Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar: Branch from the Tree

Branch from the Tree features fresh interpretations of rarely heard material originally recorded by Romanian-born cymbalom master and Lower East Side restaurateur, Joseph Moskowitz. On this debut cd, the band also explores early 20th century Jewish fiddle pieces, improvisation, newly composed music, and pieces from the klezmer and Eastern European repertoire.

Personnel

• Art Bailey, accordion
• Brandon Seabrook, mandolin
• Jim Guttmann, bass
• Jake Shulman-Ment, violin
• Jeremy Brown, violin

Songlist

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• Yidishe Hora un Sarba Marasinei
• In the Hills of Manchuria
• Flora Hora
• Belfs Medley
• Boreasca
• Three Oriental Melodies
• Sirba
• United Romania
• Valse Popilar
• Yismikhu / Mitzvah Gidolah

Reviews for Branch from the Tree

From Seth Rogovoy of the Berkshire Jewish Voice:
"While some of the excitement of early discovery may have gone out of the klezmer revival, much remains to be explored about the music’s deep, rich heritage.
Fortunately, a whole new generation of younger musicians who have come up after the original generation of revivalists are digging deeper into the music’s history
and re-creating old sounds and occasionally suggesting new ones.

On 'Branch from the Tree' (HRL Records) by Art Bailey’s Orkestra Popilar, the bandleader and arranger digs deep into the mostly Romanian repertoire of immigrant-era great Joseph Moskowitz, who specialized in composing and performing elegant suites of music on tsimbl, or hammered dulcimer. With his quintet, something of an all-star ensemble including fellow Klezmer Conservatory Band members Jim Guttman on bass and Brandon Seabrook on mandolin, as well as two young, up-and-coming violinists, Bailey revives the lively sound of Moskowitz’s suites in arrangements that should appeal to fans of Andy Statman’s early klezmer recordings. And with this CD, Bailey establishes a place for himself in the forefront of revival-style klezmer, alongside musicians with whom he’s performed, including violinist Alicia Svigals, clarinetist David Krakauer, and trumpeter Frank London."

From George Robinson of the Jewish Week:
" Excellent...the band cooks nicely." Four out of five stars. (full review)

From Ari Davidow of KlezmerShack.com:
" This week brought a long-sought CD from Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar. The band features Klezmer Conservatory Band accordion player Art Bailey as well as KCB bassist Jim Guttman. The ubiquitious plucked string wizard Brandon Seabrook (Naftule's Dream, Paul Brody), as well as relative youngsters Jake Shulman-Ment and Jeremy Brown on Violin. The goal is to recreate the ambience of the recordings by American tsimbalist Joseph Moscowitz—traditional klezmer and luscious, long sets. There is no tsimbl player credited, but I could swear that I hear just that on several numbers. In any event, Seabrook's mandolin and Bailey's accordion capture the feeling of Moscowitz' music, plus other traditional tunes and originals, in our time. What I've heard so far succeeds gracefully and delightfully. From the delightful lettering and graphic on the cover, the the music inside, this one is likely to stay on the changer for some time to come. [GRADE: A]"

More about Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar

• Read the band bio.
• Get booking information.
• View photos, bios, and press kit.
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