This album is hardly all-the- klezmer-all-the-time.There's a great deal of variety.Zohar does a jazzy "Shabbat Medley";the late Ofra Haza has the beautiful,passionate "Rachamim." Uzca's "Kona Hora" is in a made-up language,but who's translating?Does it matter?Consuelo Luz from Santa Fe sings a wonderful love song;Fortuna from Brazil,in her song,demonstrates that yes,Jews still have Messianic hope.She sings of the "king of kings/blessed be he." This song disproves the common Christian misconception that most Jews see the Messiah as a metaphor rather than a person.

This is a strong album.

Sidenote:The synagogue in my area is quite large,and most of its members used to be Christian.

I wish I had liked this CD more, but I'm afraid that overall I found it boring. I think part of the problem is the decision to show how all the various artists from all over the world shared a common tradition. I think the CD would probably have interested me more if it had showcased the differences between them rather than the similarities, because after a while it all started to sound alike. Perhaps orthodoxy extends to music too. The artists seemed to be following orthodox tempos, orthodox rhythms, orthodox intervals and progressions. I found all the selections tasteful and subdued. I've now listened to it four or five times, but I don't think I'm ever going to warm up to it.

I make sure to listen to this CD at least once a week -- it helps to keep my spirits up in this crazy world. Every single friend for whom I have played "A Jewish Odyssey" has immediately purchased it! You don't have to be Jewish to love this eclectic and stirring collection of music from around the globe.