Little Princess (Tim Sparks album)
Encyclopedia
Little Princess is the eighth album by guitarist Tim Sparks
and his fourth on the Tzadik Records
label. It is a tribute album to the music of Klezmer clarinet
ist Naftule Brandwein
.
releases, Sparks returned to the Brandwein repertoire for his fourth CD for Tzadik. He stated “I’m not trying to make a klezmer guitar record, but rather rethink Naftule Brandwein through my particular kind of prism. I found that by taking a klezmer tune by Naftule Brandwein and putting it in a flamenco key, the melody suddenly just slides off the fret board.”
Bassist Greg Cohen
and percussionist Cyro Baptista
, who had both joined Sparks for his 2000 release Tanz
and 2002 release At the Rebbe's Table
, again form the rhythm section
on Little Princess.
called it "Brilliant fingerstyle explorations of klezmer compositions backed by bass and percussion."
Mark Keresman of the Oakland-based weekly newspaper East Bay Express highly recommended the album, calling it "...vaguely familiar and yet like nothing else, exuding joy and euphoric creativity." and calls Sparks' approach "... brilliant technique... free of stuffy 'reverence' for the object of his homage — Princess is modern, wiry, and inspired" Andrea Canter of Jazz Police wrote "Little Princess can make you laugh and cry at the same time."
Music critic Kirk Albrecht singled out "A Bagel with Onions" as the highlighted track, writing "...where Sparks (playing solo here) begins with cascading fingerpicking, and lets the tune flow in and out, but never loses its sense of direction. If you like Klezmer, or think you might, "Little Princess" is a good listen. "
In his review for All About Jazz
, Elliott Simon compares the Klezmer
revival of Brandwein's music in the 1980s with Sparks' interpretations and summarizes: "Perhaps because Brandwein's own musical pastiche, which included Jewish, Rom and Turkish, is as varied as Sparks'; the two are kindred spirits who come together beautifully and elegantly."
Acoustic Guitar
named Little Princess as essential in their article "20 Years of Essential Acoustic Albums".
. Arrangements by Tim Sparks, Greg Cohen
, and Cyro Baptista
.
Tim Sparks
Tim Sparks is an American acoustic guitar player, singer, arranger and composer.- Biography:Raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he was given his first guitar when a bout of encephalitis kept him out of school for a year...
and his fourth on the Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
label. It is a tribute album to the music of Klezmer clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist Naftule Brandwein
Naftule Brandwein
Naftule Brandwein, or Naftuli Brandwine, was a Jewish clarinetist and influential klezmer musician.- Early life :Brandwein was born in Przemyslany, Poland-Galicia , into a family of klezmer musicians, part of the Stretiner Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Yehuda Hirsch Brandwein of Stratin...
.
History
Naftule Brandwein, a flamboyant clarinet player, helped bring klezmer to North America in the early 20th century. His 78 rpm records were long seen as a primary source of klezmer until 1997 when they were re-mastered and reissued. Having previously recorded a few Brandwein compositions on his earlier Tzadik RecordsTzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
releases, Sparks returned to the Brandwein repertoire for his fourth CD for Tzadik. He stated “I’m not trying to make a klezmer guitar record, but rather rethink Naftule Brandwein through my particular kind of prism. I found that by taking a klezmer tune by Naftule Brandwein and putting it in a flamenco key, the melody suddenly just slides off the fret board.”
Bassist Greg Cohen
Greg Cohen
A native of Los Angeles, bassist Greg Cohen has been playing in various acclaimed music groups since the '60s. He is perhaps best known for his work with John Zorn's Masada quartet; more recently he has been touring with Ornette Coleman, and performed on Coleman's much-praised Sound Grammar...
and percussionist Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista is a Brazilian musician, teacher, and recording artist specializing in percussion in the genres of jazz and world music....
, who had both joined Sparks for his 2000 release Tanz
Tanz (album)
Tanz is the second recording by American guitarist Tim Sparks on the Tzadik Records label, released in 2000. "Tanz" is Yiddish for "dance."-History:...
and 2002 release At the Rebbe's Table
At The Rebbe's Table
At the Rebbe's Table is the third recording by guitarist Tim Sparks on the Tzadik Records label.-History:Producer John Zorn combined Sparks with Masada alumni Greg Cohen and Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista on Sparks' previous release Tanz, and this time adds guitarist Marc Ribot on...
, again form the rhythm section
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
on Little Princess.
