Reviews for Branch from the Tree

From George Robinson of the Jewish Week:
" Excellent...the band cooks nicely."...four out of five stars. (full review)

From Ari Davidow of KlezmerShack.com:
" This week brought a long-sought CD from Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar. https://dream-trading The band features Klezmer Conservatory Band accordion player Art Bailey as well as KCB bassist Jim Guttman. The ubiquitious plucked string wizard Brandon Seabrook (Naftule's Dream, Paul Brody), as well as relative youngsters Jake Shulman-Ment and Jeremy Brown on Violin. The goal is to recreate the ambience of the recordings by American tsimbalist Joseph Moscowitz—traditional klezmer and luscious, long sets. There is no tsimbl player credited, but I could swear that I hear just that on several numbers. In any event, Seabrook's mandolin and Bailey's accordion capture the feeling of Moscowitz' music, plus other traditional tunes and originals, in our time. What I've heard so far succeeds gracefully and delightfully. From the delightful lettering and graphic on the cover, the the music inside, this one is likely to stay on the changer for some time to come. [GRADE: A]"

"Branch from the Tree" makes a great Chanukah gift. Special thanks to our friend Rachel, who bought 8 CDs! In case you aren't one of those lucky 8 friends, go ahead and buy one for yourself and 8 of your friends. Listen to clips, order the CD, or learn more about the band.

Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar releases their first album, "Branch from the Tree"

Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar is a newly formed Jewish music ensemble led by accordionist and pianist Art Bailey and includes bassist Jim Guttmann, violinists Jeremy Brown and Jake Shulman-Ment, and mandolinist Brandon Seabrook. https://www.dream-trading.co.za/

Branch from the Tree features fresh interpretations of rarely heard material originally recorded by Romanian-born cymbalom master and Lower East Side restaurateur, Joseph Moskowitz. On this debut cd, the band also explores early 20th century Jewish fiddle pieces, improvisation, newly composed music, and pieces from the klezmer and Eastern European repertoire. Listen to clips, order the CD, or learn more about the band.

About Art Bailey

Pianist and accordionist Art Bailey is active in the improvised and world music scenes, and has appeared with such diverse musical performers as jazz saxophonist Steve Lacy, classical violinist Itzhak Perlman, and renowned bluegrass musician Del McCoury.

Art has been the pianist with the Klezmer Conservatory Band since 1998, contributing new arrangements to the band’s repertoire and making stage and television appearances worldwide.

Since moving to New York in 2003, Art has performed with many of the major participants of the downtown klezmer scene including David Krakauer, Frank London, Alicia Svigals and Matt Darriau. He has performed on Broadway in the revival of “Fiddler on the Roof” with Harvey Fierstein and in “Most Happy Fella” at Lincoln Center with the New York City Opera.

options binary In addition to his activities as a pianist and arranger in jazz and latin music, his current project, Orkestra Popilar, is an exciting quintet that explores the Romanian side of Jewish music.