Reviews - Unbounded/Wolf Krakowski

Renaissance Man Review

Artist:   Wolf Krakowski
Album:    Unbounded
Date of
Release: 1998
Label:    Kame'a Media
Cat. No.: KAM7002
ASIN:
Country: US
Genre/s: 1) Popular
          2) World|Other
          3) World|Jewish
Sub-
Genre/s: 1) Contemporary, Singer-Songwriter
          2) Blues, R&B
          3) Contemporary, Other
Type:     Studio
Time:     46:56
Date of
Review:   2004/02/10
Web site: http://www.kamea.com

Purchasing Info!

Unbounded and Unplugged
Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded", released on Kame'a Media in 1998, is an English language singer-songwriter album that sees this extraordinary and sensitive musician, steeped in blues, R&B and rock as well as in Yiddish culture and traditional Yiddish song, unplugged. A natural blend of country rock, R&B, gospel and blues, "Unbounded" proves irresistible and utterly compelling, the Krakowski penned originals possessed of a credibility that only arises out of first-hand life experience. Even if you come to this album knowing nothing of Wolf Krakowski or his colourful life story, you know at once that these deeply personal, heartfelt songs are deeply rooted in personal experience, you know the singer's "been there and done that" and doubtlessly "got the t-shirt" as well. This is gripping stuff indeed. Bearing the stamp of the authority of worldly-wise and street-wise credibility in its emotional depth, "Unbounded" is timeless, transcending temporal and spatial as well as cultural constraints. Although the music organically blends the "soul music" of both Old and New World, the themes and emotions of the songs are universal ones, given expression in Krakowski's inimitable style and distinctive, slightly nasal, highly charismatic voice.
The opener of Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded", "Blasting In The Everlasting", kicks this album off with a superb gospel-inspired arrangement and lyrics liberally peppered with Biblical injunctions. After such a strong opener you could be forgiven for wondering where the album could possibly go from there, but Krakowski continues to deliver consistently with each succeeding track. Each song tells a story, cameo-like, deeply personal, intense, telling of "Emotional Problems", set off with thick, rich R&B sax riffs, singing a "Carnival Song" about always letting things slip through your fingers, finding love only to lose it.... A particularly fine soprano sax solo by David Isabelle on the latter needs to be singled out, and again on the title track, the also somewhat darkly reflective "Unbounded". The mood turns brighter, even cheerful, on "Boogie In Motion". Optimism and spirituality dominate "Head 'Em Off At The Pass". "Five-Cent Me" features the superb muted trumpet of jazz legend Raphe Malik. A bitter-sweet ballad, "Well, My Heart", is followed by "Aches And Pains", a dark, agonized blues. "The Power" closes Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded" on an affirmative note that is truly inspired as well as inspiring, and very uplifting.
Wolf Krakowski is very ably supported by The Lonesome Brothers and Douglas Beaumier, David Isabelle, Daniel Lombardo, backing singers Jaye Simms, Pamela Smith Selavka and Fraidy Katz, one of North America's outstanding stars of Yiddish song herself, and last but not least of course legendary jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik. The arrangements are impeccable. The liner includes full lyrics for all songs on "Unbounded".
To say that Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded" is essential in any modern singer-songwriter (or, for that matter, contemporary blues/R&B, or contemporary Jewish music) collection would be an understatement. This album is beyond that, it is priceless. It also deserves much wider distribution, and I understand that licensing/distribution enquiries would indeed be very welcome by Kame'a Media. Although the original issue is still available in limited quantities, it is already considered rare and highly collectible, sometimes changing hands on Ebay for several times its retail price.

© 2004 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved.

Track List:
1. Blasting In The Everlasting (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:24
2. Emotional Problems (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:23
3. Carnival Song (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:28
4. Unbounded (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:03
5. Boogie In Motion (Wolf Krakowski) - 3:45
6. Head 'Em Off At The Pass (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:37
7. Five-Cent Me (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:10
8. Well, My Heart (Wolf Krakowski) - 3:20
9. Aches And Pains (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:38
10. The Power (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:46

Credits:
Wolf Krakowski - Vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, ball-peen leaf-spring
The Lonesome Brothers:
Jim Armenti - Lead guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, violin, keyboards, claves, tenor saxophone
Ray Mason - Bass guitar
Bob Grant - Drums
Douglas Beaumier - Pedal steel and lap steel guitars, dobro
David Isabelle - Soprano and tenor saxophones
Daniel Lombardo - Conga drums, doumbek, tambourine, maracas, shakers
Raphe Malik - Trumpet
Jaye Simms - Backup vocals
Pamela Smith Selavka - Backup vocals
Fraidy Katz - Backup vocals

PURCHASING INFO:
Unbounded can be purchased:
Direct from the artist
From Jewish Music Distribution UK
From Hatikvah Music International (US)

All images used on review pages and artists pages kindly supplied by the artists and/or their record companies, unless otherwise stated. All such images are copyright their respective owners, and all such copyrights and/or other intellectual rights hereby acknowledged.

|    Home    |    Jewish Music Page    |    Steel Pan Page    |    Other World Music Page    |    Jazz Page    |    Classical Music Page    |    Other Music Page    |    Artists' Pages    |    The Guzikow Archives    |    Links    |    Contact    |
|    All CD Reviews    |    All Live Music Reviews    |    Jewish Music Reviews    |    Other Music Reviews    |

