Klezmer aficionados in the New York City area know from the Klez Dispensers. However, the jazzy klezmorim don’t get to the Midwest too often. Australian native Adrian Banner, who leads the band with his wife and violinist, Amy Zakar, tells the AJW that their new baby also has kept the group from playing out recently. Until the Klez Dispensers hit a local stage, we’ll have to make do with their new album, Say You’ll Understand (TKD). The CD features some beloved Jewish tunes (“Papirosn,” “Belz,” “Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn”) in fresh arrangements by Banner and his bandmates. Stellar musicianship (including sax and clarinet wizard Alex Kontorovich) and the appealing vocals of Susan Watts round out the package. — M.S.
