Contact: Sam Dechenne
617-901-2313 • sam.dechenne@gmail.com
NEWS RELEASE
Klezwoods–Boston’s Euro-Balkan, jazz-infused
klezmer rockers–to release sophomore album,
The 30th Meridian: From Cairo To St. Petersburg with Love
Sept. 5th begins a sonic voyage traveling through the bustling markets of North Africa,
the doner kebab stands in Turkey, and the crisp mornings of St. Petersburg, Russia
Featuring original compositions by Sam Dechenne (John Brown’s Body), Tev Stevig
(Kafana, Jeni Jol, Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica), and Greg Loughman (Yoko Miwa, Lowman)
“A party you don’t want to miss!”
-MusicReviews.com
“…an utterly unique circus of sound.”
-Boston Metro
Following their debut album, Oy Yeah!, Klezwoods’ sophomore release on September 5, 2012
will highlight a more refined and intricate ensemble featuring original compositions by several
band members and new takes on traditional Klezmer, Balkan and Arabic sounds of the past.The
journey starts with a full band drone in “The New Path,” translated from the original Macedonian
title “Jeni Jol.” Originally a traditional song, Klezwoods gives it a new rock feel, entrancing the
listener with old world wisdom and new world flavor. “Egypt Trip” is an original song by trumpeter
Sam Dechenne and has echoes of classic Middle Eastern orchestras, Gustav Mahler and
Egyptian melodies. The song was written after Dechenne’s excursion to Egypt to see a
traditional Islamic wedding in the ancient city of Alexandria.
“Harmonika,” a famous Israeli dance often played at Jewish weddings, comes next, and
represents the classic Klezmer roots of the band. In the tradition of promoting peace through
music, the next track on the album is a Palestinian song that the Klezwoods likes to call “Hot
Wheels” (traditionally titled “Hawwil”). Bandleader Joe Kessler (violin) learned this song from the
Shani Girls Choir, an Israeli/Palestinian group made up of Jewish, Arabic, Christian and Muslim
girls. Perhaps one day, the choir will chill out together Rastafarian style with “A Glass of Wine,”
the groups successful merging of reggae into the klezmer genre featuring Dan Linden’s dub
reggae-style trombone solo (skillfully recorded by engineer Jason “Jocko” Randall).
Becky Wexler’s voice radiates in the only vocal tune on the album, “Shoes.” Originally called “Di
Sapozhkelekh” in Yiddish, Shoes melds a beautifully emotive and longing sound with a very
interesting groove. “Brass Belly,” a traditional Macedonian melody for dance known as
“Bachinoselsko Oro” (oro dance), features brass attacks, violin, oud solos, and a roving melody
throughout. The “mad-scientist” guitar sounds and compositions of “oud master” Tev Stevig
(Boston Globe) can be heard on “Play To Win,” an original of Stevig’s that accents real Balkan
flavor with heavy melodies, harmonies and improvisation. Based on the traditional Turkish
dance called Karsilama, this song seamlessly bridges the sounds of Balkan folk dance and
contemporary Eastern night clubs.
“Pick Up and Go” is a change of pace for The 30th Meridian. Coming from the Beregovsky
Collection, this is a traditional Klezmer Freylekhs and the Klezwoods scales down to a quartet
(clarinet, accordion, tuba and tambourine) for this light hearted step into a joyous and well
executed melody. “Cherambe” is another original by Stevig based on the Balkan dance called
Berance. Weaving melodies and rhythms permeate the song with an intricately chaotic alto
-over-
saxophone solo by special guest, Alec Spiegelman. And not to be confused with “Hot Wheels,”
“Circus Wheel” is a Romanian folk song commonly known as “Hora Din Clejani” (an hora from
the city of Cluj). This features the album’s only upright bass solo by Greg Loughman and brings
to mind the gentle whirls of circus Ferris wheels. Loughman also contributes his own composition
to the album entitled, “Somerville Sirba,” which he describes as a “madcap ride on a circus wagon
through the streets of Somerville, MA.” After riding Loughman’s sirba, the album turns a bit more
traditional with “A Little Israel,” which combines the klezmer and Chassidic songs “A Bisl
Leb’n” and “Yi Yi Israel,” and honors the spirit of the hora (circle) wedding dances. Listen
carefully for a boisterous laugh and exuberant accordion solo by the bellowing Michael
Mclaughlin (Shirim Klezmer Orchestra and Naftule’s Dream). And finally, the journey ends with
“January 7th: Early in the Morning.” This song originally goes by the title “L’kho Doydi” and was
taught to Wexler by well-known New York clarinetist and singer Sruli Dresdner. One can imagine
a gentle sunrise on a St. Petersburg morning accompanied by this song to celebrate the Russian
New Year on January 7th.
Joe Kessler, violinist and bandleader, has played with Morphine, the Palestinian/Israeli/Danish
World Peace Orchestra and toured with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Hossam Ramzy on the
No Quarter Tour, where Klezwoods gets their Arabic and Rock sound. Drummer Grant Smith has
toured the world with The Klezmer Conservatory Orchestra and performed with music greats
Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma. Trumpeter Sam Dechenne is a member of John Brown’s Body,
the legendary American Reggae band, and plays all over the world with the traditional Turkish
group, Dunnya. “Percussion master and musical polymath” Brian O’Neill (Boston Phoenix) is a
member of chamber-rockers Cordis and the artistic director of the double-ensemble Mr. Ho’s
Orchestrotica, a group in which Klezwoods’ Tev Stevig (guitar) and Dan Linden (trombone) often
participate. Tuba player Jim Gray also accompanies Michael McLaughlin in the klezmer groups
Naftule’s Dream and Shirim Klezmer Orchestra. Clarinetist Becky Wexler is studying to become
a cantor at the Hebrew College in Newton, MA. Busy bassist Greg Loughman (Yoko Miwa) is
also a bandleader himself with his solo project, Lowman. Tev Stevig has played with international
Balkan music stars Georgi Yanev, Goran Alachki and Yuri Yunakov and leads his own groups,
Kafana and Jeni Jol along with O’Neill. Trombonist Dan Linden has shared the stage with The
New Hampshire Pops, Slavic Soul Party, and many other hip bands from NYC. Special guest,
Alec Spiegelman (David Wax Museum, Cuddle Magic, Ronald Reagan, Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica) is
another heavy hitter on the Klezwoods’ second album. These diverse backgrounds come
together to create the Klezwoods sound.
Klezwoods is an amalgam of strings, horns and percussion that melds the spirit of traditional
klezmer and balkan music with modern grooves, improvisation, and melodies. Formed in 2007 by
bandleader Joe Kessler for a special "Klezmer Christmas" event at Atwoods Tavern, the group
featured stellar Boston musicians from the klezmer, balkan, pop and jazz scenes for the
performance. The music was a great success and since that special night, Klezwoods has
continued to play all over the northeast Unites States and in Europe.
TOUR DATES:
9/5: Cambridge, MA – Official CD Release @ The Regattabar - $15 - 7:30pm
9/6: Providence, RI – Fete w/ Emperor Norton’s & Somerville Symphony Orkestar - $8 - 9pm
9/7: Peterborough, NH – Harlow’s Pub - $8 - 9:30pm
9/8: Brooklyn, NY – Spike Hill with Kirakatura, The Brighton Beat and Deivito - $7 - 8pm
9/9: NYC – Klezmer Brunch @ The City Winery - $10 - 11am
LISTEN TO THE NEW ALBUM:
www.klezwoods.com/album2
Updated August 6, 2012
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