The shofar may appear empty, but this hollowed-out horn holds incredible sounds—tones of regret, resolve, and relief. Music is at the core of the services of the Yomim Nora’im, the Days of Awe. The spiritual melodies of this season have inspired countless Jewish musicians, who in turn inspire us with their voices. Here are some new releases that can help lift us to the heights of the High Holidays:
David Chevan—Yizkor: Music of Memory
Chevan is a Jewish jazz bassist and one of the founders, with African-American pianist Warren Byrd, of the Afro-Semitic Experience ensemble. Their albums usually include spiritual music from both the Jewish and African-American worlds, but this time Chevan guides the band through an all-Jewish set, new music for the text of the Yizkor memorial service. The music itself contains the full range of the band’s sounds, coming from both traditions, and the inimitable voice of Chicago’s own Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi rides skillfully atop the challenging rhythms and tempos. As befits a song of sorrow, the music is often dissonant, discordant, and discomfiting. At other times, it is somber, comforting, and even joyous. Just like memories.
Richard Kaplan—The Hidden One: Jewish Mystical Songs
“Kabbalah” has become the latest celebrity fad, but for centuries the authentic Kabbalah has been a source of philosophy, prayer, and song for Jews. West Coast cantor Richard Kaplan adheres to the “old school” of Kabbalah, presenting 18 (of course) songs from the Kabbalistic tradition. They come from across generations and around the Jewish world, but all are sublimated by Kaplan’s yearning baritone and elegant piano playing. The arrangements are meditative and minimal, adding only the percussion, strings, or winds of the country of the song’s origin, leaving room for the listeners to fill in the spaces themselves. Full lyrics and notes are provided, and Kaplan even sings some of the songs in English. Kaplan’s third release solidifies his reputation as the best American interpreter of Jewish spiritual and world music.
Greg Wall’s Later Prophets—Ha’Orot
This one mixes the influences of the other two, jazz and Kabbalah. The result is a Beat experience, with free verse read over free jazz arrangements. Here, Wall shows his love of sax greats like Parker, Coleman, and Coltrane, alongside his klezmer clarinet and the shofar. Wall also messes around in the studio, creating electronic soundscapes with his acoustic instruments. Here are both moments of chaos and reverent renditions of Jewish melodies. Here also are unique conflations, like a Rav Kook niggun, New Orleans-style. The album as a whole imagines a Rosh Hashanah service at the Green Mill. Allen Ginsberg would approve.
Nomi Teplow—Like a Rushing Spring
Cleveland-born chanteuse Nomi has lived in Israel for decades, but she still remembers her American roots, mixing Israeli rhythms with funk, folk, rock, and even touches of gospel. In her more tender moments, which make up most of the album, Nomi’s creamy voice recalls the vocals of Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie. The songs are mostly in Hebrew, but English translations are provided, and she even covers Celine Dion’s “The Prayer.” The songs’ sources range from Jewish scriptures to Nomi and her contemporaries. Their themes, however, are what make the album a spiritual one: a yearning for deeper meaning and higher fulfillment, a returning to Israel and its rushing springs of joy and peace. A profound album in pop clothing.
Frank London/Lorin Skalmberg—tsuker-zis (sugar-sweet)
If you recognize those names, it is because they are the trumpeter and lead singer of The Klezmatics. The songs they select for their third collaboration include “A Sukkah of Branches,” “Our Parent, Our Sovereign” (a.k.a. “Avinu Malkeinu”), and “Heed Not the Accuser,” and mostly others from this season, as well as some from Purim, Passover and Chanukah. The overall mood they create is intimate and sometimes spooky, like the aura of a campfire tale. London’s horn is subtle, and accompanied by Sephardic instruments, like the stringed oud and the bongo-like tabla. Some electric guitars and keening, celestial electronics appear toward the album’s end. Sklamberg is an adroit vocalist, acting almost as much as he sings; his folksy voice recalls that of Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary). A haunting, startling, mesmerizing work.
Shirat H-Lev—Ha’l’luyah
Another collaboration between black and white performers, Abraham Davis and Barbara A. Taft, although in this case both are Jewish. Almost more surprisingly, the duo is from Texas! Country music does tinge most of the tracks here, but there are some Middle Eastern percussion and reeds; the violin—prevalent in both genres—forms a nice bridge between the two worlds. The songs either come from traditional sources or are English originals by the duo. Davis’svoice is oaken, like Leo Kottke’s, while Taft’s is a more traditionally pretty singing voice. Each is effective alone, and Taft backs Davis well, but unfortunately, their vocal qualities do not blend as well on the duets where they sing alongside each other. The point, however, seems to be to encourage listeners to sing along, with whatever voice they have.
Lisa Jane Lipkin—A Prayer for Peace
Lipkin explains that she reached adulthood feeling that there was part of Jewish experience missing, explaining that she “can still taste my grandmother’s blintzes, but never formally learned Hebrew.” She began a quest into Jewish spiritually. Here she presents the musical discoveries she made along the way, and invites the listener to join her. Lipkin beckons us along with a truly charming voice—soaring, with a bit of a warble. One special gift here is the song “Bitachon,” sung to a bat-mitzvah, in which she explains that the quest ends where it begins: “Everything you need is inside.” Lipkin’s arrangements are contemporary and sophisticated, and the album as a whole is lovely and loving.
From the soaring harmonies of the choir to the anguished pleadings of the chazzan to the thundering responses of the congregation, our synagogues now resound with the most glorious music of the Jewish year. May your New Year be filled with health, happiness, and harmony.
Paul Wieder is public relations manager at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation.
