Lara St. John's Latest Recording

POLKASTRA:
APOLKALYPSE NOW

(Click Here for DigitalBooklet: English)

An eclectic and international cast of characters including a Canadian folk fiddler, the Met's contrabassoonist, an Israeli accordionist and percussionist, a jack-of-all-trades bassist, a French Horn playing record store clerk and an internationally renowned violin soloist met in a New Jersey studio to record a polka album just for fun. An idea that began as a lark quickly grew into an eccentric, virtuosic and energetic exploration of the roots of polka: folk, country, classical and jazz. Polkastra is a unique world music project that celebrates both the joy of music and the power of dance to unite cultures. From the American Midwest and the North of Canada to the mountains of Bohemia and the deserts of Israel - Apolkalypse Now poses the important question "Would you like sauerkraut, poutine, goulash or hummus with that?"

 

 

Reviews of Apolkalypse Now

 

All About Jazz, January 6, 2010

"All About Jazz Top Ten Releases of 2009 "

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New York Times, September 16, 2009

"Much of the set was silly stuff, in a good way, and a reminder that musical comedy works best when the musicianship is first-rate. "

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All About Jazz, August 2009

"In a similar vein comes Polkastra with their cleverly put together and musically superb Apolkalypse Now. "

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Violinist.com Interview, August 2009

"There's everything but the kitchen sink in this album: quotes from Beethoven and Paganini, Gypsy licks, impressive contrabassoon solos, and laughter. It's a lot of fun. "

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Audiophile Audition, August 2009

"The playing is virtuosic and energetic, but not too disciplined that it falls into the “stuffy” category and not too ragged that we feel the musicians are creating a phony atmosphere. After all, a few beers relax but a keg quickly dissipates into chaos! "

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The London Free Press, August 2009

"The Grammys may have cancelled its category -- but Lara St. John's polka record is still the dance album of the year. "

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The Economist, July 2009

"The group attacks the genre with genuine gusto, evoking the dizzy, sweaty revelry of a Bohemian beer hall...After all, the world is a happier place when songs end with a hearty 'Hey!'."

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The Buffalo News, July 2009

"lusty and hilariously diverse."

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