muzycy: Barbez
Dan Kaufman: Electric Guitar, String Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar
Pamelia Kurstin: Theremin
Peter Lettre: Electric Guitar And Bass, Upright Bass
Danny Tunick: Vibraphone, Marimba
John Bollinger: Drums
Dan Coates: Electric Bass, Sampler
Peter Hess: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contralto Clarinet

Special Guests
Sarah Bernstein: Violin
Julia Kent: Cello
Catherine McRae: Violin
Fiona Templeton: Voice

Editor�s info::
Dan Kaufman, the mastermind of the popular and eclectic band Barbez tackles Radical Jewish Culture with a brilliant interpretation of the life and work of enigmatic Jewish poet Paul Celan. Born in Romania, Celan chose to write exclusively in German after losing his entire family to the Holocaust. Combining words to create new compounds packed with imagery and meaning in an attempt to almost remake the German language, his poetry is now recognized as some of the greatest writing of the 20th century. Kaufman responds to Celan with a sharp mind and a keen ear for harmony, lyricism and unusual sounds..


First Coast News - reviev by Paul Zimmerman
Any release from Tzadik is a treasured thing. Through the years, the label has released some of the most interesting and bold instrumental and non-instrumental releases ever. From the ever amazing John Zorn to the bizarre adventures of Mike Patton, the label is always about putting art before commerce. Their latest release by Barbez, is no exception.
Force of Light is homage to Holocaust survivor and poet Paul Celan. It was developed over a period of three years including several of just doing research on the poet himself. Barbez founder, Dan Kaufman went to Berlin to conduct this research and found him not only investigating Celan's experiences but dealing with solitude and the Holocaust as well. The result of all this painstaking research and emotion is an album which is deeply moving.
With parts of Celan's poetry scattered throughout the album, the album plays like a conglomeration of several scenes set by each mention of his poetry. The words and feelings set the tone for each piece and Barbez's musical experimentalism takes over. The songs here are epic dirges and ambient moaning that covers a wide spectrum of music. From string laden ballads that feel like requiems to almost Latin flavored dirges, Force of Light is a very interesting sounding record........
more

Editor�s info::
Dan Kaufman, the mastermind of the popular and eclectic band Barbez tackles Radical Jewish Culture with a brilliant interpretation of the life and work of enigmatic Jewish poet Paul Celan. Born in Romania, Celan chose to write exclusively in German after losing his entire family to the Holocaust. Combining words to create new compounds packed with imagery and meaning in an attempt to almost remake the German language, his poetry is now recognized as some of the greatest writing of the 20th century. Kaufman responds to Celan with a sharp mind and a keen ear for harmony, lyricism and unusual sounds..


First Coast News - reviev by Paul Zimmerman
Any release from Tzadik is a treasured thing. Through the years, the label has released some of the most interesting and bold instrumental and non-instrumental releases ever. From the ever amazing John Zorn to the bizarre adventures of Mike Patton, the label is always about putting art before commerce. Their latest release by Barbez, is no exception.
Force of Light is homage to Holocaust survivor and poet Paul Celan. It was developed over a period of three years including several of just doing research on the poet himself. Barbez founder, Dan Kaufman went to Berlin to conduct this research and found him not only investigating Celan's experiences but dealing with solitude and the Holocaust as well. The result of all this painstaking research and emotion is an album which is deeply moving.
With parts of Celan's poetry scattered throughout the album, the album plays like a conglomeration of several scenes set by each mention of his poetry. The words and feelings set the tone for each piece and Barbez's musical experimentalism takes over. The songs here are epic dirges and ambient moaning that covers a wide spectrum of music. From string laden ballads that feel like requiems to almost Latin flavored dirges, Force of Light is a very interesting sounding record........
more