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Hasidic New Wave
Hasidic New Wave: From The Belly Of Abraham
by Glenn Astarita
These New York City “downtown” denizens generally rouse our interest via their distinguishable brand of Klezmer and modern jazz. With its fifth release, “Hasidic New Wave” brings in the Senegalese-based “Yakar Rhythms” percussion group to help fabricate a world-beat sound that signifies a new dimension for this always-investigative outfit. On “Waaw-Waaw,” trumpeter, Frank London and saxophonist, Greg Wall engage in cool, sleek and very jazzy unison choruses that segue into a series of Middle Eastern modalities atop the “Yakar Rhythms’” ...
read moreHasidic New Wave: Kabalogy
by Glenn Astarita
Trumpeter Frank London and saxophonist Greg Wall convey a bit of humor while describing Kabalogy as they intimate loose comparisons to Mahavishnu and Zappa while appending Hasidic names to the above. “Hasidic New Wave” compliment bands such as John Zorn’s Masada, or a host of upstart New York City based groups that meld Klezmer, Fusion, Ornette Coleman or deep-rooted Jewish folklore into contemporary yet highly inventive jazz phraseology. With a new crop of recordings, many of which were reviewed in ...
read moreHasidic New Wave: Jews & the Abstract Truth
by Rick Bruner
One of the more interesting trends in the last several years is the melding of modern jazz sensibilities with traditional Jewish klezmer music. The New Klezmer Trio, John Zorn's Masada, and David Krakauer have all created some powerfully moving music within this context. Hasidic New Wave's Jews & the Abstract Truth is a haunting, exhilarating ride. While the title implies a light-hearted approach, the music is in fact quite moody and intense. This is by no means a criticism.
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