What are you to make of this album by clarinetist David Krakauer?!? He’s got a Mediterranean tone, thick and rich on his licorice stick, and he uses it here to get back in touch with his Eastern Europe Jewish roots. He doesn’t go completely klezmatic, though, as he takes you on a trip that includes funk, electronic (with a sample on one tune that sounds like either a Sabbath Cantor or a Puccini opera, but more on that later) and free form avant, yet swinging in every instance.
Krakauer’s team of Sheryl Bailey/g, Jerome Harris/b, Michael Sarin/dr and Keepalive/sampler(!) create electronic beats that incessantly build up into clever patterns while the clarinet goes from the Shtetl to the ozone on “Kickin’ It For You” and “Krakowsiy Boulevard.” John Medeski brings his organ in for the aforementioned operatic or wailing wall groove on a fascinating “Tribe Number Thirteen” (done in studio and a NYC gig) and Marc Ribot adds his astringent guitar to “Elijah Walks In” that has Krakauer dovening in ecstasy.
Krakauer displays his rich sonority on a Spartan “Molavian Village” that is both bohemian and tender, while he goes it alone to the Western Wall on a passionate “Synagogue Wail” that is both personal and spiritual.
This album is filled with exciting ideas that work, combining swing with various countries and centuries. Something new, old and fresh.