METROPOLITAN KLEZMER
Mosaic Persuasion (Rhythm Media)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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With their second release, Mosaic Persuasion, Metropolitan Klezmer have established themselves as one of the very best traditional klezmer acts on the scene. As impressed as I was by their debut, Yiddish For Travelers, I'm even more taken by their talents after hearing this one.

They display a serious commitment to klezmer roots, whether in the mists of Eastern European history or the stages of the Yiddish theater, but that doesn't prevent them from putting their own twist on the arrangements in order to establish a thoroughly contemporary sound no matter how traditional the piece of music they're playing may be. The first step, of course, to making exceptionally good music in any style is to have exceptionally good musicians. Metropolitan Klezmer is an assemblage of such musicians. Between them, they've appeared on recordings and/or stages with acts like the Klezmatics, the Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Cab Calloway, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Marshall Crenshaw, Natalie Cole, the Mazeltones and many more. In fact, even if you've never heard a note of klezmer music, odds are that if you're at all conversant with popular music in any style, you've heard one or some of the members of Metropolitan Klezmer.

This one came out in 2001, but I didn't catch up with it until just before Hanukkah of 2002. I'm glad I got it in time, though, because it was the perfect soundtrack for the holiday, with music as bright as the seasonal candles. It doesn't have to be Hanukah, though, and you don't even have to be Jewish, for this album to provide many bright moments. Anyone with a taste for excellent music brilliantly played should love Mosaic Persuasion.

Track List:

Kalarash/Dancing With Chairs * Brandwein In The Lotus Grove * Northern Doyna/An Alter Nigun (An Old Tune)/Abi Gezunt (As Long As You're Healthy) * Samovar Freylekhs * Mayn Rueplats (My Resting Place) * In-Laws' Taxim/Mekhutonim Tants (In-Laws' Dance) * Muzikalisher Tango * Humphrey Bulgar * East(ern) Village Hanuka * Medyatsiner Waltz * Lomir Zikh Iberbetn (Let's Make Up)

© 2002 - Shaun Dale