Rise Up!/Shteyt Oyf!

Klezmer from the modern masters, revivalists, and updaters of the form, the self-nominated Jews with Horns. Old-timey melodies, daring extensions to them, and a couple of duds, truth be told. Lyrics printed in Yiddish and English and song titles in both those plus Hebrew.

1. Keening invitation to fellows; beautifully earnest vocal
2. Complex, possessed-by-the-spirit-of-jazz composition; the rhythm section puts down a sophisticated polyrhythm while sax, violin, accordion, and piano take turns flying around the melody; the choruses are all swooping grace
3. Delicate vocals and tender trumpet on a religious song
4. Wordless vocals – adult and kiddies – on an upbeat dance tune with plenty solos to go ‘round
5. Catchy tune and simple, on-the-nailhead lyrics about the distinction between religious texts and tenets and the crazy ends practitioners put them to … but by the third iteration of the point it’s a bit tedious; bonus tedium remix on track 15
6. Delicate instro with piano and flute
7. Full-bodied arrangement of a traditional song; choir helps out on choruses, simple percussive backing, and harmonious harmonium from Myra Melford
8. Another upbeat dance – Balkan in feel, as indicated by the title
9. Little ditty with stingy stabs of clarinet, sax, violin
10. A cleansing bit of pastoral beauty; simple, sparse
11. Klezmer Bolero … OK, maybe not quite as epic or fierce
12. Great tension-release with very tentative verses and a gorgeous chorus; heartbreakingly tender singing throughout
13. Clowning Purim celebration song; love the silly basso and falsetto vocal bits
14. Gypsy-like dance of many complex flavors
15. Slight edit of track 5