"Little Blackbird documents the early work of a virtuoso who up until now was an unsung hero of the klezmer revival... one of klezmer’s greatest living violinists"

- Seth Rogovoy, Sing Out! Magazine, Fall 2002 (review first published in the Berkshire Jewish Voice in July 2002) (Rogovoy is author of The Essential Klezmer: A Music Lover's Guide to Jewish Roots and Soul)

In January 2002, Little Blackbird was named as one of the "Best Recordings of 2001" by Ari Davidow, owner of the Jewish-Music discussion list and KlezmerShack.com:

"This may be the best violin playing of the year... Layman ranges all across former Ottoman territory with Greek, Balkan, klezmer, Turkish music, all performed with dexterity and verve and beauty."

- Ari Davidow, KlezmerShack.com: The Best Recordings of 2001, January 13, 2002

"splendid new release by violinist Sandra Layman ... brilliant violin... wild, wonderful variety of Romanian, Balkan, Greek, Turkish and related music... a wealth of incredible live recordings... a stunning, amazing, virtuosic weave of astounding music... I will run out of superlatives long before your ears will tire of the music... an intense pleasure."

- Ari Davidow, original KlezmerShack writeup, December 25, 2001

"...beautiful music played by a wonderful musician."

- Stacy Phillips, Fiddler Magazine, Summer 2002 issue

"It is exhilarating to discover an artist and music that unexpectedly captivate you... extraordinary... Layman's playing and her music are riveting and moving."

- Allen Price, Victory Music Review, June 2002 issue

"very exciting live material. An interesting balance of klezmer and other Mediterranean and Balkan musics... a splendid recording by a fine musician."
5 stars (=highest rating)

- George Robinson, The Jewish Week (New York City), March 1, 2002

"Challenging rhythms, slippery chord changes and furiously accurate fiddle playing... wonderful performers... This all-instrumental collection is a winner."

- Gigi Yellen-Kohn, The Jewish Transcript (Seattle), January 11, 2002

"skillful and intricate performances... Where Layman's playing really excels is in communicating an infectious enthusiasm for the music... an all-around great album... Little Blackbird is worth returning to again and again."

- Eric Eller, Green Man Review, April 5, 2002

"Little Blackbird, a hauntingly sweet live-concert anthology of klezmer, Anatolian, Hungarian, and Romanian virtuoso showpieces."

- Lev Liberman (co-founder of the pioneering klezmer revival band The Klezmorim), Klezmo.com, January 2002

"Layman's a fiddler who seems part cricket: Her fingers can create a plaintive, sonorous nocturnal wail or leap about the strings like they were blades of sunbrowned grass."

- John Graham, Willamette Week, Portland, Oregon, May 29-June 4, 2002, issue

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