Neshamah
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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Neshamah
- Artist: Tim Sparks
- Rating:
- Release Date: August 17, 1999
- Total Time: 49:26
- Genre: Folk
Review
Tim Sparks gets to the essence of traditional Jewish song by addressing a stellar selection of Hasidic and Sephardic tunes on his solo acoustic guitar. Sparks sticks closely to the melodies, altering tempos and adding flourishes here and there, but always respectfully, resulting in some lovely renditions that soothe the soul. There are a multitude of influences at work, from folk song to Eastern European dance music, each of which the guitarist exploits to full advantage. Some of the odd meters are difficult to play (for example, "Los Caminos de Sirkeci" is based on a 3+2/8 dance rhythm), but Sparks masters them and makes it sound easy. The tempo of the popular song "Shalom Aleichem" is slowed to a snail's pace, giving it new life with this unusual interpretation. Similarly, other pieces are altered carefully in minor ways to produce slightly different perspectives. Sometimes the guitar transforms a piece into something different than it was originally, and since most of the songs were used historically for dancing or singing, the attempt to turn them into instrumentals might have been expected to be a difficult task. Sparks, though, seems undeterred, and he squeezes every ounce of melodic sophistication from a song's essence, resulting in a delightful and authentic display that while impressive is never overdone. ~ Steven Loewy, Rovi| Nesh (2009 Album by Gathiens) | |
| Neshikat Shalheve (Album by Gabi Berlin) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Neshamah
For other uses, see Neshama.
| Neshamah | ||||
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| Studio album by Tim Sparks | ||||
| Released | August 17, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Klezmer, world, jazz | |||
| Length | 49:26 | |||
| Label | Tzadik | |||
| Producer | Tim Sparks John Zorn (Executive producer) |
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| Tim Sparks chronology | ||||
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Neshamah (Songs from the Jewish Diaspora), (or simply Neshamah) is the title of the first solo recording by American guitarist Tim Sparks on the Tzadik Records label. "Neshamah" means "soul." The arrangements adapt Ashkenazic klezmer, Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jewish music for the solo guitar.
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Contents
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History
Sparks had sent a copy of his earlier CD Guitar Bazaar to avant-garde composer, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist John Zorn who liked the Bartok "Rumanian Dances" arrangements on that CD. Sparks had previously played a lot of Jewish music with various Jewish musicians and became adept in the Klezmer style. Zorn suggested the solo guitar adaptations of traditional Jewish songs. Sparks blended the songs with his background in jazz, Latin American, Balkan and American roots music.[1]
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Dirty Linen | (no rating)[3] |
| RootsWorld | (no rating) [4] |
In his Allmusic review, music critic Steven Lowey praised Neshamah writing "Sometimes the guitar transforms a piece into something different than it was originally... [Sparks] squeezes every ounce of melodic sophistication from a song's essence, resulting in a delightful and authentic display that while impressive is never overdone."[2] In his review for Dirty Linen magazine, Jim Lee wrote "A truly groundbreaking project and one that also makes for refreshing listening. I'd recommend both to any fan of good music, be it guitar or otherwise."[3] Critic Aaron Howard also praised the album, "The result is brilliant on many levels. Musically, Sparks is one of the better guitarists in the country, a musician's musician even if he remains largely unknown to a large audience. Think of Bill Frisell, Leo Kottke or Adrian Legg and that's the level that Sparks plays on."[4]
Track listing
- "The Baal Shem Tov's Melody" – 3:21
- "Hamisha Asar" (Flory Jagoda) – 4:54
- "Odessa Mama (Odesa Mame)" – 3:09
- "Skrip, Klezmerl Skripe" – 3:48
- "Los Caminos de Sirkeci" – 2:59
- "Kad Jawajuni" – 4:42
- "A Hora Mit Tzibeles" (Naftule Brandwein) – 3:34
- "Viva Orduena" – 2:57
- "Quando el Rey Nimrod" – 3:49
- "A Leybedike Honga" – 2:13
- "The Shoemaker's Melody" – 2:50
- "Freylich" – 3:53
- "Sholem Aleichem" – 2:08
- "Naftule Spielt Far Dem Rebin" (Naftule Brandwein) – 2:40
- "Addio Querida" – 2:49
Personnel
- Tim Sparks – guitar
Production notes
- Produced by Tim Sparks
- Executive producer: John Zorn
- Associate producer: Kazunori Sugiyama
- Recorded by Rod Volker
- Mastered by Alan Tucker
- Design by Hueng-Hueng Chin
References
- ^ Muckala, Bruce (May/June 2000). "Klezmerized". Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. http://www.timsparks.com/articles/fingerstyle.html.
- ^ a b Loewy, Steven. "Neshamah > Review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r426221. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Lee, Jim (July 2000). "Review: Neshamah". Dirty Linen.
- ^ a b Howard, Aaron. "Neshamah > Review". RootsWorld. http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/sparks.html. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
See also
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