Seth Kibel: Clown With A Stick

Should Seth Kibel’s recent album be better titled Clown with a SCHTICK? Most of the songs here by the clarinet and flute man are in the semi-klezmer form, celebrating the tribal side of swing. He teams up with Harry Appelman-Sean Lane/p, Bob Abbott-Jeff Reed/b and Wes Crawford/dr for a double combo of shtetl rockers. Most clever and original is Kibel’s flutegliding over some rumbling drums on a creative take of “I Head It Through the Grapevine”, while a couple Benny Goodman classics that featured Ziggy Elman (“why didn’t you become a docta?!?”) are well revisited in “Bay Mir Bustu Sheyn” and “And the Angels Sing” Original material like the two stepping “Stealing From The Past” and festive “Kiever Bulgar” display a rich woody tone, and are just a gas to take in. Beyond weddings and bar mitzvahs!

www.sethkibel.com

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