The champion of the Klezmer clarinet is back again. Discovered three years ago at the time of his first album “New King of Klezmer Clarinet”, a homage to Naftule Brandwein, and after that, by the outstanding “Unue”, a series of inspired duets (with, amongst others, Ibrahim Maalouf, Farid D. Wang Li, Denis Cuniot…), Yom returns accompanied by his new band, the “Wonder Rabbis”: more jazz, more funk, more fusion, and more crazy than ever. On “With Love” Yom takes us to the world of Comics, to the borders of trip hop and the Balkans, of post rock and Turkey, of electronics and Romania; rest in peace, Super Yom and his clarinet are on the watch and will fight to save Love.

At the beginning...

Legend tells that he discovered his vocation by listening to Prokofiev. A deliberate choice, despite of his very young age at the time. At a young age and exceptionally gifted at the clarinet, Yom also discovers different musical horizons, and distinguishes himself from his little mates at the conservatory. But only later, at around 20, he feels the need to integrate other influences (Brian Eno, Radiohead, Massive Attack…) to his classical and klezmer repertoire. After several experiences in different musical groups, Yom launches a solo enterprise and practices by recording a homage to the master Brandwein. The controversial reputation of the artist allows him to respect tradition, and to leave it behind. A wise and beneficial decision! By dedicating his next album, “Unue”, to another Klezmer legend, Giora Feidman, Yom wanted to thank his elder to have opened Pandora’s Box for him.

With his latest album “With Love”, Yom exposes himself and draws us into a universe of comics, at the confines of trip hop and the Balkans, of post rock and Turkey, of electronics and Romania. An explosive cocktail which will certainly disturb the fussy purists he could not care less about. And in the live context, Emiliano Turi plays the drums with a much more rock oriented sound. With all those great guys I have really been able to find a group sound and to combine all my influences, while creating something new. An explosive cocktail which will not fail to disturb those bogus purists about whom Yom could not care less, despising all that has a penchant towards purism. History proves that he is right. And obviously, the charged historical background of Klezmer music has not been forgotten and can already be found on the CD cover, created by the artist Pierre van Hove.

Being a great cartoon specialist, Pierre was the perfect person for this cover. It insinuates a pop context that is close to the ambitions of the production. But I have also, for a long time now, been thinking about the term of the “just”, those who saved the Jews during the war. During troubled times of history, the person who makes a simple gesture of human kindness suddenly becomes a super hero. That’s why I had the idea of that person upholding the law who distributes love with his clarinet. It is also a reference to the Jewish inventors of Superman, created initially to express opposition to Hitler. And also, frankly, who would not feel like fantasizing about being a super hero when the world seems completely crazy?!
All those wise statements prove, if proof was necessary, that even though Yom plays the cartoon character on his new album, he nevertheless remains an artist that is to be taken seriously. - Trad. Original text Sébastien Mauge

Dessins: Pierre Van Hove - Photos: www.fredrol.com