Saints & Tzadiks

In a more intimate follow-up to McKeown's collaboration with the Klezmatics, the Irish singer does a duet album with one of their longtime members, Lorin Sklamberg. And what a joy it is. They kick things off on exactly the right note with "Heart's Blood," a ballad shared by both traditions, giving them the chance to trade verses in English and Yiddish. From there come songs in Gaelic, songs in Yiddish, and plenty of great beauty, whether accompanied by a small group or alone (Sklamberg does a wonderful unaccompanied "Father and Son," while McKeown performs the same for "Bridget"). It's a thrilling ride, often full of joy and laughter, as exemplified by "Yula," "The Rattlin' Bog," and "My Little Belly," but also capable of intense emotion ("The Dark Slender Boy"). While an Irish-Yiddish pairing might not seem too obvious, at least on first blush, these two have enough talent, taste, and openness to make it seem the most natural thing in the world — but then, they've both been breaking down barriers for a long time now.