Klezwoods will rock Johnny D’s Uptown Wednesday night, Ottoman Empire style.

An evening with Klezwoods and Elephant Wrecking Ball

By Jim Clark

The stage at Jonnny D’s Uptown in Davis Square has served as host to a widely diverse range of musical and performance styles through the years, but an even higher level of uniqueness may be achieved this week as two of the area’s most idiosyncratic and engaging groups join forces to bring Somerville a taste of their own especially mellifluous merriment.

Klezwoods, which blends traditional Klezmer and Balkan music with modern grooves, improvisation, and an East Coast attitude, will be sharing the stage with Elephant Wrecking Ball, an unorthodox trombone fronted trio with a powerful and organic sound that must be experienced to be believed. Additionally, the audience will be treated to belly dancing by Cassandra, from Boston, and Hybrid, from Portland, Oregon.

Every player in Klezwoods comes from a different background, which creates the band’s unique sound and style. They originally got their start some years back when local Cambridge haunt, Atwood’s Tavern, asked soon-to-be-bandleader Joseph Kessler to put together a group of Klezmer musicians during Christmas time for a “Klezmer Christmas” event. Thus, Klezwoods was born, and continues to captivate audiences all over the world.

Kessler, who has worked with the Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on their No Quarter reunion tour, as well as alternative favorite Morphine, describes Klezwoods’ music as “music of the Ottoman Empire.”

Accordionist and co-founder Michael McLaughlin is a faculty member at Tufts, where he serves a pianist, accordionist, arranger, and composer for the Klezmer ensemble Shirim and the experimental Klezmer group Naftule’s Dream. He is the recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Grand Award in composition for 2001.

The other members of Klezwoods put their extraordinary expertise in ethnic modalities and overall creativity into play: Becky Wexler on clarinet; Sam Dechenne on trumpet (also a member of John Brown’s Body); Dan Linden on trombone; Tev Stevig on guitar; Greg Loughman on bass; Jim Gray on tuba; Grant Smith and Jeremy Gustin on drums; and Brian O’Neill on percussion round out the inventive ensemble.

Elephant Wrecking Ball is ready to soften up the room.

Klezwoods’ latest CD release Oy Yeah! has been garnering rave reviews and will be available for purchase at the performance on Wednesday night, and it is additionally available for downloading. Check out their Web site at www.klezwoods.com for more band information and to purchase the CD online.

Elephant Wrecking Ball, who will be opening the evening’s entertainment, say that they “perform music utilizing unique, scientific tones of fully cosmic demolition, and are influenced by everything from death metal to heavy dub.”  Comprised of Scott Flynn (of John Brown’s Body) on trombone – aided faithfully by a formidable collection of several effects pedals, Dan Africano on bass, and Neal ‘Fro!’ Evans on drums, their style is brash, bold, and ultimately entertaining.

The festivities begin at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28, at Johnny D’s Uptown, 17 Holland St., Davis Sq., Somerville. Tickets are just $10. Come out for a singularly satisfying evening of sonic proportions. You’ll be glad you did.