David Buchbinder leads a cooking ensemble here that mixes both Jewish and Cuban cultures and sounds. Talk about guilt! Jewish and Catholic? Oy Veh! So, how does salsa mix with gefelte fish? On this plate of sounds, it works absolutely kosher. A mix of European Klezmer with clarinet bouncing over the pot holes of Havana on a tune like “Coffee Works” is a swinging delight. Some wonderfully nasaly vocals are evident on “Landarico” along with gypsy violins dancing through the shtetl. Buchbinder’s trumpet sizzles over the buttery percussion on “Aventura Judia” and John Johnsons tenor surfs over the currents on “Valentin” while he joins with the leader on a table dance on the sensuous “Calliope.” The mixing of Mediterranean and Caribbean spices throughout delivers a pungent first bite that stays around long after you walk away. Encore!
Tzadik Records