Jewish / Klezmer (Reference)

The reference list includes records that have been obtained and/or rated (in blue) as well as many other records that have been recommended from various sources.

Chava Alberstein (1946– )

• Crazy Flower: A Collection [(1998), Shanachie]
• Yiddish Songs [2000, Blue Note]

Naftule Brandwein (1889–1963)

• King of the Klezmer Clarinet [1922–41, Rounder], A–

Brave Old World [1990– ]

• Beyond the Pale [1994, Rounder]
• Blood Oranges [1999, Red House]

David Buchbinder

• Odessa/Havana [2007, Tzadik], B+(**)
• Walk to the Sea [2013, Tzadik], B+(**)

Budowitz

• Mother Tongue: Music of the 19th Century Klezmorim [1997, Koch/Schwann]

Charming Hostess [1999– ]

• Eat [1999, Vaccination]
• Sarajevo Blues [2004, Tzadik], B–
• The Ginzburg Geography [2021, Tzadik], B+(**)

Yair Dalal (1955– )

• Silan [1998, Amiata]

Glenn Dickson

• Wider Than the Sky [2021, Naftule's Dream], B+(**)

Giora Feidman (1936– )

• Magic of the Klezmer [1986, Delos], B+(**)
• Jewish Soul Music: 20 Jewish Tunes [1989, Hed Azri]

Irving Fields (1915– )

• Bagels and Bongos [1959, Reboot Stereophonic], A–
• w/Roberto Juan Rodriguez: Oy Vey!!! . . . Olé!!! [2006, Tzadik], B+(***)
• My Yiddishe Mama's Favorites [2007, Tzadik], B+(**)

Yoshie Fruchter

• Pitom [2008, Tzadik], B–
• Pitom: Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes [2010, Tzadik], B+(**)

Golem [2002– ]

• Fresh Off Boat [2006, JDub], A–
• Citizen Boris [2009, JDub]
• Tanz [2014, Discos Corason], A–

Ayelet Rose Gottlieb (1979– )

• Mayim Rabim [2006, Tzadik], B+(*)
• Mycale: w/Sofia Rei Koutsovitis, Basya Schecter, Malika Zarra: Mycale: The Book of Angels, Volume 13 [2009, Tzadik], B+(**)
• Roadsides [2014, Arogole Music], B+(***)

Jim Guttmann

• Bessarabian Breakdown [2009, Kleztone], B+(**)

Hasidic New Wave

• Jews and the Abstract Truth [1997, Knitting Factory Works], B
• Live in Cracow [1998, Not Two], B+(**)

Ofra Haza (1959–2000)

• Fifty Gates of Wisdom: Yemenite Songs [1984, Shanachie]
• Shaday [1988, Sire], B+
• Desert Wind [1989, Sire]
• Yemenite Songs [(2000), Globe Style]

Koby Israelite

• Dance of the Idiots [2003, Tzadik]
• Blues From Elsewhere [2013, Asphalt Tango], B

Khevrisa

• European Klezmer Music [2000, Smithsonian/Folkways], A–

The Klez Dispensers

• Say You'll Understand [2008, TKD], B+(**)

The Klezmatics [1990– ]

• Shvaygn = Toytt [1991, Piranah]
• Rhythm and Jews [1993, Flying Fish]
• Jews With Horns [1995, Xenophile], B+
• Possessed [1997, Xenophile], A–
• Rise Up! Shteyt Oyf! [2002, Rounder], A–
• w/Joshua Nelson, Kathryn Farmer: Brother Moses Smote the Water [2004, Piranha], B
• Wonder Wheel: Lyrics by Woody Guthrie [2006, JMG], A
• Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah [2006, JMG], B+(**)
• Tuml = Lebn: The Best of the First 20 Years [(2008), Piranha]
• Live at Town Hall [2006, Soundbrush, 2CD], B+(***)
• Apikorsim / Heretics [2016, World Village], B+(***)
• Letters to Afar [2013, Chant], B+(*)

Klezmer Conservatory Band [1980– ]

• Old World Beat [1992, Rounder], B+(*)
• Live! The Thirteenth Anniversary Album [(1993), Rounder]

Klezmokum

• Klezmokum [1992, Bvhaast]
• Jew-azzic Park [1994, Bvhaast]
• ReJew-Venation [1998, Bvhaast]

The Klezmonauts [1998– ]

• Oy to the World: A Klezmer Christmas [1998, Satire]

The Klezmorim [1976– ]

• East Side Wedding [Flying Fish]

Klezwoods

• Oy Yeah! [2010, Accurate], B+(**)

David Krakauer (1956– )

