Balkan Cabaret, Nostalgic Cafe Songs From
the Balkans (self-released, 2002)
Balkan Cabaret is from Port Townsend, Washington, near Seattle.
Containing veteran members of the West Coast upscale rakija school of Balkan
music (you know, they play rakija music -- plum brandy music), the goal of
the band is to play nostalgic, after-hours music. Music that is meant for
sitting, drinking, eating, having a good time with friends. This is not to
say that most of the music on this album isn't danceable; most Balkanophiles
will dance to almost anything that isn't Irish, and in fact I've, without
remorse, tested the tunes repeatedly with my awkward Celtophilic cocek steps.
But the music here is slower, more "acoustic," and more soulful, and it's
possible to just listen without being given the evil eye for sluggishness.
Starring on vocals is Mary Sherhart, along with other members of
the Cascadian dance band Nisava. Sherhart has a solidly alto voice
which is both sophisticatedly urban and tough as steel. Also in the
forefront is Michael Lawson's cafe accordion, never presumptive or
gaudy, but rather relaxed and glib. Other band members include Joe
Finn on clarinet and fiddle and Rich Thomas on acoustic bass. Mobile
percussionist Dan Auvil pops in for many of the tracks.
Most of the nineteen tracks are traditional and sound that way
too! My favorites here are the coolly passionate Bulgarian tangos,
"Cherveno Vino Snoshti Pih" and "Tango Posledno," not too common on
Balkan albums. I was struck by how they resemble Finnish tangos!
Another favorite early in the set list is the Serbian "chestnut"
dance set, "Cobam Tera Ovcice & Cuvam Ovce" -- with its jagged
turning to rolling rhythm, it's one place for Lawson's accordion to
shine. Many of the songs, like the tangos, are from the Southern
Balkan "starogradski," or "old town" genre, but Nostalgic Cafe
Songs represents a variety of southern Balkan countries
(Bulgaria, Macedonia, and...did I already say Bulgaria? There are
actually four or five traditional tracks from the former
Yugoslavija.) and many happy and sad topics. For instance, "Rakija i
Cigari" is a Macedonian contemporary song by Chris Bajmakovich of
Gary, Indiana; Sherhart really squeezes blood out of her handkerchief
singing this sad song ("I drink to forget memories that cannot be
forgotten") in her throaty, mournful voice! "V Slatkarnichkata
Malka," on the other hand is an obnoxiously perky Bulgarian polka
("We sat together in the little snack bar while the rain fell
outside.")
In any event, all 19 songs are good, the musicianship on
Nostalgic Cafe Songs is just excellent and there should be
something here for everyone who likes melodrama and uneven rhythms!
What a nice album!
[Judith Gennett]
You can find Balkan Cabaret sipping rakija here.
Singer Mary Sherhart has a Web
page.
Interested in Balkan music from Cascadia? Read reviews of CDs by
Balkanarama and
Kultur Shock.
