Davka is the real thing, and all three musicians have the chops to prove it. Hoffman, a classically trained violinist since childhood and a member of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, discovered klezmer in Israel and began experimenting with Arab-klez blends. You can practically see the pushcart guys hawking herring and feel yesterday's crumpled edition of the Forverts beneath your feet. It has a South Asian feel with some Crown Heights twists. Its tune echoes the interior of a Chassidic yeshiva in full throttle.
Prayers bounce off the walls in song.
Rich in dissonant violin and percussion, this composition is like the Kronos Quartet Goes Krakow. While I really wanted to get into the number, all I got was a martial drumbeat with a mournful violin. In this comparatively relaxing piece, Davka sticks to traditional Ashkenazi klezmer roots. But the bass flute still makes you want to sip some dark, sweet Turkish coffee just the same. All rights reserved.