Fidl Afire by Alicia Svigals. Release Date: June 23, 2024
By Barrett Holman Leak
SAN DIEGO — Some of my fondest summer childhood memories are of my mother on the screened-in sun porch, sitting at the piano or sitting on a chair playing the violin. I would lay on the sofa behind her, carried to far off places by the magical guides that emanated through her fingers to the keys and provoked me into movement.
Last week, I was both shouting and dancing to the most marvelous violin music. There is a saying that the greatest compliment a Jewish violinist can receive is to say “Your violin really spoke to me.” We must say that to violin maven Alicia Svigals, who is releasing a new CD after more than 20 years.
Alicia Svigals is the undisputed “Queen of the Klezmer Violin” who made Itzhak Perlman’s mouth drop open in stunned silence. This is the violinist who stepped out and formed one of the most renowned Klezmer bands in the genre.
We sat for an interview on the weekend (courtesy of hi-tech), Svigals in sunny forested upstate New York where she lives with her wife (their two children have flown the nest) and delved into the beauty of this soul-encompassing music and the creative spiritual person that is Alicia Svigals.
Alicia Svigals, is known as the world’s greatest klezmer violinist and co-founder of the legendary band The Klezmatics. She gifted the world in 1997 with her beloved and groundbreaking album Fidl.I. It presented an Old World roots sound that no one else had explored. She collaborated with two other artists, performed with her band The Klezmatics. but only now has she stepped up to the forefront again. Now she is back with its sequel and there is, as its title says Fidl Afire. I recently had the opportunity to get a sneak peek listening session of her soon-to-be-released new CD,
This is not your bar mitzvah klezmer band just going through tired motions. In this long awaited sequel she gives the listener (and in my case, at least, dancer) a mix of traditional arrangements, tunes by mid-century clarinet masters and her own original compositions. “Fidl Afire Fantasy” is a rhythmic call to your feet followed enthusiastically by “Lebedik.” Your fingers can’t but help but snap and your feet are compelled to dance. It’s sexy, too.
We get to hear Vira Lozhinsky sing on “Mayn Mame Ver Ihk (I’m Becoming My Mother”). It is a message to us all, especially we women and feels very warmhearted and joyful.
In European klezmer, the violin predominates. In contrast in American klezmer, the clarinet takes that position (likely because of the American jazz influence).”Most people expect that big band sound. Most people (in America) expect the clarinet,” says Svigals.
But Svigals takes it old school, which is why she does a bulgar – my personal favorite klezmer type – so vividly well. Little did I know it journeyed from its roots in Moldavia, Romania and Ukraine to American party animals:
On a deeper level, Svigals shared with me that as she turned 61 and embraced the Wisdom Age of life, she realized there are some things she needs to do and there is not necessarily a lot more time in life to do it. Legacy. This new CD is Svigals shaping her legacy. Leaving her signature notes on life. Her music is meant for spiritual, no, soulful, human connection. It reminds me what we know in Judaism – that we are not created to be alone. Svigals is giving us a reminder of this:
All the songs on this CD are joyful, playful and warm. Some are surprising and others comforting in their familiarity to some degree. It is exactly the music you would want to have at a party. The length of each of the songs is just right – although I would have liked another minute of “Fidl Afire Fantasy.” Overall, this is a more than worthy re-emergence and I hope we hear more often from Svigals.
Svigals recently performed here in San Diego at the Hall of International Relations as a program of the House of Israel and Yiddishland. She is hitting the road in two weeks for release parties of Fifl Afire.
New York City- June 23; Boston June 25.
I hope you will get tickets and encourage friends and family to get tickets if they are in or near Boston or New York City. If you are here in San Diego, you can pre-order Fidl Afire and listen to sample tracks. Or maybe put her new CD on and have a house party with your friends.
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Barrett Holman Leak is an author, educator and community organizer.