Robert K. (Gandalf) from DANVILLE, PA Reviewed on 8/7/2006...
Great, "classic" Klezmer
CD Reviews
Giora the magician
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 06/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Giora has the ability to make his clarinet sing...songs of joy, and songs of woe. He gets sounds one wouldn't think possible, and with so much emotion...to quote him: "I use the clarinet to express myself, to transfer to others my inner voice".Classically trained in Buenos Aires, Argentina (his birthplace), he has become the "undisputed King of Klezmer". On this 1985 recording, Giora plays clarinet and bass clarinet, with a small back-up band consisting mostly of guitars, double bass, and percussion...the total running time is 62:05.Of the 15 tracks, favorites are "The Mothers in Law" and "Halaka"...track # 14 is a wonderful Gershwin medley, and how he transforms this very American music into Jewish soul music is a marvel. To quote Leonard Bernstein: "Long live Giora, his clarinet and his Soul Music. He bridges many gaps...generational, cultural, and social, and he does it with consumate artistry"."
Great klezmer music!
MARTIN HELLMAN | California, USA | 03/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On many of its tracks, you need to be tied down not to start moving in time to the music. It's great! As my mother would have said, "Try it, you'll like it!" -- maybe with a "buballa" thrown in.
This is the first review I've written, but I was enjoying the music so much, I had to take the time to share my joy."
The soul of Klezmer
Shalom Freedman | Jerusalem,Israel | 05/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Giora is arguably the greatest Klezmer musician in the world. He plays with a feeling and soul which move and surprise. He also seems to arrive at places with his clarinet where no one else can. However great it is to listen to him his music is enhanced by seeing him perform. So it is not enough to listen to even the best of his music but it is necessary to fully appreciate his work, to go and see and hear him play.