pharaoh's Daughter
Dumiyah
Magenta

The great Basya Schechter is the Pharaoh's Daughter's chief vocalist and progenitor of the group. The Jewish-inspired and infused concoctions are actually pan-global with tons of influences coming from North American psych, Mediterranean folk/rock, and Middle Eastern music. The diverse song styles and multi-instrumental compositions create an engaging world fusion of sorts that succeeds on all accounts. The refreshingly authentic and memorable grooves are carried by Basya's female vocals that float effortlessly throughout the melodies. The music incorporates the synth, electric guitar, shofar, hammered dulcimer, acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, santoor, kora, ney, tuba, trumpet, and more. The entire production is contemporary with traditional elements that are very catchy and majestic overall. A very good recording to say the least. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: She'Koyokh's 'Wild Goats & Unmarried Women'

She'Koyokh
Wild Goats & Unmarried Women
Riverboat Records/World Music Network

Based in the U.K., She'Koyokh bring us rollicking good fun with brassy instruments, pulsating gypsy rhythms, and klezmer-inspired traditions on their latest release, Wild Goats & Unmarried Women. The album title is as fun as the music, which traverses the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The jazzy horns, punchy rhythms, and unmistakable melodies are great for dancing and enjoying what the musical world has to offer. Interestingly, the album's title refers to male goats jumping up and down during mating season to attract female goats, which is similar to dancing movements inspired by the music contained herein. At any rate, She'Koyokh knows how to combine classic klezmer grooves with gypsy sounds and pan-European influences. The music is both vocal and instrumental throughout. Fans of klezmer, gypsy, brass, jazz, and world music should check out She'Koyokh today. Don't delay! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Rafi eL's 'Ay De Mi'

Rafi eL
Ay De Mi
Dutty Artz

The L.A.-based singer, songwriter and musician, Rafi eL, possesses roots in Jewish and Argentinian cultures, which shines through on his new, adventurous release, Ay De Mi. The music is slightly electronic, urban, and spacious enough to let the melodies permeate the souls of the listeners. The somewhat synth-infused concoctions represent a refreshing style of music never before heard in the music world today. The eleven tunes contain sparkling, reverberating, and electronic-tinged melodies and rhythms that bridge South American and American influences. The light rhythms fuse a bit of Enigma, Jack Johnson, and Xavier Rudd in an imagined urban vacuum with cumbia as a foundation. Everyone will love this one. Rafi eL succeeds on Ay De Mi with a healthy dose of folkloric and electronic compositions that seem to bring back ancient melodies and spirits for today's generations. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Anna Hoffman & Romancero Sefardi's 'Juego de Siempre'

Anna Hoffman & Romancero Sefardi
Juego de Siempre
Sketis Music

Sung in Ladino, the language of Sephardic Jews, Anna Hoffman & Romancero Sefardi bring us a dozen sensual and emotive tracks with vibrant voice, percussion, and other assorted instrumentation. Anna is the vocalist, but she is joined by a plethora of instrumentalists skilled on guitars, kalimba, table, oud, saz, buzuki, sax, trumpet, tabla, santur, daff, riqq, udu, violin, rabab, and others. The musical repertoire is slow, sauntering, and utterly provocative for the senses. The melody and rhythm is chiefly Sephardic with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern elements abounding. The emotive vocal delivery, jazzy horns, and meandering percussion and strings makes it an ideal album for fans of Sephardic, Jewish, Spanish, and Middle Eastern music. Anna's voice is timeless. The time is now to hear it. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra's 'Abdul The Rabbi'

4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra
Abdul The Rabbi
Self-Release

The whirling dervish melodies of 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra are not your typical musical fanfare. For example, the instrumental group combines heady, brass-inflected rhythms with a slight Afro-beat repertoire. The music is distinctly Klezmer and Balkan with light jazz, rock, psych, and avant-garde elements to boot. The group plays trumpet, reeds, sax, trombone, guitar, bass, and drums. The writhing mix of sounds is very entrancing and delightful with little room for complaints. The Atlanta-based group combines funk, jazz, rock, big band, and experimental sounds for a good dose of melody and rhythm. The truly pan-world sound is contemporary and traditional. The punchy rhythms and funkadelic jams are akin to Dengue Fever's arrangements--if they came in contact with some Balkan brilliance. Anyone familiar with instrumental Balkan music will love the Klezmer connotations and West African connections. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Isra-Alien's 'Somewhere Is Here!'

