Birth & Rebirth

A rare small‑group document from two central figures of New York’s Radical Jewish Culture scene, Birth & Rebirth distills the ecstatic energy of Hasidic New Wave into an intimate, horn‑driven conversation. Saxophonist Greg Wall and trumpeter Frank London move fluidly between prayerful lyricism, modal intensity, and downtown free play, supported by a sharp ensemble: Josh Roseman (trombone), Ethan Iverson (piano), Kenny Davis (bass), Yoron Israel (drums), and a striking vocal appearance by Ryvka Blumenleitz.

Rather than pastiche, the music feels like genuine excavation — traditional Jewish motifs refracted through avant‑garde improvisation, searching for continuity between heritage and experimentation. In the broader arc of late‑1990s Jewish‑inflected jazz, the album forms an unexpected bridge back to Kraków, echoing the deep historical currents of Jewish musical life that once shaped the region. Birth & Rebirth becomes exactly what its title suggests: a cycle of renewal linking scenes, cities, and histories through sound.