Infected Mushroom
classical violins.
Eisen began the group
several years ago, at the
age of 16. Both he and
Duvdevani are classically
trained pianists and hail
from Haifa as opposed
to the trance capital of
Tel Aviv. Infected
Mushroom is considered
on the cutting edge of
the Israeli electronic
scene.
Converting Vegetarians
(Yoyo)
vvww.infected.co.il
This is the fourth
full-length release
from the masters of
Israel trance, Erez
Eisen and Amit
Duvdevani.
This double CD
features the comput-
er-like, hypnotic
pulse the duo is known for on CD 1.
More experimental elements appear on
CD 2, such as singing both in English
and in Hebrew, rapping and incorpo-
rating New Age and ambient sounds.
Robotic bleeps and swirls create an
infectious electronic beat more prone to
head-nodding than dancing. Most tracks
are all instrumental, downbeat and in a
minor key, created with computers and
keyboards. A standout track is "Scorpion
Frog," which opens with a concerto of
Various Artists
John Zorn: Masada 10th Anniversary
Edition Vol. 2: Voices in the Wilderness
(Tzadik Records)
wwvv.tzadik.com
It's been 10 years since John Zorn
switched from avant-garde jazz over to
Jewish-themed avant-garde jazz.
His Tzadik label regularly releases
CDs from Jewish musicians who
express their identities in such titles as
The Selfhaters, I Killed Your God and
Jewlia Eisenberg.
These are the kinds of musicians fea-
tured on this 10th anniversary album, a
double CD compilation of Tzadik artists
performing their unique interpretations
of Zorn's already esoteric compositions.
If you're looking for inspiration in
tracks such as "Yair" and "Acharei
Mot," it will have to be through
notes, not lyrics. True to form, there
are no words on the album, although
there are vocals. Some sound like
klezmer. Others have a Middle
Eastern feel, such as a song from
Pharaoh's Daughter.
All tracks incorporate jazzy solos and
instrumental virtuosity and are more
dreamy and atmospheric then rocking
or danceable. Also of interest is a
smoothed-out Mike Patton, formerly of
the band Faith No More, performing
"Kochot."
Useless I.D.
No Vacation From The World
(Kung Fu Records)
wwwuseless-is.com
This punk/emo band from Haifa
takes its name from Israeli army dog
tags, which, says the group, are ironical-
ly useful only if killed or captured.
The Israeli angle ends there as the
members relate complete exacerbation
with Middle East politics of any kind —
"We try as hard as we can it keep it away
from our music. Political punk rock
gives us the creeps for the most part."
The band has recorded and toured
with the Ataris, and fans say they have
a similar sound, with distorted -reverb-
filled guitars and smooth pop-vocals.
South Coast Simcha Band
Classic American Klezmer
(RenZone Music)
wwwscsimchaband.com
JEWISH MUSIC
on page 81
JEWISH FOLK MUSIC
HOLIDAYS IN A BOX
V
C
iolinist Zina Schiff has passed
along her love for music to the
next generation in her family, and
daughter Cherina Carmel joins her on
a CD that passes along Russian-Jewish
folk music to a new generation of lis-
teners.
Carmel, who attended Interlochen
Arts Camp for five summers, produced
The Golden Dove (4 Tay Records),
drew the cover art and played piano for
two selections on the recording that
also features pianist Cameron Grant, a
member of the orchestra of the New
York City Ballet.
The pieces, which sound almost
prayer-like in some instances, represent
transcriptions for violin and piano
made by noted Russian composers
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Joseph
Engel, Zenovi Feldman, Joseph
Achron, Jacob Weinberg, Alexander
Krein, Michael Gniessin, Solomon
Rosowsky and Lazare Samins
As members of the Jewish Folk
Music Society in St. Petersburg, they
showcased their talents in Russia dur-
ing the early years of the 20th century.
The history of the society is explained
in the CD liner notes by Michael
Beizer, author of The Jews of St.
Petersburg.
"These works are such gems, and
their composers were often neglected,
says Schiff, a touring concert performer
based in California. "I was a student of
1)
Jascha Heifetz, and he alluded to all of
them. I'm very pleased to bring these
works together on one recording, and I
feel very
connected to
Jascha
Heifetz
through
them."
Schiff,
whose CD
debut was
made with
the Israel
Symphony Orchestra, has joined the
musicians on tour.
Her first recording presented the
score for the MGM movie The Fixer,
while her premier recording of Jewish
music, K i ng David's Lyre, celebrated
selections from the 20th century.
Schiff, who took the title for the new
CD from the mention of the golden
dove in Russian Jewish folk tales, is
working on her next recording in
between concert engagements.
"I recently performed at the annual
Interfaith Concert of Remembrance at
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in
Brooklyn," says Schiff; who has been
heard on the TV program What Is
Music? for the Nova series and National
Public Radio's Performance Today. "I'm
glad that my next recording will
include a work by the late Detroiter
Julius Chajes."
— Suzanne Chessler
elebrate Chanukah, the first CD
in singer-songwriter Craig
Taubman's series of recordings with
Jewish themes, is released again this
holiday season as part of a package
that also includes Celebrate Shabbat,
Celebrate Passover and Celebrate Kids.
The recordings, joined together as
The Ultimate Jewish
Music Collection (A.R.E.
Publishing), feature 55
holiday tracks from more
than two dozen artists
including Theodore
Bikel, David Broza,
Neshama Carlebach,
Debbie Friedman and
Peter Yarrow as well as
Taubman.
The sets will be avail-
able only at Costco until
the first of the year, but
will be offered at other
outlets after that.
"It's hard to find Jewish
music, and we did this to
make the music accessi-
ble," says Taubman, who
performs "Maoz Tzur" ("Rock of
Ages") on the CD and on Chanukah
Celebration, a program of Chanukah
songs and customs to be broadcast 2
p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, on WTVS-
Channel 56.
For the television program,
Taubmah will perform other holiday
favorites but is not sure which ones.
He taped several but doesn't know
what made the final cut. PBS sta-
tions nationally will offer the
Celebrate series CDs as premiums for
pledge drive donations.
Taubman, who has appeared many
times at Jewish events and concerts
in Michigan, points out
that even traditional
selections get contempo-
rary arrangements on
Celebrate Hanukkah and
his other recordings. He
has included Chanukah
songs performed by Ben
Sidran, Judy Frankel and
Alan Eder to appeal to a
wide audience.
The series, started four
years ago, has won sever-
al awards. Most recently,
Family Fun magazine
named the set one of its
top CDs in 2003.
"I'm working on my
next recording, Celebrate
Songs of Hope and
Healing," Taubman says. "There
will be 18 pieces, most with vocals,
and it will be sold with a book of
essays by Jewish celebrities who
have overcome adversity. I think all
of us have become more sensitive to
loss since 9-11."
— Suzanne Chessler
12/19
2003
73