Album Review
For clarinetist and alto saxophonist Alex Kontorovich, Russian/Jewish heritage is in his blood, so it would come naturally for him to express his true self in a musical project that is an ethnic fusion of Eastern and Western elements. Modern American jazz is filtered through klezmer or Balkan traditions that are organically derived, and with the addition of the banjo player and electric guitarist Brandon Seabrook, the sound of bluegrass and rock musics are branded on a level that is indeed calculated, but blends in well. Add drummer Aaron Alexander and bassist Reuben Radding, who have much experience and background with this musical mish-mosh, and you have a quartet that can do just about anything in this vein. The CD is bookended by "Transit Strike Blues" and "Tzitzit," both expressing humor and a joyous decorum that at once suggests the cartoonish whimsy of Raymond Scott and the wedding reception band fervor of Ivo Papasov, a kind of Jewish-bop of high order. "Sirba" is the more "traditional" Balkan flavored piece taken at breakneck speed, but with burning electric guitar to fuel it, while the wild ethnic mix of "Afro-Jewban Suite" features Kontorovich's scattered alto opposite Seabrook's clangy amplified strings. The dancing "Kandels Burning," for legendary clarinetist Harry Kandel contrasts the broodingly tango-like to bizarrely seductive "New Orleans Funeral March," while stark romanticism breaks out with Seabrook's banjo on his waltz feature "Nossim Hora." Although Brad Shepik & the Commuters, Matt Darriau's Paradox Trio, and Slavic Soul Party have set prior precedent, Kontorovich may have gone one-up on them all. The combination of disparate elements finding common ground is nothing less than arresting, and makes for a fully realized project, and one that makes you hopeful the next one will be even better. This is a recording well worth searching for. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
