Search - Mark Feldman, Uri Caine, Greg Cohen :: Secrets

A fantastic record by a "supergroup".

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 02/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An opportunity to hear musicians in the circle of Masada exploring Jewish music outside of the context of John Zorn's seminal project, "Secrets" brings together downtown musicians Mark Feldman (violin), Uri Caine (piano), Greg Cohen (bass) and Joey Baron (drums) performing "tradition nigunim of the Lubavitch, Satmar, Bobov and Modzitzer Hassidim".



Being a Catholic myself, I did a little digging to learn about what a nigun is and learned it is a traditional religious vocal piece, built around repetitive, wordless themes and with a component of improvisation, associated with Hassidic Judaism. Different movements of Hassidic Judaism have their own nigunim as part of their oral tradition, sung as prayer or lament. The four movements cited in the liner notes are groups originally from Eastern Europe with large presences in Brooklyn.



Ok, so color me intrigued, four top notch instrumentalists doing interpretations of traditional vocal music, seemed worth investigation, and what I found was something absolutely fantastic. Without intent of diminishing the nature of the source material, I am reminded of the assimulation of showtunes into bebop, wholly transformative and assimulated into a different frame, with often times stunning results. This is a pretty straight jazz record-- the musicians approach the material with a reverence that comes through on the record, but they've used these nigunim as inspiration for some great, hard swinging jazz and some lovely balladry. Illustrating this is the opening two cuts-- "Lubavitcher Nigun" opens with Caine soloing in a trio format over a just great, fluid bass before Feldman turns in the first of many swaggering (and really, no other word and describe his playing on this record) solos. In almost complete contrast, "Avinu Malkenu" finds the band exploring balladry, with the theme stated first by Caine then by Feldman, both performing with unnerving sensitivity (and with Caine finding one of those singular piano accompaniment moments with his gentle restating of the theme below Feldman's simply lovely solo) before Cohen takes a brief, lyrical solo to really drive the piece home.



And this is the model for the record more of less, alternating between aggressive performances ("Satmar Nigun") and balladry ("Z'chor Dovon). Throughout, the band, particularly Feldman, who assumes a very folky tone with a slight buzz and scratch to it (although perhaps his finest performance is of a cleaner tone on his superb theme statement on "Bobover Nigun"), turn in superb performances, with each musician taking a turn stealing the show, be it Baron's gentle brushwork beneath the band on "Z'chor Dovon", Cohen's Jimmy Garrisonesque drive on "Kel Adon" or Caine's lilting performance on opener "Lubavitcher Nigun".



"Secrets" was a record that certainly sounded like it'd be a great one. It has the pleasure of not disappointing, highly recommended."

Long may these guys continue together

Yunigawa | Australia | 04/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an outstanding album of beautiful tunes by really top class musicians. I've had it for about three weeks and just love it to bits. The tunes themselves are traditional nigunim of several jewish traditions and well worth hearing in their own right, but the playing on this CD elevates the whole thing to another level.

If you liked London/Sklamberg/Caine Nigunim, Frank London's Excellent Hazonos and Scientist at Work and The Days of Awe by David Chevan, or the immense Masada project by John Zorn, you'll love this.

I really, really hope these guys do more albums. Their own stuff. The Oriental Wind back catalogue. Classical music. Tangos. They may have to draw the line at Balinese Gamelan, but I wouldn't bet on it."