28 - Wednesday, November 9, 1288 - North Shore News New Ofra Haza OFRA OFFERS a new ver- sion of an old sound for eclectic ears; a jazz god gives good sax; children and adults are challenged with a fun batch of kids’ music. Ofra Haza — Shaday, WEA 1988 . Western ears hungry for World Music exotica are making Ofra Haza a success story beyond her native Israel. The 1985-released album entitl- . ed Yemenite Songs, introduced a beautifully supple voice and the traditional Yemenite Jewish musical style. Most of the songs in the collection are devotional poems written in the 17th century by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Haza, a megastar in Israel, sang , the songs in Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic. The instrumental ar- rangements were treated tradi- tionally but came across with a contemporary sense of rhythm. Three years later, Haza comes across suspiciously a bit like a Yemenite Madonna wanna-be. The language of choice is English. The sound has been churned through the discotheque blender to become a kind of Middle cee 4 Eastern electro-pop. There are embarrassing ballads expressing simplistic sentiments. The pure, natural voice, is often warped out of proportion by a heavy-handed sound mix. Mass market accessibility is attempted at the expense of the sou! so ex- pressively evident in earlier efforts. MICHAEL . BECKER music reviewer Michae! Brecker — Don’t Try This At Home, impulse!/MCA 1988 Baby-face Brecker is a bebopp- ing sax master at the top of his craft. During the past 15 years, he has set industry standards backing ar- tists including Frank Zappa, Her- bie Hancock, Steely Dan and Dire Straits. Brecker is now in a class of his own. He’s fast and he’s far out. Pushing hard, full throttle solo on sax, the notes bend, bubble, wail! and honk. But best of all, the musical flights of fancy are always based on a solid melodic founda- tion. “OUTSTANDING PERFORMER” — FRANK SINATRA THE THREE GREENHORNS IS PROUD TO PRESENT. KENNY COLMAN. THREE NIGHTS NOV. 10, 11, 12 WITH LINTON GARNER QUARTET includes: 3 Potato-and ; - Vegetab » GF the day.” Romantic Adventure « Live Entertainment We serve til t am — Ni appt: RON JOHNSON TRIO Wednesday Guitarist/Vocalist MICHAEL CUMMINGS “é LOOKING FAST album disappoints The hotshot musicians backing Brecker on the release include Herbie Hancock, sitting in on piano for a couple of cuts, and former Miles Davis sidekick Mike Stern on guitar. Brought in live to the Com- modore Nov. 1 by the Coastal Jazz Blues Society, The Michael Brecker Band put in a finely-honed jazz set. Stern’s obvious im- provisational prowess was given free rein, and together with Brecker, the twin jazz gods blew the house down. While the album doesn’t match the focused intensity of the per- formance witnessed live (and re- corded by the CBC for broadcast), it still stands as testament to the genius of Brecker and company. High points of the LP include ltsbynne Reei, a tenor sax solo tour de force drawing inspiration from a traditional Irish reel, and Suspone, a breezy swing piece. Peter Alsop — Stayin’ Over, Moose School Records 1987 Alsop approaches a song from a child’s perspective, giving voice to basic life concerns often left unspoken and unresolved. In the process, ke challenges and enlightens both children and Monday Night Jam Session NOV. 14 Pheto submitted ISRAELI SINGING sensation Ofra Haza — a Yemenite Madonna wanna-be? adults alike. Over past years the singer, who also happens to hold a Ph.D. in educational psychology, has been a staple at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. He’s made adults think again with songs like It’s On- ly a Wee-Wee and Hopelessly Heterosexual. He has set out to engender dialogue and seif- realization for children and ° parents with an extensive cata- logue of children’s records, books and films. . Topics many adults feel too squeamish to address, such as _ alcohol abuse, or death and loss, are dealt with tactfully and with humor on the latest album. A lot of the songs are sung by children and speak to adults. Together, they present a guide to empathic parenting. Bigger, Big- ger, Bigger looks at the principle of might makes right in the context of a child's relationship with a parent “'.,.don’t just make me do it, find a way to help me see.” Aaargh! explores the perfect child syn- drome and the often unrealistic pressures some parents put on the children to perform. | The record comes with a sheet including words and chords charted out to sing and play along with. Each song also comes with a selection of exercises to embellish the lesson contained in the song, a series of questions to fuel discus- sion of the topic, and a summary of the issues raised. This children’s record manages to be fun, educational and thought provoking without coming off as overtly moralistic. The music is great, too. Woodwind workshop slated THE locally based West Coast Amateur Musicians Society is hosting a Woodwind Fiesta workshop for flute, oboe, clari- net, french horn and bassoon players. - Co-sponsored by the North Vancouver group and the music department of Vancouver Com- munity College, the Nov. 20 workshop will be led by Jerry Domer. The workshop is the latest of- fering from the society, which is now in its eighth year of pro- viding a host of activities - for amateur musicians. Pre-registration is required, and the deadline is Nov. 13. For fur- ther information on the society or its workshops, call Ruth Downs at 980-5341.