The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, a nine-piece ensemble playing a mish-mash of jazz-funk-rock-klezmer music, rips it up with their latest album, Abdul the Rabbi. The 11 tunes include a jazzy “Fiddler on the Roof” medley, the Middle Eastern-inflected title tune, and the anthem-like “Toco Hills Kiddish Club.” And “Doina Blues” casts a spell with its sinuous clarinet line and spooky horns, then shifts into boogie gear as the A.K.O. crew funks it up good. Roger Ruzow plays trumpet and writes most of the songs for this Atlanta-based outfit. Abdul the Rabbi is available wherever finer weirder music is sold. — M.S.
(American Jewish World, 7.19.13)
