the KlezmerShack

I've had grandiose plans to do better than once-a-year posts since Rosh Hashanah. I may need to rethink implementation. So, here are a few reviews from Ashkenaz, Rosh Hashanah (and in one case, both), and for Khanike—the holiday that has already arrived. As I wrote: I may need to think implementation.

• First up, Galeet Dardashti was not only featured at Ashkenaz, but was one of two recordings that helped make this past High Holiday season especially energized for me. Monajat is a Persian version of slikhot, a tribute to her grandfather, one of the amazing singers of a former age in Iran, and a multi-media re-mix and re-immagination of just wonderful piyyut, including new compositions by Dardashti. Galeet Dardashti / Monajat.
• Coming out of Ashkenazic tradition, Frank London assembled a set of Hakafot songs for Simkhat Torah. Like Monajat, this features ecstatic singing and great joy: Frank London / In the City of God
• Featuring great joy, and the sax as a lead klezmer instrument, Ariane Morin was the toast of the Ashkenaz Festival's dance parties, celebrating traditional North American klezmer with the release of: Ariane Morin / Tantshoyz
• Trying to make up for missing reviews in time for Khanike last year (and clearly, failing, so posting these now will have to do) I want to note Hélène Engel / Souvenirs d'avant ma naissance. It's an album of French-Jewish folk songs, including three khanike tunes, a few songs that will be unfamiliar even to francophones, and some new songs by Engel, herself. Mostly, it's one of those unexpected delights—unexpected repertoire, and as she tends to do, excellent performance of songs worth singing.
• On the other side of the Khanike spectrum, I offer Frank London's hip-hop, rock, klezmer, amazing mix of incredible dance music for the holiday: Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars / Chronika. For those of us who love this sort of music, this is the sort of music we love.
• A finally, going back a bit further to the pandemic period, here is one response for those needing some traditional songs and great klezmer for the holiday: Ezekiels Wheels Klezmer Band / khanike chanukah hannukah janucá party, composed in pieces as the band hunkered down during the pandemic. Except, they are this sharp and wonderful and danceable in person, so, who's to know? Try it out lighting the candles tonight!

I'd say more, but I'm going to get back to work on "part 2," inspired, in part, by Yiddish New York.