Детали релиза : La Mar Enfortuna - Convivencia (2007) [FLAC (tracks + .cue)]

Tzadik

Featuring the velvety vocals of Jennifer Charles and the imaginative arrangements of Oren Bloedow, the cutting edge downtown band Elysian Fields is an original blend of pop, funk and rock. Their first Tzadik CD, La Mar Enfortuna is a sensuous and lyrical interpretation of traditional Sephardic melodies and is one of the best selling cds in the Tzadik catalog. This is the long awaited follow up and features Oren and Jennifer along with some of the best young players out of the downtown scene.

Personnel

Oren Bloedow: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Oud
Jennifer Charles: Vocals, Omnichord

Ted Reichman: Accordion, Bass, Piano
Robert DiPietro: Drums
Brahim Fribgane: Oud, Dumbek, Vocals
Doug Weiselman: Clarinets, Baritone Sax

Ljova Zhurbin: Viola
Chuscales: Guitar
Liaqat Khan: Vocals
Benjamin Lapidus: Tres

Lyrics By – Federico García Lorca (track 6)

Review

La Mar Enfortuna, this is a beautiful group that features "Elysian Fields" singer Jennifer Charles and her husband, and band mate, Oren Bloedow. This is their follow up to their 2001 self titled debut. This album, compared to their self titled, is more melodic and, at times, dark. The songs are still sung in Ladino, which is a Judeo-Spanish language primarily spoken among Sephardic Jewish communities around Spain and Europe. This album is, at its root, jazz oriented but mixed with different mixtures of Spanish and traditional Jewish rhythm.

Some of the tracks that stand out the most is the track "El Eliyahu" with its almost trance-inducing rhythm and group singing that leaves you singing the chorus, even though you may not get the words correctly. Another standout track is "Dhen Me Toumbaris", with it's dark little chimes and almost classic spy film feel; in reality it reminds more of something you would hear coming out of an old 1970's French mystery film but you get my hint. And the most stand out track on "Convivencia" is "Aman Minush". This is where Jennifer Charles' talent is really shown. Her highs and lows on this track are mesmerizing that it leaves the listener completely in love with her alone. The track, itself, is very catchy but so perfectly suited with that traditional Jewish music touch. But, as I mentioned, this track completely shines due to Jennifer Charles' vocal talent.

La Mar Enfortuna's "Convivencia" is really one of those albums that when you hear it for the first time, you will not stop listening to it. Its beautiful, its dark, its sensuous, and very groovy. This album was released kind of late in 2007 but easily stands out as one of the best albums released in 2007. I highly recommend that you give this album a chance by previewing the aforementioned tracks and then pick up the album. You will NOT be disappointed.