Guitar ace Tim Sparks, who tours the world from his home base of Frazee, Minn., has cut a new album. Backed by stellar bassist Greg Cohen and in-demand percussionist Cyro Baptista, Sparks has adapted 10 tunes composed by the self-proclaimed “King of the Klezmer Clarinet” on Little Princess: Tim Sparks Plays Naftule Brandwein (Tzadik). The CD features a rich assortment of lovely melodies (“The Dearest in Bukovina”) and infectious rhythms (“Nifty’s Freylach”), and showcases the prodigious chops that have made Sparks a favorite of local Jewish audiences. Forget American Idol — this is the music right here. — M.S.
