http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_11.15.01/music/recordguide.html

HASIDIC NEW WAVE & YAKAR RHYTHMS ****

From the Belly of Abraham Knitting Factory

The fourth outing for avant-klezmer crew Hasidic New Wave is their boldest and arguably best. Subtitled "Adventures of the Afro-Semitic Diaspora," From the Belly of Abraham pits some of New York's most esteemed jazzbos (including trumpeter Frank London, saxophonist Greg Wall and guitar mangler Dave Fiuczynski) against a trio of Senegalese percussion fiends (Aliounne Faye, Abdoulaye Diop and Ousmane Sall). Conceived by drummer Aaron Alexander -- a master of the conventional trap kit as well as African instruments like the m'bung m'bung and djembe -- the record is challenging but also insistently melodic and, yes, even danceable. Among the many fine cuts is the epic "Bread of Affliction," which, in the course of 11 minutes, touches not only on sinuous klezmer and African thunder but also unhinged skronk and wah-wah'd funk. AM