The other Jewish night sound.
Polina Shepherd
Tonight you will listen to a varied supply of Jewish and East European music.
Female singer Polina Shepherd who is also known as Polina Skovoroda is from Siberia but lives in London. Polina has an extraordinary characteristic voice. She uses a mix of Russian, klezmer, Turkish and Balkan styles in her music. In the previous year she recorded her first solo album with the help of her partner the clarinet player Merlin Shepherd and several musical friends.
CD. Polina Shepherd – Three Centuries ago (2014).
Michael Alpert and Julian Kytasty are examining the musical aspects of Yiddish in the old Ukraine together. In some moments they nearly sound psychedelic, sometimes reflective. The combination of these two musical styles brings back memories of traditions and loss.
CD. Michael Alpert & Julian Kytasty – Night Songs (2014), Oriente music RIENCD86. Music & Words.
On the second album of Shtetl Band Amsterdam you will hear a beautiful mix of very old melodies and new compositions. Recently rediscovered pieces will sound for the first time since 90 years and well-known klezmer classics will be played with inflamed village sounds supplemented with six new compositions in traditional klezmer style. Clarinet player Christian Dawid plays along as special guest on this album which appropriately has been called The Klezmer Village.
CD. Shettl Band Amsterdam – The Klezmer Village, 2011, Chamsa Records.
The other European is a group of leading musicians from the world of klezmer in cooperation with Lautari (Roma gypsy musicians). Founder Alan Bern who is known from leading klezmer ensemble ‘Brave Old World’ acknowledged the unmistakeable resemblance between klezmer and gypsy music. The klezmer and Lautar musicians of the era were inspired by the same repertoire but they played it in different ways. Depending on the public they played old klezmer songs and ethnographic recordings from Moldavia.
CD. The other European – Splendor (2012), Ethnomusic Records. 
The German producer Shantel who graduated as criminologist did extensive research on Kosher Nostra and its influences on the American music culture. At the time (1920 till 1960) the Jewish songs were very popular all over the world and the influences of several music styles could be heard. The album Kosher Nostra – Jewish Gangsters Greatest Hits is a very surprising compilation which gives a look into a part of a very turbulent period.
CD. Kosher Nostra – Jewish Gangsters – Greatest Hits (2011), Essay Recordings – AY CD 13 (2011).
