Rob Burger — Lost Photograph

After being schooled as a classical piano player, keyboardplayer Rob Burger studied improvisation with jazz-giants like Max Roach and Archie Shepp. He got interested in Hammond organ and accordion and the traditions coming with those instruments.

Besides being a member of Tin Hat Trio he’s got an impressive resume with names like Bill Frisell, John Zorn (on Filmworks XIII) but also turntable virtuoso (and multiple DMC champion) Mixmaster Mike. On his solodebut Lost Photograph he formed a trio with Kenny Wollesen (percussion, Sex Mob and many others) and Greg Cohen (bass, Masada, Tom Waits and even more others). OK, enough namedropping, let’s talk about the album!

Lost Photograph is released within the ‘Radical Jewish Culture’ series of Tzadik and it shows in the themes that mostly have an obvious Jewish signature. The music is varied and a lot of fun. Rob uses all kinds of instruments from prepared piano in Linguist from Latvia to music boxes in Sleepless Bandit. Accordion in opening track Inzihuat, a funny sounding organ in Constantinople which could be an ‘orchestron’, a ‘marxophone’ or a plain old Casio. He also uses toypiano’s, celeste (one of the best instruments ever invented), chamberlin, claviola and many other oddities in the world of instruments. Kenny also plays some vibes in the mysterious The Couch Episode. Most songs are upbeat but there are also lovely ballads like Ringling Kid. Most songs are original compositions but there's also a traditional song (Aveenu Malkenu) and a Kurt Weill composition in the form of Youkali. Well, you get the picture, this is a diverse and lovely collection of songs with an appeal of neo-exotica but without becoming a parody.

Tzadik tends to deem every record they release ‘exhilarating’ and ‘quirky’ but this time they’re completely right. Very listenable, full of joy and displaying great musicianship this is one of the better releases on Tzadik. ‘Music to make your brain dance and your heart smile’ it says on the wrapper and yes indeed, it sure is.