Isra-Alien
Somewhere Is Here!
Self-Release

Born in Israel and based in New York, Isra-Alien bring us an energetic set of mostly instrumental songs on nylon string guitar and steel string guitar. Isra-Alien is Oren Neiman and Gilad Ben Zvi. The guitar duo explore the worlds of Mediterranean Seas, Middle East, Balkan lands, and Sephardic/Klezmer/Yiddish components all by guitar. The guitar stylings are not too far off from flamenco, but there is a good dose of experimental guitar music here. Anyone with a fascination for new age guitar, Jewish guitar music, Middle Eastern guitar music, and instrumental tunes should love Isra-Alien. Somewhere Is Here! contains something for everyone no matter where they reside. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: DeLeon's 'Tremor Fantasma'

DeLeon
Tremor Fantasma
Golemite

The Sephardic wanderings of Mexico's DeLeon are inspired and influenced by Jewish musical traditions and folk music from Western Europe, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. The contemporary music is not overtly-traditional in scope, but it contains a slight nod in that direction. Fortunately, the modern leanings of percussion, bass, guitars, and up-tempo instrumentation provide a Spanish feel and slightly experimental mode overall. For instance, the instrumental rock tune, "Lamma Bada," contains punchy electric guitar displays of beauty with Middle Eastern-type shakers and meditative drumming. The retro Brazilian-tinged tune, "Para Que Quero," is a jingly tune with an electric guitar solo and reverberating vibes. The sweet song contains smooth grooves, haunting vocals, and a Latin rock feel unsurpassed by other groups. The country-tinged, "Barminan," represents an Appalachian tune with banjo-picking and fast percussion. Who would think Sephardic nomads ventured up and down the Appalachian? This represents DeLeon's global appeal and varied genre stylings. DeLeon is a very good Sephardic music that is hip, fun, and ready to take the world by musical storm. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Kat Parra's 'Las Aventuras de Pasion'

Kat Parra
Las Aventuras de Pasion
JazzMa Records

California's Kat Parra brings us a rousing mix of Ladino and Sephardic-inpsired tunes with a Latin vein and inspiration from Puerto Rican bomba, afro-jazz, rumba, bolero, cha-cha, ballad, jazz, middle eastern, afro-peruvian, and classical music. The classy vocals and sweeping melodies on piano and percussion on "Call Your Name," is especially inviting and filmic. In short, Kat finds all the types of Latin music styles and delicately lines them up here. The superb instrumentation is pensive, upbeat, and showcases a diverse set of musical talents on vocals and instrumentation. The operatic bolero, "Lo Siento Mi Vida," represents a soulful mix of violin, assorted percussion, and vibrant vocals. The Middle-Eastern-tinged, "Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire," opens with vibrant hand percussion and drones of strings. Kat's voice is free-flowing and emotive. The entire project is well-worth a listen or two or three. It is ideal for fans of sephardic music with a passion for Latin styles, too. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Ljuba Davis Ladino Ensemble's 2-CD 'East And West'

Ljuba Davis Ladino Ensemble
East And West [2-CD]
Self-Release

The Ljuba Davis Ladino Ensemble brings us an exciting 2-CD set of Sephardic music with lively instrumentals and joyous vocals. The Ladino qualities are inherent throughout, but there is a good deal of Mediterranean, Greek, and Arab musical influences contained throughout both CDs. Both CDs contain identical songs in identical order, but the first CD contains vocals by Ljuba Davis, while the second CD contains one vocal track by Avram Pengas. The group consists of Ljuba Davis on vocals, Avram Pengas on vocals and bouzouki, Rachid Halihal on oud, Nadav Lev on Spanish guitar, Ossama Farouk on hand percussion, and Marty Confurius on string bass. The rousing group is very fun to listen to and steeped in Ladino glory. This is music for the Klezmer, Jewish, Ladino, and Mediterranean music fan! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Alaev Family & Tamir Muskat'' Self-Titled Release From Tajikistan/Israel

The Alaev Family & Tamir Muskat
The Alaev Family & Tamir Muskat
Olamale

The modern folk music of the Israel-based group, The Alaev Family & Tamir Muskat, stems from their original homeland of Tajikistan. The Central Asian melodies and percussion combine with the Klezmer and Balkan string style of other groups to create a heady mixture of steamy, swirling melodies ripe with energy and vitality. Tamir Muskat, of Balken Beat Box fame, lends his programming, drumming, and assorted percussion skills to the project. The Alaev Family plays the doyra, accordion, percussion, clarinet, darbuka, cajon, kanun, and violin. In addition, The Alaev's are a strong vocal family. The vocals are steeped in Central Asian history and provide a sense of adventure and vivacity that is unmatched from similar groups in the region. Anyone interested in Jewish, Klezmer, Tajiki, folk, and Central Asian or Balkan music will love The Alaev Family & Tamir Muskat. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Sarah Aroeste's 'Gracia'

Sarah Aroeste
Gracia
Aroeste Music

American-born Ladino singer, Sarah Aroeste, continues to create contemporary rock and pop compositions with a Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Spanish element. The Ladino-language songs touch on Jewish history, love, and relationships amidst a background of symphonic strings, Middle Eastern percussion, and contemporary arrangements. "Scalerica De Oro/Dodi Yarad" is strikingly similar to the music of the late-Ofra Haza. The Middle Eastern instrumentation and spiritual vocals make the song unique and evocative. The rock-laden "La Comida La Manana" begins with a fiery, poetic introduction that leads to a rock beat with full-guitar sound and strings. "El Leon Ferido" is another rock-laden song with haunting vocals. There are quieter, almost cinematic moments in "Ensuenyo Te Vi" and Spanish guitar beats in "Las Estreyas." A remix of "Scalerica De Oro" contains a more classical vein. Overall, Sarah hits high marks with a new release of contemporary Sephardic music. ~ Matthew Forss  

