Tanz (album)
Encyclopedia
Tanz is the second recording by American
guitarist Tim Sparks
on the Tzadik Records
label, released in 2000. "Tanz" is Yiddish for "dance."
, producer John Zorn
combined Sparks with Masada
alumni Greg Cohen
and Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista
. Music critic Ben Kettlewell called the combination of Sparks, Cohen and Baptisto "a wonderful adventure into the myriad of styles of music of the Jewish Diaspora." Cohen and Baptista would reunite with Sparks for two more releases on the Tzadik label.
Tanz includes four arrangements of songs by Klezmer
clarinetist Naftule Brandwein
. Sparks would later record Little Princess
, an entire album of Brandwein arrangements.
commented on the music's influences from Brazil, Mexico, Yemen, the Balkans, Africa, and Spain and Sparks' "mastery of these difficult musical forms."
Commenting on the blend of styles used by Sparks, JazzTimes critic Jim Ferguson
wrote, "... this beautiful recording isn't jazz per se, but it does have a spontaneity, depth and improvisational aspect that will appeal to anyone willing to step outside their everyday listening experience." Down Beat
critic John Hadley echoed the blending of styles, writing "With impeccable control, he imparts quiet depth to his close study of the melodies, harmonies and unusual rhythms... No small achievement, Sparks conveys the pathos of the Diaspora in his music." as did Dirty Linen critic Paul Emile Comeau: "Not only is the idea of playing such music on acoustic guitar a novel idea but, in the nimble hands of Sparks, it succeeds admirably... The mix of a traditional approach with the jazz nuances that the trio brings to the arrangements makes for compelling and original music which should impress both guitar aficionados and those with a keen interest in the diversity of Jewish music."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist Tim Sparks
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...
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, released in 2000. "Tanz" is Yiddish for "dance."
History
After the recording of traditional Jewish music arranged for solo guitar on NeshamahNeshamah
Neshamah , is the title of the first solo recording by American guitarist Tim Sparks on the Tzadik Records label...
, producer John Zorn
John Zorn
John 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...
combined Sparks with Masada
Masada
Masada is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the South District of Israel, on top of an isolated rock plateau, or horst, on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is best known for the violence that occurred there in the first century CE...
alumni 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 Brazilian 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....
. Music critic Ben Kettlewell called the combination of Sparks, Cohen and Baptisto "a wonderful adventure into the myriad of styles of music of the Jewish Diaspora." Cohen and Baptista would reunite with Sparks for two more releases on the Tzadik label.
Tanz includes four arrangements of songs by 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...
clarinetist 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...
. Sparks would later record Little Princess
Little Princess (Tim Sparks album)
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 clarinetist Naftule Brandwein.-History:...
, an entire album of Brandwein arrangements.
Reception
Writing for Allmusic, critic Sean Westergaard wrote, "Sparks comes from a classical guitar background more than a fingerpicking folky background, and his virtuosic technique is incredible, but always in service to the music, not merely technique... Anyone with a passing interest in either Jewish music or fingerpicked guitar should seek out this recording; it's beautiful." Critic Gary Joyner of 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...
commented on the music's influences from Brazil, Mexico, Yemen, the Balkans, Africa, and Spain and Sparks' "mastery of these difficult musical forms."
Commenting on the blend of styles used by Sparks, JazzTimes critic Jim Ferguson
Jim Ferguson
Jim Ferguson is an American guitarist, composer, music educator, author, and music journalist/editor.Born in Dayton, Ohio, Jim Ferguson began his early music education playing the trombone at age 7, and then after eight years of study, switched to the guitar at age 15...
wrote, "... this beautiful recording isn't jazz per se, but it does have a spontaneity, depth and improvisational aspect that will appeal to anyone willing to step outside their everyday listening experience." Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
critic John Hadley echoed the blending of styles, writing "With impeccable control, he imparts quiet depth to his close study of the melodies, harmonies and unusual rhythms... No small achievement, Sparks conveys the pathos of the Diaspora in his music." as did Dirty Linen critic Paul Emile Comeau: "Not only is the idea of playing such music on acoustic guitar a novel idea but, in the nimble hands of Sparks, it succeeds admirably... The mix of a traditional approach with the jazz nuances that the trio brings to the arrangements makes for compelling and original music which should impress both guitar aficionados and those with a keen interest in the diversity of Jewish music."
Track listing
- "Wie Bist Die Gewesen Vor Prohibition?" (What Were You Doing During Prohibition?) (Naftule BrandweinNaftule BrandweinNaftule 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...
) – 3:53 - "Min Khatrat" (Do Not Walk at Night) (Sham'a Avakam, Jewish-Yeminite trad.) – 4:16
- "Bolgarskii Zhok" (Bulgar Dance) (Rumanian trad.) – 3:25
- "Araber Tanz" (Naftule Brandwein) – 3:56
- "Dos Oybershte Fun Shtoysl" (The Most Conceited of All) (Yiddish trad.) – 4:53
- "Der Terk In America" (Naftule Brandwein) – 4:51
- "Fufzehn Yahr Fon Der Heim Awek" (Fifteen Years Away From Home) (Naftule Brandwein) – 3:26
- "Hila Wasa" (Karamanji Azdro, Judeo-Kurdish trad.) – 2:53
- "Aji Tu Yorma?" (Where Are You My Lover?) (Dagestan, Judeo-Azeri trad.) – 4:27
- "Tanst, Tanst Yidelekh" (Dance Little Yid) (Yiddish trad.) – 3:02
- "Gut Morgn" (Good Morning) (Yiddish trad.) – 2:22
- "Ayumati Te'Orer Ha-Yesheinim" (The Holy Presence Awakens the Sleepers) (Jewish-Yeminite Manakha trad.) – 2:47
- "La Rosa Enflorece" (The Rose in Bloom) (Anonymous, Balkan Sephardic trad) – 4:29
Production notes
- Produced by Tim Sparks
- Executive 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...
- Associate producer: Kazunori Sugiyama
- Recorded by David Baker at Orange Music, NJ
- Mastered by Alan Tucker
- Design by Hueng-Hueng Chin