• Klezmer Madness! [1995, Tzadik]
• Klezmer, NY [1998, Tzadik]
• A Hot New One [2000, Label Bleu], B+
• The Twelve Tribes [2002, Label Bleu]
• Live in Krakow [2004, Label Bleu], B
• Bubbemeises: Lies My Grandma Told Me [2006, Label Bleu], B+(***)
• Abraham Inc.: Tweet Tweet [2010, Table Pounding], B+(***)
• The Big Picture [2013, Table Pounding], B+(***)
• Krakauer's Ancestral Groove: Checkpoint [2015, Table Pounding], B+(***)
• w/Kathleen Tagg: Breath and Hammer [2020, Table Pounding], B+(**)
• Abraham Inc.: Together We Stand [2019, Table Pounding], B+(***)
• w/Kathleen Tagg: Mazel Tov Cocktail Party! [2022, Table Pounding], B+(**)

Benjamin Lapidus (1972– )

• Herencia Judía [2007, Tresero], B+(**)

Frank London

• Jews and the Abstract Truth [1997, Evolver]
• w/Lorin Sklamberg, Uri Caine: Nigunim [1998, Tzadik]
• Invocations [2000, Tzadik]
• Di Shikere Kapelye [2000, Piranha]
• From the Belly of Abraham [2001, Knitting Factory]
• Brotherhood of Brass [2001, Piranha]
• Carnival Conspiracy [2005, Piranha], A–
• A Night in the Old Marketplace [2006, Soundbrush], B
• w/Lorin Sklamberg: Tsuker-Zis [2009, Tzadik], B+(***)
• w/The Elders: Spirit Stronger Than Blood [2023, ESP-Disk], B+(***)

Eugene Marlow

• Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble: Celebrations [2010, MEII Enterprises], A–
• Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble: Mosaica [2014, MEII Enterprises], B+(**)

Naftule's Dream

• Smash, Clap! [1998, 7125]
• Blood [2013, self-released], B+(***)

New Klezmer Trio [1990– ]

• Masks and Faces [1990, Tzadik]
• Melt Zonk Rewire [1995, Tzadik]
• Short for Something [2000, Tzadik]

Pharoah's Daughter

• Out of the Reeds [2000, Tzadik], B+
• Haran [2007, Oy! Hoo], B+(*)

Idan Raichel

• The Idan Raichel Project [2002–2005, Cumbancha], B

Rashanim [2002– ]

• Rashanim [2002, Tzadik]
• Masada Rock [2005, Tzadik]
• Shalosh [2006, Tzadik]
• The Gathering [2009, Tzadik], B+(**)

Mark Rubin

• Southern Discomfort [2015, Rubinchik], A–
• Songs for the Hangman's Daughter [2017, Rubinchik], B+(**)
• The Triumph of Assimilation [2021, Rubinchik], B+(**)

Basya Schechter

• Queen's Dominion [2004, Tzadik], B

Schizophonia

• Cantorial Recordings Reimagined [2014, Blue Thread Music], B+(*)

Zahava Seewald

• Abi Gezint [1999, Tzadik]
• w/Michaël Grébil: From My Mother's House [2013, Sub Rosa], B+(*)

Shirim Klezmer Orchestra

• Of Angels and Horseradish [1990, Northeastern]
• Naftule's Dream [1992, Northeastern]
• Oy! It's Good: The Art of Yiddish Song [1997, Newport Classic], B+
• Pincus and the Pig: A Klezmer Tale [2004, Tzadik], B

So Called

• The So Called Seder: A Hip Hop Haggadah [2005, JDub]
• Ghettoblaster [2007, JDub], A–

Tim Sparks (1954– )

• The Nutcracker Suite [1992, Tonewood], B+(*)
• Tanz [2000, Tzadik]
• At the Rebbe's Table [2002, Tzadik]
• Little Princess: Tim Sparks Plays Naftule Brandwein [2009, Tzadik], A–
• Sidewalk Blues [2009, Tonewood], B+(**)
• Chasin' the Boogie [2013, Tonewood], B+(***)

Sukke

• Introducing Sukke [2004, World Music Network], B+

The Sway Machinery

• The House of Friendly Ghosts Vol. 1 [2010, JDub], B+(*)

Dave Tarras (1897–1989)

• Tanz! With Dave Tarras and the Musiker Brothers [1955, Epic/Legacy], A–
• Yiddish-American Klezmer Music [1925–56, Yazoo]

Michael Winograd

• Bessarabian Hop [2007, Midwood Sounds], B+(**)

Zohar's Nigun

• The Four Questions [2012, Rectify], B+(**)

Various Artists

• From Avenue A to the Great White Way: Yiddish and American Popular Songs From 1914–1950 [1914–50, Columbia/Legacy, 2 CD], B+
• Jewface [1905–22, Reboot Stereophonic], A–
• Klezmer Pioneers: European and American Recordings 1905–1952 [1905–52, Rounder], B
• Music From the Yiddish Radio Project [1923–52, Shanachie], B+
• Now That Sounds Kosher! [1955–2004, Shout! Factory], B+
• Putumayo Presents: Israel [1982–2006, Putumayo World Music], B
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Israel [1995–2005, World Music Network], B+(*)