Born in Romania, Andrei Codrescu understands the spirit of his adopted New Orleans, a city that steadfastly “refuses to conform to anything that is known about it.” When Hurricane Katrina blew through, the New Orleans landscape changed yet again and Codrescu recorded it all. Now, with the help of the New Orleans Klezmer AllStars, he brings us the poetry—and the music—of its wreckage and recuperation.

Raucous homages to the Big Easy, spirited laments for its dispossessed, and wry reports of its slow road to recovery, Codrescu’s “Maelstrom: Songs of Storm & Exile,” is performed on the accompanying CD by the New Orleans Klezmer AllStars—forming the heart of a collection that also honors the artists, lovers, and cultural icons who have influenced Codrescu’s life.

The New Orleans Klezmer AllStars (a “genre-crossing, heroically nutty Crescent City ensemble”—Billboard) have fired up people of all ages with their funky interpretation of traditional Jewish folk music since 1991. For this special release, they’ve teamed up with a number of guest singers, including: John Kendal Baily, John Boutte, Chayito Champión, Alex McMurray, Ivan Neville, the New Orleans Happy Man’s Choir, Valentina Osinsky, Coco Robicheaux, and Harry Shearer.

Listen to a sneak preview from the CD, Maelstrom: Songs of Storm & Exile:

“Molly’s Window”
Music: New Orleans Klezmer AllStars
Tenor saxophone: Ben Ellman
Lyrics: Andrei Codrescu
Vocals: Ivan Neville
All rights reserved.

Windows Media | Mp3

Also available by this author:

• it was today
• Comrade Past & Mister Present