While klezmer music has enjoyed a revival in the late 20th century, Yiddish popular song seemed destined to vanish altogether. But efforts by
Mandy Patinkin and
Chava Alberstein attempt to breathe new life into the old tradition. This disc of well-selected songs attempts to paint a portrait of village life for Eastern European Jews in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But besides the charming tunes,
Alberstein's rich delivery really brings the tunes to life. There is a nice combination of emotion, sensuality and humor to her delivery that makes the songs consistently intriguing. Even without understanding the words, her interpretation invests the tunes with character. ~ Tim Sheridan