Hasidic New Wave

by Linda SeidaHasidic New Wave is a five-person group that blends the sounds of modern jazz and funk with the older traditions of Hasidic spiritual songs, resulting in both energetic improvisations and original works. Trumpeter Frank London and saxophonist Greg Wall share the duties of leader. The two musicians attended the New England Conservatory together decades before joining to form Hasidic New Wave. Guitarist David "Fuze" Fiuczynski, bassist Fima Ephron, and drummer Aaron Alexander round out the group. Festivals catering to various genres have welcomed the band, including alternative rock stages in New York, Jewish music festivals in Europe, Budapest's world music venues, and festivals for new music in the U.S. In addition, the group has appeared at jazz festivals in New York, France, Holland, and Finland. Hasidic New Wave's first tour was held in conjunction with Jewish Avant-Garde Musicians, or JAM. The band's collaborations include a Judeo-Muslim album with Yakar Rhythms, the Knitting Factory Records release titled From the Belly of Abraham. The two bands appeared together in 2000 on the stage of the New York Jazz Festival. The performance was later aired on a jazz program put together by Black Entertainment Television.
Bandmembers bring diverse and eclectic backgrounds to their joint endeavor. London helped establish the Klezmer Conservatory Band and the Klezmatics, and he has contributed music to stage productions and movies. He also plays trumpet for Les Miserables Brass Band. His credits include recordings with Itzhak Perlman, David Byrne, LL Cool J, Jane Siberry, John Zorn, Mark Ribot, Mel Torme, They Might Be Giants, Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, Gal Costa, and LaMonte Young.
In addition to his work with Hasidic New Wave, saxophonist Wall is also a member of the Simcha All-Stars and Klezmerfest. At Rutgers University in New Jersey, he holds the position of director of the Jazz Faculty Ensemble. He has recorded or appeared with such artists as Avantango, the Jazz Vultures, Billy Hart, D. Sharpe, the Cybernetic Saxophone Quartet, the Hi-Tops, Neshama Carlebach, Kenny Barron, Miroslav Vitous, Bill Frisell, Kolos, and the Piamenta Band.
Guitarist Fiuczynski fronts his own group, the Screaming Headless Torsos, an outfit that in 1996 landed on Musician magazine's list of the best ten bands of the year. Like Hasidic New Wave's co-leaders, he has appeared on albums by Hart and Zorn. His other credits include albums by George Russell, Jack Walrath, Bernie Worrell, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Mark Shim, and Bob Moses. Bassist Ephron is also part of Fiuczynski's Screaming Headless Torsos and the Lost Tribe. She has performed with a number of artists working in several different genres, including David Tom. Drummer Alexander is part of the band Babkas, and over the years has established and led several other bands. He has contributed to recordings by such artists as the Tronzo Trio, the Mazeltones, the Satoko Fujii Orchestra, the Jay Clanton Sextet, and Myth Science.