MIDWOOD
Midwood/
Out of the Narrows
Led by violinist Jake Shulman-Ment, Midwood is a contemporary klezmer/rock celebration of freedom and the Jewish tradition of wandering and migration. This new supergroup, featuring some of the most exciting young performers on the international world music stage, seamlessly traverses borders through original compositions, expansive improvisations on traditional melodies, and heart-wrenching re-imaginings of Yiddish folk songs. Their debut album on Chant Records, Out of the Narrows (2018) draws from deep Eastern European Jewish roots to explore the power of love, movement, and wilderness to transform the human mind and heart.
THE BAND
Jake Shulman-Ment
// violin
Midwood bandleader and violinist, Jake is at the international forefront of his generation performing, teaching, researching, and composing klezmer and Yiddish music. His virtuosic playing also extends to Hungarian and Romanian folk music, classical, and beyond.
Richie Barshay
// drums
Dazzlingly versatile, sensitive, and creative, Richie's rhythmic world enjoys an expansive palette. He has toured with the Klezmatics, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and many other groundbreaking artists.
Yoshie Fruchter
// guitar
Yoshie's unique blend of rock, jazz, experimental and jewish styles ties together the Midwood sound, with one foot in traditional Jewish roots, and the other constantly exploring. He is one of New York's most in-demand guitarists.
Eleonore Weill
// vocals, flute, hurdy gurdy
Singer and multi-instrumentalist with a broad palette of influences, from classical and early music to Yiddish, Occitan and Romanian folk, Eleonore contributes an extraordinarily natural, genuine musicianship. She is also one of few singers versed in the unaccompanied Yiddish folk song tradition.
Press
Featured in Bandcamp Daily:
https://daily.bandcamp.com/2018/08/13/punk-klezmer-bands-list/
"On 'Out of the Narrows,' the Old-World elegance of Shulman-Ment’s authoritative klezmer fiddle plays against the whiplash swagger of Fruchter’s guitar, Barshay’s muscular drumming and Weill’s emotive singing."
- George Robinson, The Jewish Week
https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/new-klezmer-with-no-borders/
"the first klezmer album I am jump up in my seat blown away by in ages."
- Ari Davidow, Klezmershack
http://www.klezmershack.com/bands/midwood/narrows/
