Browse by Artist: CHARMING HOSTESS

Artist:	CHARMING HOSTESS
Title:	Punch
Label:	RECOMMENDED (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	RER CH1

"Charming Hostess hail from Oakland, California and are part of a the region's 'Weird music scene' which also spawned such bands as Fibulator, Eskimo, Faun Fables, Japonize Elephants and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, three of whom -- Nils Frykdahl, Carla Kihlstedt and Dan Rathbun -- are also members of Charming Hostess. Led by hyperactive troublemaker Jewlia Eisenberg (who made a fearsome impression with her Tzadik CD debut), the Hostesses here are an extraordinary 7 piece band: tight, a little rockish, comprising bass, drums, guitar, fiddle, various horns, accordion and other occasional instruments (singing saw, for instance) -- but the work is distinguished by the amazing vocal arrangements (everyone sings, and exceptionally). Full of additive rhythms stretched harmonies and pinpoint playing, this is evolved material, executed with great skill -- and great looseness. Some traditional pieces from Bulgaria, Palestine, Transylvania and Southern America appear in very personalised arrangements alongside original songs that lean on zydeco and traditional American folk music."

Artist:	CHARMING HOSTESS
Title:	Sarajevo Blues
Label:	TZADIK
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TZ 7197

"Following up on the enormous success of her Trilectic release from 2000, Jewlia Eisenberg has again fashioned a remarkable program of a cappella vocal and instrumental music on socio-political themes -- themes that Jews think about, maybe even obsess about, from genocide and the nature of evil to freedom under extreme restraints and the response of art to all of these conditions. Influences as varied as eastern European folk, contemporary classical, hard rock, jazz, gypsy and Jewish music mesh seamlessly in Jewlia's boldly original compositional voice. Featuring her all-star band, Charming Hostess, Sarajevo Blues is an exciting new release by one of the most prolific and creative women working in new music today."

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