CD Review: Lampa Ladino's 'En Este Mundo'

Lampa Ladino
En Este Mundo (In This World)
Sketis Music

Russian-based, Lampa Ladino, was started by Grigory Sandomirsky after listening to several records from Sephardic Jews and Ladino musicians several years ago. Ladino is a Sephardic language of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. The melodies are typically sweeping, classical, jazzy, and also rock-focused (only on one track). For instance, a bit of rock guitar is found on "La Komida La Manyana." However, Judeo-Spanish rhythms win out with a host of songs incorporating Latin or Spanish elements with sorrowful vocals and plaintive piano. Though, a variety of percussion, horns, and string instruments are included throughout. There are classical and jazz elements that are rather spritely--and heavily influenced by Yiddish, Klezmer, and Gypsy song structures. The addition of the guitar, piano, and percussion provides a laidback lounge feel perfect for relaxing after a hard day's work. Fans of avant-garde, jazz, fusion, Sephardic, and Ladino music will be happy to own Lampa Ladino's latest release. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Daphna Sadeh & The Voyagers' 'Reconciliation'

Daphna Sadeh & The Voyagers
Reconciliation
Tzadik

Daphna Sadeh is a double-bass player based in the U.K. Daphna creates a mix of Klezmer, classical, Middle Eastern, and Jazz-focused compositions that incorporate the clarinet, flute, recorder, 12-string guitar, acoustic/electric guitar, drums, darbuka, riq, frame drum, mandolin, and trombone. Ivor Goldberg adds vocals, but most of the eight tracks are instrumental. The sauntering rhythms and quirky horns, strings, and percussion create a mesmerizing mix of classic music for young and old. The upbeat rhythms are sometimes interrupted by slower, more somber tones indicative of Ladino or Sephardic music. At any rate, Daphna and her Voyagers play the instruments with such a fine command that each instrument has time to shine to its fullest potential without tiring. If you are seeking the sounds of the Middle East and Jewish Diaspora, then look no further. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: RotFront's 'VisaFree'

RotFront

VisaFree

Essay Recordings

Berlin-based, Gypsy/Klezmer-band RotFront, brings us a punk-driven, humorous, and carefree set of songs in various languages. The primary pulse behind RotFront's beats are inherently brassy and brashy with a good dose of colorful language, upbeat rhythms, and melodies influenced by Cape Verde, Central America, and the Balkans. The hilarious "Gay, Gypsy & Jew" is a vocal ode to the Gay-Gypsy-Jew populations. The nostalgic disco track, "Revolution Disco," is a danceable track with blaring horns, punchy rhythms, and English lyrics. The riotous, lyric-ladened "Cosmos," is something the American group Smash Mouth might have created; but didn't. The Gypsy-inspired, punk-rock is quite accessible to Balkan and European youth with a few older adults chiming-in for good measure. VisaFree is 'free' from defect in all regards. Buy it today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Joel Rubin and Uri Caine's 'Azoy Tsu Tsveyt'

Joel Rubin and Uri Caine

Azoy Tsu Tsveyt

Tzadik

The classic klezmer music is seemingly reinvented by musical contemporaries, Joel Rubin and Uri Caine. Joel's lively, though pensive, clarinet playing is poignant and laid-back. Uri's rhodes and organ-playing makes the music sound folksy, rootsy, and most of all, dreamy. There are no additional instruments used on the recording. Even vocals are absent. The alternative and almost avant-garde rhodes work matches the sounds of Russian folk and smooth jazz. The clarinet propels the music forward without totally disregarding it's historical significance in Jewish and classical music along the way. Joel and Uri manage to succeed in producing a very good recording of klezmer music that is never dull or uninspiring. Fans of klezmer, Yiddish, Jewish, big band, clarinet, instrumental, avant-garde, and jazz music will find much to love about Azoy Tsu Tsveyt. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Hadar Noiberg's 'Journey Back Home'

Hadar Noiberg

Journey Back Home

Self-Release

Hadar Noiberg performs on two flutes with two other musicians, Omer Avital on double bass and oud, and Ziv Ravitz on drums and assorted percussion. The trio, formed by Hadar, who is also a composer and musical arranger from New York City, performs instrumental compositions inspired by the Middle East. In particular, an Israeli cultural element dictates most of the musical directions. As a performer in other NY-area groups, Hadar's academic studies of the flute provide the listener with an educated sound of fluidity and a dose of subliminal austerity. Throughout the album, Hadar weaves in and out of world music, jazz, avant-garde, and classical idoms. Never straying too far from her Israeli roots, Hadar knows how to evoke moods and emotions through music. For instance, the flute flutterings on "Residue of a Broken Heart" eschew a sense of yearning backed by other instruments played with more of a Chinese sensibility. Nine total tracks are available to enlighten, inspire, and enthrall any listener without a doubt. Fans of instrumental, Middle Eastern, or Jewish folk music will admire the soothing sounds of Hadar Noiberg. ~ Matthew Forss