	`Artist: Wolf Krakowski` `Album: Unbounded` `Date of` `Release: 1998` `Label: Kame'a Media` `Cat. No.: KAM7002` `ASIN:` `Country: US` `Genre/s: 1) Popular` `2) World\|Other` `3) World\|Jewish` `Sub-` `Genre/s: 1) Contemporary, Singer-Songwriter` `2) Blues, R&B` `3) Contemporary, Other` `Type: Studio` `Time: 46:56` `Date of` `Review: 2004/02/10` `Web site: http://www.kamea.com` `Purchasing Info!`
	Unbounded and Unplugged Wolf Krakowski's *"Unbounded", released on Kame'a Media in 1998, is an English language singer-songwriter album that sees this extraordinary and sensitive musician, steeped in blues, R&B and rock as well as in Yiddish culture and traditional Yiddish song, unplugged. A natural blend of country rock, R&B, gospel and blues, "Unbounded" proves irresistible and utterly compelling, the Krakowski penned originals possessed of a credibility that only arises out of first-hand life experience. Even if you come to this album knowing nothing of Wolf Krakowski or his colourful life story, you know at once that these deeply personal, heartfelt songs are deeply rooted in personal experience, you know the singer's "been there and done that" and doubtlessly "got the t-shirt" as well. This is gripping stuff indeed. Bearing the stamp of the authority of worldly-wise and street-wise credibility in its emotional depth, "Unbounded" is timeless, transcending temporal and spatial as well as cultural constraints. Although the music organically blends the "soul music" of both Old and New World, the themes and emotions of the songs are universal ones, given expression in Krakowski's inimitable style and distinctive, slightly nasal, highly charismatic voice. The opener of Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded", "Blasting In The Everlasting", kicks this album off with a superb gospel-inspired arrangement and lyrics liberally peppered with Biblical injunctions. After such a strong opener you could be forgiven for wondering where the album could possibly go from there, but Krakowski continues to deliver consistently with each succeeding track. Each song tells a story, cameo-like, deeply personal, intense, telling of "Emotional Problems", set off with thick, rich R&B sax riffs, singing a "Carnival Song" about always letting things slip through your fingers, finding love only to lose it.... A particularly fine soprano sax solo by David Isabelle on the latter needs to be singled out, and again on the title track, the also somewhat darkly reflective "Unbounded". The mood turns brighter, even cheerful, on "Boogie In Motion". Optimism and spirituality dominate "Head 'Em Off At The Pass". "Five-Cent Me" features the superb muted trumpet of jazz legend Raphe Malik. A bitter-sweet ballad, "Well, My Heart", is followed by "Aches And Pains", a dark, agonized blues. "The Power" closes Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded" on an affirmative note that is truly inspired as well as inspiring, and very uplifting. Wolf Krakowski is very ably supported by The Lonesome Brothers and Douglas Beaumier, David Isabelle, Daniel Lombardo, backing singers Jaye Simms, Pamela Smith Selavka and Fraidy Katz, one of North America's outstanding stars of Yiddish song herself, and last but not least of course legendary jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik. The arrangements are impeccable. The liner includes full lyrics for all songs on "Unbounded". To say that Wolf Krakowski's "Unbounded" is essential in any modern singer-songwriter (or, for that matter, contemporary blues/R&B, or contemporary Jewish music) collection would be an understatement. This album is beyond that, it is priceless. It also deserves much wider distribution, and I understand that licensing/distribution enquiries would indeed be very welcome by Kame'a Media. Although the original issue is still available in limited quantities, it is already considered rare and highly collectible, sometimes changing hands on Ebay for several times its retail price. © 2004 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved.*
	Track List: `1. Blasting In The Everlasting (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:24` `2. Emotional Problems (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:23` `3. Carnival Song (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:28` `4. Unbounded (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:03` `5. Boogie In Motion (Wolf Krakowski) - 3:45` `6. Head 'Em Off At The Pass (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:37` `7. Five-Cent Me (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:10` `8. Well, My Heart (Wolf Krakowski) - 3:20` `9. Aches And Pains (Wolf Krakowski) - 5:38` `10. The Power (Wolf Krakowski) - 4:46`
	Credits: `Wolf Krakowski - Vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, ball-peen leaf-spring` `The Lonesome Brothers:` `Jim Armenti - Lead guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, violin, keyboards, claves, tenor saxophone` `Ray Mason - Bass guitar` `Bob Grant - Drums` `Douglas Beaumier - Pedal steel and lap steel guitars, dobro` `David Isabelle - Soprano and tenor saxophones` `Daniel Lombardo - Conga drums, doumbek, tambourine, maracas, shakers` `Raphe Malik - Trumpet` `Jaye Simms - Backup vocals` `Pamela Smith Selavka - Backup vocals` `Fraidy Katz - Backup vocals`
	PURCHASING INFO: Unbounded can be purchased: Direct from the artist From Jewish Music Distribution UK From Hatikvah Music International (US)
	All images used on review pages and artists pages kindly supplied by the artists and/or their record companies, unless otherwise stated. All such images are copyright their respective owners, and all such copyrights and/or other intellectual rights hereby acknowledged.