2009 should be a watershed year for Cuban born composer, percussionist, and bandleader Roberto Juan Rodriguez. Timba Talmud is his second release for John Zorn's Tzadik in five months and his fifth for the label overall. Whereas his First Basket served as the soundtrack to a documentary film on the origins of American basketball, Timba Talmud is more properly a Latin klezmer offering. No, there's typo there. Over the course of 13 cuts, Rodriguez and his sextet offer cha-chas, pachangas, mambos, boleros, sons, and salsas wedded inseparably with the Yiddish folk tradition of klezmer. The band includes the brilliant clarinetist Gilad Harell, accordionist Uri Sharlin (who also plays piano and organ), violinist Jonathan Keren, bassist Bernie Minoso, conguero Igor Arias Baro, Rodriguez playing a drum kit and hand percussion, as well as handling the programming chores on one cut. In addition to the Sexteto are four guests including guitarist Oz Noy, trumpeter Oscar Onoz, Ben Lapidus on tres, and flutist Itai Kris. A prime example of the literal genius used here is on EL Sabor Del Shabat. Here, son and clave rhythms under score a mournful Yiddish ballad. The Afro-Cuban rhythms seem an original part of the melody's architecture they are so seamless. The lilting violins, the singing, mournful clarinet, the accordion and piano pines entwined harmonically and rhythmically offer such a wide palette for such an intimate and spiritual song, they are dazzling despite the slow tempo. The bridge breaks into a gorgeous cha-cha to boot!

1		La Hora
2		El Sabor del Shabat
3		Mambo Kitsch (para Susie)
4		The Son of 2nd Avenue
5		Kids Club Cha-Cha
6		Descarga 1492
7		Danzonete Emanuel
8		Timba Talmud
9		Havana Shmoltz (para tio Kucho y su violin)
10		Babailon!
11		Oran Oran (Homage To Maurice Papi El Medioni)
12		Moishe's Lullaby
13		Oyemaya (Para Barack Hussein Obama Omo Ocha)