ALBUM OUT NOW on all platforms!

INTRODUCING the ALBUM!

Krakauer & Tagg’s Good Vibes Explosion! is a touring project that was born in the midst of the pandemic lockdowns of 2020. Conceived and created by Grammy-nominated “ebullient clarinet wizard” (Time Out NY) David Krakauer and multi-instrumentalist/producer Kathleen Tagg, this project showcases a multi-generational/high-octane group of collaborators from very different backgrounds, hailing from the USA, Canada, Iran and South Africa. 

Together they embrace the diversity of today’s America through their unique take on a multitude of traditional roots musics, bringing their enormous musical and cultural diversity to the project and collaborating to create powerful original material. Old forms are celebrated both by bringing them into a 21st century sound-world and expanding the context to make room for new stories. 

Featured on shows such as NPR's Morning Edition and Radio France International (RFI) Sessions Live, this project was created in response to the current climate of polarization that pervades our daily lives. In these uncertain times, it’s a chance to come together to celebrate our common humanity and foster joy, positivity and togetherness.

Their album, Mazel Tov Cocktail Party, with a tongue-in-cheek title that references a pundit’s slip-of the tongue, has received rave reviews across North America and Europe: France’s Le Monde says: “a breath of fresh air, an incentive to dance…In the face of the overwhelming negativity and alarming rise of hatred and intolerance in today's world, let's breathe and dance together…More than a suggestion, an injunction”

Roots World says: “An informal cocktail party typically lasts a few hours, and this one ends all too soon. 5 stars”

They have performed at venues that include Paris’ famed 2000-seater Théâtre du Châtelet and Viena’s Porgy & Bess Club, and in venues large and small in France, Holland, Austria and the USA.

Krakauer’s klezmer-influenced clarinet leads the way along with Tagg’s quirky keys, electronics, electric cello & production; Martin Shamoonpour’s high-energy contributions on daf, riq, darbuka, jaw harp and flutes; Jerome Harris’ driving bass lines and vocals; rapper and singer Sarah MK’s evocative vocals in Québécois French and English; and Yoshie Fruchter’s wailing oud and electric guitar. In addition, electronic beats by Jeremy Flower, Socalled and Selwa Abd (aka Bergsonist) round out the sound for layering with the live performance.

The project was initially created in isolation, individually and remotely in living rooms and basements in New York, upstate NY and Canada- with band members meeting in person for the first time a year after the project was recorded and the music videos were made.

Their influences are global, but the sound they create collectively has produced something uniquely their own. Familiar dance forms such as Polka or Square Dance never sounded this way before, with hand drumming, propulsive electronic beats, lyrics calling for catharsis and positivity, deep grooves and Krakauer’s wailing clarinet crying out for us to join together, celebrate and feel the power in our aliveness.

ALBUM RELEASED in 2022:
”MAZEL TOV COCKTAIL PARTY”

Mazel Tov Cocktail Party! conceived & created by David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg

David Krakauer, clarinet and vocals
Kathleen Tagg, producer, piano, keyboard, accordion, cello and sampler/electronics (Bella’s Calypso)
Sarah MK, rap vox and vocals
Yoshie Fruchter, electric guitar and oud
Jerome Harris, electric bass and vocals
Martin Shamoonpour, daf and jaw's harp

With contributions by:
Bergsonist, sampler/electronics (North Country Square Dance)
Jeremy Flower aka Keepalive, sampler/electronics (Krakky’s Rainbow Polka, Mazel Tov Cocktail Party, Wedding on the Cyclone)
Socalled, sampler/electronics (Jammin’ with Socalled)

IN THE PRESS!

A breath of fresh air, an incentive to dance to klezmer music, (Krakauer's favorite playground); but also to polka, Romanian hora, calypso, Quebec square dance... "In the face of the overwhelming negativity and alarming rise of hatred and intolerance in today's world," let's breathe and dance together, Krakauer & Tagg proclaim in chorus. More than a suggestion, an injunction.”
Patrick Labesse: LE MONDE

"Celebration" captures the riotous, joyous sound of Mazel Tov Cocktail Party! in a single word…this music bounces from polka to calypso to techno/electro to hard funk and rock…a marriage made up of different musical cultures whirled together and collectively poured out with primal force…an enthusiastically wild and crazy set. Musical and other cultural references whiz in and out of Mazel Tov Cocktail Party! like the howling flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz, and it is a decent bet that you have most likely not heard too much music like this before. Chris M. Slawecki: ALL ABOUT JAZZ

"Do you want an amazing and nice mix? Like putting a Mentos in Coke... You take a rapper, some specialists in sampling and electro, a mad clarinet and you entrust everything to DAVID KRAKAUER and KATHLEEN TAGG. Listening to this music is a real outlet, spiritual and festive. A Calypso and a Polka come to visit us as curious little animals. Or the Mississippi Blues is crossed with a Middle Eastern Oud. ...Traditional tunes are passed through the mill of rock, rap and jazz creating a music of cartoons under strobe effects... Can make you addicted... 
Pascal David: JUKE BOX DETOX

An informal cocktail party typically lasts a few hours, and this one ends all too soon. Clap your hands, do-si-do and allemande right to the urban beat, Krakky’s clarinet and the band’s fascinating rhythms. And when everyone shouts “Mazel Tov!”, as the title cut cues up, “Toda” (meaning "Thank You") would be our appropriate response.
Joe Ross: ROOTS MUSIC REVIEW: 5/5 Stars