Next Village
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Kaila Flexer uses the constant flux of ingredients in cuisine and language as a metaphor for her culturally eclectic music, a lively amalgam of zlezmer (traditional Jewish dance music), jazz, classical, and Eastern European musical vocabularies. Produced by Flexer's husband, noted mandolinist Mike Marshall (Chiaroscuro), Next Village blends Nikolai Prisakar's lyrical accordion lines with Flexer's ornamented filigrees on the lovely "Shepherd's Dream" and suggests Greek folk music on the Marshall showcase "Grab the Gutter." But even Brazilian grooves ("André de Sapato Novo") and modern jazz balladry ("Trapeze Secrets") aren't off the menu in Flexer's flexible palette. Deadly serious musicianship leavened with a buoyant, wink-and-a-nod spirit, Next Village is a spicy, protein-rich repast of regional tastes combined into a plucky fusion cuisine that's anything but the flavor-of-the-month. --James Rotondi
Next Village,Kaila Flexer,Compass Records,Eastern Europe,Folk,French Folk,Int'l & World Music,Klezmer,Pop,Popular Music,United States of America,World Fusion
Average customer rating: 
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Next Village
Kaila Flexer Manufacturer: Compass Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
Klezmer
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
General
| International
| Styles
| Music
Fusion & World Fusion
| Compilations
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
General
| Folk
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
General
| International
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00000G4OD Release Date: 1999-01-19 |
Tracks:
Amazon.com
Kaila Flexer uses the constant flux of ingredients in cuisine and language as a metaphor for her culturally eclectic music, a lively amalgam of zlezmer (traditional Jewish dance music), jazz, classical, and Eastern European musical vocabularies. Produced by Flexer's husband, noted mandolinist Mike Marshall (Chiaroscuro), Next Village blends Nikolai Prisakar's lyrical accordion lines with Flexer's ornamented filigrees on the lovely "Shepherd's Dream" and suggests Greek folk music on the Marshall showcase "Grab the Gutter." But even Brazilian grooves ("André de Sapato Novo") and modern jazz balladry ("Trapeze Secrets") aren't off the menu in Flexer's flexible palette. Deadly serious musicianship leavened with a buoyant, wink-and-a-nod spirit, Next Village is a spicy, protein-rich repast of regional tastes combined into a plucky fusion cuisine that's anything but the flavor-of-the-month. --James RotondiCustomer Reviews:
And Now for Something Completely Different.......2004-04-22
Enter Kaila Flexer. I know nothing of her. I ran across this CD as it was floating around the office I worked in (a music "one-stop"). I took it home and gave it a spin. What a peculiar but pleasant experience. It sounded as though a troup of Eastern Europeans decided to see what they could do with jazz after tiring of Klezmer. Originality is no virtue in its own right but this really works. It's a weird amalgam of styles played by some very talented musicians. There isn't a weak link in this lineup and Kaila herself plays a pretty mean fiddle (violin?).
This will never climb up the charts and will never be enjoyed outside a small circle of people, but those who enjoy new musical experiences need only listen to the cut Extrapolate Backwards to know they're in for a real treat. I found myself playing it for any number of people who seemed to enjoy it as much as I did and who often asked "What do you call this kind of music". I don't really care what you call it, just rev it up, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
Music Review:
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