Downtown Music Gallery Review

Belly of Abraham

January 2002

 

  
  18. HASIDIC NEW WAVE - From the Belly of Abraham (KFW 294) This is the fourth sublime and slamming cd from HNW, fronted by Frank London on trumpet & flugel, Greg Wall on saxes, Dave Fiuczynski on geetar, Fima Ephron on bass & Aaron Alexander on drums. This time their special guests include the Yakar Rhythms of Alioune Faye, Ousmann Sall & Abdoulaye Doip (all from Senegal) on African percussion plus Jamie Saft on organ. Fima's groovy "Waaw Waaw" is the perfect beginning as it opens things with a hypnotic slow burn funky beat - the muted trumpet, sax and el guitar play their spiraling line together - Aliounne's spoken word intro sets the pace as he describes his family's spiritual vibe and make-up. "Yemin Hashem" is a traditional 19th century Hasidic spiritual song, whose melody I recall as a Jewish kid attending temple. Greg & Frank take a strong spirited solos as the pounding African drums/rhythms and Jamie's organ swirl around them. Greg's "Bread of Affliction" refers to matzah (or unleavened bread) and it is propelled by a sabar rhythm with more smokin' tenor sax and it has an intoxicated late night melody with el. bass a' slapping, a sensuous sweet & sour trumpet solo and some subtle, sly wah-wah guitar which takes a long joyous and nasty solo! "Sea of Reeds" has a laid back, smoky and memorable melody that would sound perfect on jazz radio if WBGO was hip enough to play any downtown bands. Dave "The Fuze"'s tune "Frydginator" is a quick and hard charging stomper with backbeat that just won't quit - both the tenor sax and trumpet spin their lines in a furious spiral before Dave unleashes a short stinging guitar solo. I really dig the dreamy elegance of "The Sacred Line" with the tenor sax and muted trumpet quietly letting out those delicate, feathery notes. Aaron's "Bo-Peep" has another one of those fine klez grooves which change from section to section and it is a more progressive in the way it all fits together. The final tune is "Spirit of Jew-Jew" and this is also an amazing brew which mixes funk rhythms with modern jazz horn lines/solos, also having an intoxicating groove which should get many of up and dancing - with Greg on tenor and Fima on el bass - both take uplifting, inspired solos. This is a joyous occasion with music that soothe the soul, fires the senses and makes me wanna smile.