avantgarde

Yesterday night though I had to act spontaneous as Marc Ribot was in town with his Spiritual Unity project playing Albert Ayler pieces.

Marc Ribot going wild with Yezriel, a bluesy song off his new album on Tzadik with a powerful riff on the wonderful Book of Angels and Mr. Scofield covering Rolling Stones’ unforgettable single Satisfaction.

I was searching for videos of the NYC avant jazz rock power trio Rashanim on the net for some time to no avail. A few days ago I saw that they announced a live video on their myspace page. Quickly checking it revealed not one but 4 complete Rashanim pieces played live at Bowery Poetry Club!!.

Rashanim is guitarist Jon Madof, bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (who was also playing the upright bass on the awesome Filmworks XVIII CD by Zorn this year.) and drummer Mathias Kunzli. They’re a highly electric and rocking trio unlike some of their Tzadik buddies, that’s why they were given the chance to do the 5th Masada Anniversary title : Masada Rock, where I first heard their name.

So today I want to write about 2 Klezmer bands which have been on my listening habits for some time. Balan: Book of Angels Vol.5 is the 4th release of The Cracow Klezmer Band on (guess what) Tzadik.

Here’s the second part of the list, this time a little bit more with folk and avantgarde influences.

Played beautifully by Jamie Saft on Piano, Greg Cohen (Masada, Ornette Coleman) on bass and Ben Perowsky (Uri Caine, John Scofield) on drums, the Tzadik label has been giving Jewish music a revamp through the last few years.