Reception
Little Princess received consistently favorable reviews. Allmusic music critic Thom Jurek stated "Virtually every one of these ten cuts is an example of how intuitive, sophisticated, and creative Sparks is, not only as a player and interpreter, but as an arranger so canny that the listener would think all of these songs were written in the current era... Brilliant work and the best Sparks record to date." Acoustic GuitarAcoustic Guitar (magazine)
Acoustic Guitar is a monthly magazine published in the United States since July/August 1990 by String Letter Publishing. The magazine offers information related to acoustic guitars for players of all levels from beginners to teachers. Each issue includes a half dozen or so songs with notation and...
called it "Brilliant fingerstyle explorations of klezmer compositions backed by bass and percussion."
Mark Keresman of the Oakland-based weekly newspaper East Bay Express highly recommended the album, calling it "...vaguely familiar and yet like nothing else, exuding joy and euphoric creativity." and calls Sparks' approach "... brilliant technique... free of stuffy 'reverence' for the object of his homage — Princess is modern, wiry, and inspired" Andrea Canter of Jazz Police wrote "Little Princess can make you laugh and cry at the same time."
Music critic Kirk Albrecht singled out "A Bagel with Onions" as the highlighted track, writing "...where Sparks (playing solo here) begins with cascading fingerpicking, and lets the tune flow in and out, but never loses its sense of direction. If you like Klezmer, or think you might, "Little Princess" is a good listen. "
In his review for All About Jazz
All About Jazz
All About Jazz is a leading jazz music website for enthusiasts and industry professionals based in Philadelphia in the United States.Founded by Michael Ricci in 1995, the Web-Site is maintained by a volunteer staff of writers, editors, and musicians, and provides coverage of all genres of jazz from...
, Elliott Simon compares the Klezmer
Klezmer
Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...
revival of Brandwein's music in the 1980s with Sparks' interpretations and summarizes: "Perhaps because Brandwein's own musical pastiche, which included Jewish, Rom and Turkish, is as varied as Sparks'; the two are kindred spirits who come together beautifully and elegantly."
Acoustic Guitar
Acoustic Guitar (magazine)
Acoustic Guitar is a monthly magazine published in the United States since July/August 1990 by String Letter Publishing. The magazine offers information related to acoustic guitars for players of all levels from beginners to teachers. Each issue includes a half dozen or so songs with notation and...
named Little Princess as essential in their article "20 Years of Essential Acoustic Albums".
Track listing
All songs by Naftule BrandweinNaftule Brandwein
Naftule Brandwein, or Naftuli Brandwine, was a Jewish clarinetist and influential klezmer musician.- Early life :Brandwein was born in Przemyslany, Poland-Galicia , into a family of klezmer musicians, part of the Stretiner Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Yehuda Hirsch Brandwein of Stratin...
. Arrangements by Tim Sparks, Greg Cohen
Greg Cohen
A native of Los Angeles, bassist Greg Cohen has been playing in various acclaimed music groups since the '60s. He is perhaps best known for his work with John Zorn's Masada quartet; more recently he has been touring with Ornette Coleman, and performed on Coleman's much-praised Sound Grammar...
, and Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista is a Brazilian musician, teacher, and recording artist specializing in percussion in the genres of jazz and world music....
.
- "The Rebbe's Hasid" (Dem Rebin's Chusid) – 5:04
- "Der Yid in Jerusalem" – 6:21
- "Oh Daddy, That's Good" (Oy Tate, S'is Gut) – 4:50
- "Little Princess" (Kleine Princessin) – 3:18
- "Nifty's Freylekh" – 4:45
- "A Few Bowls Terkish" (Turkishe Yalle Vey Uve) – 5:21
- "The Dearest in Bukovina" (Das Teureste in Bukowina) – 4:22
- "Leben Zol Palestina" – 5:38
- "Turkish Circle Dance" (Der Terkisher-Bulgar Tanz) – 4:37
- "A Bagel with Onions" (A Hora Mit Tzibeles) – 4:54
Personnel
- Tim SparksTim SparksTim Sparks is an American acoustic guitar player, singer, arranger and composer.- Biography:Raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he was given his first guitar when a bout of encephalitis kept him out of school for a year...
– steel-string acoustic guitar - Greg CohenGreg CohenA native of Los Angeles, bassist Greg Cohen has been playing in various acclaimed music groups since the '60s. He is perhaps best known for his work with John Zorn's Masada quartet; more recently he has been touring with Ornette Coleman, and performed on Coleman's much-praised Sound Grammar...
– bass - Cyro BaptistaCyro BaptistaCyro Baptista is a Brazilian musician, teacher, and recording artist specializing in percussion in the genres of jazz and world music....
– percussion
Production notes
- Tim Sparks – producer
- John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
– executive producer - Kazunori Sugiyama – associate producer
- Marc Urselli – engineer, mixing
- Scott Hull – mastering
- Hueng-Hueng Chin – design
- Chryll Sparks – photography
- Tatjana Mesar – photography