Marty Ehrlich - Sojourn (1999)

Front Cover	Album Info
	Artist/Composer Marty Ehrlich Title Sojourn Length 47:33 Discs: 1 Tracks: 8 Format HQ 192+ kbps Packaging Jewel Case Label Tzadik Cat. Number 7136 Style Modern Creative Rating Recorded luty 1999

Musicians	Credits
Marty Ehrlich clarinet, sax soprano Erik Friedlander cello Mark Helias bass Marc Ribot guitar	Producer John Zorn Producer Marty Ehrlich Producer Kazunori Sugiyama Engineer Jan Rosenberg Mastering Allan Tucker Mixing Dan Gellert

Track list

01 The Open Return (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 08:10 02 Eliahu 2nd Variation (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 06:59 03 Blind Willie McTell (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 05:39 04 The Git Go (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 04:25 05 The Secret Of Light (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 07:39 06 Hillel's Riddle (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 05:39 07 Sojourn (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 05:24 08 The Modzitzer Nigun (Marty Ehrlich's Dark Wood Ensemble) 03:38

Notes

**** Moving elegy to Mr Ehrlich's cultural heritage, April 23, 2000 Reviewer: Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) Dedicated to Mr Ira Ehrlich who passed on in 1999, the father of leader, composer, and musician Mr Marty Ehrlich, this music is chamber music in the tradition, infused with a great contemporary musical intelligence and deep feeling. What tradition? The tradition of Western classical music,the tradition of Klezmer music, the tradition of Afro-American improvised music, including the blues. The quite beautiful unaccompanied solo voice of clarinet on THE MODZITZER NIGUN hints most strongly at Klezmer music, but there are echoes even in the bass solos say on ELIAHU: 2nd VARIATION. The title track probably stands as an exemplar of the music as a whole - plangent, plaintive and the harmony of the cello and clarinet a typically quite moving moment. But it is hard to discern where compositions leave off and improvisations begin. There is the gentle cry of the soprano on BLIND WILLIE McTELL which seems so perfect an instrument for that composition; but there is also the joy of THE GIT GO where Mr Ehrlich's clarinet soars and swings with such power and with at times a sound or tone to rival Mr Artie Shaw. A well recorded album which does justice to the excellent music therein. AMG Review by Joslyn Layne (4): Essential for strong believers in soprano-saxophone jazz, Sojourn is a fine album from Marty Ehrlich's Dark Woods Ensemble. It may not be incredibly dynamic, but these mature, mellow compositions flow from semi-reflective to plaintive ("The Secret of Light") to moderne. All of the musicians contribute substantially to the project's strength. Bassist Mark Helias pulls and plucks with an excellent round, warm tone; cellist Erik Friedlander effortlessly slides between the front and back of the mix; guest Marc Ribot adds fine soloing; and Ehrlich alternates between clarinet and soprano sax. A satisfying listen replete with themes, harmonies, closure, and interesting motion all around.