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This is the first solo effort of sax player Paul Shapiro and a very beautiful one. Shapiro, whose recording credits include work with Lou Reed ('The Raven'), Michael Jackson, The Microscopic Septet, his own funk band, Foreign Legion, and dozens of commercials, produces here a heartfelt tribute to Jewish prayers, songs and klezmer modes.
Shapiro gathered for his "Minyan"- traditionally a group of ten Jews who gather together to pray communally - only six musicians. The most remarkable ones are horn players and band leaders- Bernstein on trumpet and slide trumpet and Peter Apfelbaum on tenor and soprano saxes, who play alongside Brian Mitchell on piano, Booker King on bass and Tony Lewis on drums.
Shapiro's arrangements sound a little bit mellow, surely less adventurous than the arrangements of similar material Bernstein did three years ago on his Diaspora Soul (Tzadik), on which Shapiro played. But Shapiro knows to produce a lot of fun. His version of 'To Life' from Fiddler on the Roof openly borrows from Louis Prima's arrangement, but is a nice free showcase for all six musicians.
I really loved Shapiro's two original pieces. The first one, a klezmer dance piece, "Freigish Behavior" features the full Minyan band in full force. The second one, "Lester Young Misheberakh," is even better. Shapiro and Apfelbaun on tenor saxes succeeded in converting Young's gentle, smooth tone into a bluesy Jewish prayer mode. "Misheberakh" is an honor bestowed upon distinguished members of his community by the Rabbi in which they are called upon to read with him the holy scriptures of the Torah. No doubt Young deserves this honor.
Nothing "radical" on this Radical Jewish Culture series release. Just plain, well-conceived, old-school renditions of very popular Jewish songs, played by an excellent band.
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