David Buchbinder and his Jewish-Cuban Music

Originally posted on May 28, 2008

If successfully crafted, unusual combinations of musics interest you, there is a CD on Tzadik Records that will get your attention. Jewish and Cuban fusion? Yes, on the CD Odessa/Havana by David Buchbinder.

Klezmer and Cuban dance music have much in common anyway, in the sense that they have met at various geographic and cultural crossroads, certainly in US urban centers like New York in the first half (at least) of the 20th century. Each also incorporated jazz elements into the music over the years, as jazz also incorporated aspects of both musics as well. That, of course, is no guarantee that an amalgam produced today would work. Buchbinder’s teaming up with pianist-composer Hilano Duran and a carefully chosen group makes all that possible. This is different!