Album Notes

The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra is an original Atlanta musical entity; a nine piece jazz orchestra playing original compositions and arrangements that combine West African influenced rhythms with Eastern European Klezmer melodies. The 4th Ward A.K.O., led by trumpet player/composer Roger Ruzow, boasts a roster of veteran Atlanta talent which features Colin Bragg (guitar), Chris Case (keyboard), Jeff Crompton (clarinet, alto & baritone sax), Ben Davis (tenor sax & clarinet), Ben Gettys (bass), Keith Leslie (drums), Bill Nittler (clarinet, baritone sax), and Blake Williams (trombone).

"Tunes that swing like Ellington's jungle nights at the Apollo, carve soulfunk grooves reminiscent of Fela Kuti's Africa '70 and rock the bar mitzvah like there's no Second Coming. It's a mash-up of seemingly incompatible styles that, nevertheless, sounds like some of the freshest jazz ever generated by a gang of (mostly) ATL homeboys." -Doug Deloach