High art and rubbish

CDs include enjoyable music and joke gifts.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY

Among this year's musical offerings, the Independent reviews some CDs that you will enjoy for years to come and a couple that, while they may make you laugh upon first or second hearing, will quickly lose their charm. Then again, tastes vary and some people may be excited that they can now sing along to well-known Jewish melodies played on a "surf guitar." We'll let you be the ultimate judge, of course, but here's our opinion on six recently released CDs.

Classically Jewish

Elijah's Violin (4Tay) is violinist Zina Schiff's third CD on the theme of Jewish legends. It follows The Golden Dove and King David's Lyre, on which she is also accompanied by pianist Cameron Grant.

A violin sonata by David Amram begins this CD. It has jazzy undertones but a notable Jewish flavor. The first movement is a bit angry, clashing and discordant notes in parts; it communicates strong feelings. The second movement is a lament, more calm, while the final section is varied, with playfulness and literal pluckiness, ending with a dynamic rendition of the composition's opening motif.

Schiff and Grant play wonderfully together in this and the other pieces on Elijah's Violin, and the selection of songs is one of the more interesting on a classical CD. There is an edginess that often comes through, which is unusual for this type of music, but which is compelling.

Following Amram's sonata is Haftorah by Abraham Ellstein (1907-1963) of Yidl Mitn Fidl fame. Schiff and Grant capture the vocal nuances of the centuries-old cantillations on which this song is based. The interplay between violin and piano is like that between cantor and congregation in a responsive prayer.

The artful conversation between instruments carries through to the concertino by Menahem Avidom (1908-1995), which builds in its movements to a near frenzy that is almost disturbing, too frantic.

The prayer-like Orientale by Efrem Zimbalist (1889-1985) is a welcome transition that is followed by Paul Ben-Haim's (1907-1984) ululating Arabic Song and his dramatic Improvisation and Dance. The mood returns to solemnity and reverence with two pieces by Julius Chajes (1910-1985), Tefilah and Hechassid, before the CD ends with four compositions by Paul Kirman: the passionate Sephardic Song, the delightful Danse Galicienne, the moving Chanson Palestinienne and the bold Yemenite Song. Little is known about Kirman, other than the fact that his four pieces were performed at the Theresienstadt concentration camp – it is amazing that some of his music somehow survived. It is fitting that his songs conclude a collection that celebrates the Jewish spirit.

To order Elijah's Violin, visit www.classicalcds.net.

Sacred folk music

In the last half-century, traditional eastern European and cantorial melodies have been replaced in many synagogues by prayers set to folk tunes. Music historian Robert L. Cohen – who spoke at last month's Carlebach Conference in New York – seems to applaud the change and has compiled Open the Gates: New American-Jewish Music for Prayer, Vol. 1 (Sterling Media Productions). Its 18 songs provide an overview of the diverse musical styles (Chassidic, bluegrass, country, world music) that have come to characterize North American Jews' approach to prayer.

In addition to two locally known composers – former Vancouverite Hanna Tiferet Siegel and Vancouverite Myrna Rabinowitz (with the group Shir Hadash) – this CD features cuts from original recordings by Craig Taubman, Linda Hirschhorn, Michael Shapiro, Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin, Elizabeth Swados, Beat'achon, Regesh, Safam, Tanchum Portnoy, Bruce Benson, the Fabrangen Fiddlers, the Diaspora Yeshivah Band, Kolos, Dveykus, Debbie Friedman and Shlomo Carlebach. Siegel contributes "S'fatai Tiftach" (1994) and Rabinowitz's "Adon Olam" (1989) rounds outs the collection.

Cohen's extensive liner notes begin with a detailed historical perspective on Jewish religious folk music that some people may consider too harsh toward traditional cantorial and choral sacred music, but which is interesting nonetheless. Cohen supports his arguments using diverse sources, from folksinger Pete Seeger to contemporary musicologists and cantors to Chassidic rebbes to Leonard Bernstein. The liner notes also contain an introduction to each song and biographical information for all the artists.

Proceeds from the sale of Open the Gates benefit the Maalot Seminary in Rockville, Md., which was founded in 1988 by Rabbi David Shneyer and is devoted to the perpetuation and development of Jewish music, liturgy and the ceremonial arts. To purchase a copy of the CD, go online to www.cdbaby.com/openthegates.

Friedman collection

No doubt Debbie Friedman fans have been waiting a long time for this to happen. After almost 35 years of composing and with 21 albums under her belt, Friedman has finally issued Songs of the Spirit: The Debbie Friedman Anthology (Jewish Music Group).

A two-CD set, the collection comprises 45 songs recorded between 1972 and 2003. It includes many well-known and often-sung melodies such as "Oseh Shalom," "Miriam's Song," "Mi Shebeirach," "The Water in the Well" and "Devorah's Song." It also features a few of Friedman's children's songs, which is a questionable decision – not because they aren't fine songs, but because the adult audience for which most of the pieces were written may not appreciate them as much as the others. That said, if you are looking for another half-decent Chanukah song for this year's celebration, Friedman provides three on this CD: "The Latke Song," "The Dreidel Song" and "Light These Lights."

In the booklet accompanying the CD, Debra Nussbaum Cohen provides a history of Friedman's distinguished career, including the inspiration for some of the folksinger's songs and which songs resonate most with Friedman. Cohen also touches upon the changes in Jewish music and Judaism over the years. All of the words and transliterations of the songs, as well as the albums on which they were recorded and other such pertinent information, are contained in the booklet.

For more information or to buy Songs of the Spirit, visit www.jewishmusicgroup.com or www.ajourneyofspirit.com. For information about a recent documentary on Friedman, called A Journey of Spirit, go to www.ajourneyofspirit.com.

Mainstream sound

A group of four Israeli youth from Moshav Meor Modi'im – which was founded by the legendary Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach – has made it in the music business.

The Moshav Band – primarily composed of brothers Yehuda Solomon (vocals, percussion), Meir Solomon (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Yosef Solomon (bass) and Duvid Swirsky (vocals, guitar) – has been performing since the 1990s. They made their North American debut in Montreal in 1998 and have been based in Los Angeles since 2000. They have released one DVD and five albums, with their sixth (called Malachim) expected in spring 2006. In the meantime, the group has produced The Best of Moshav Band: Higher and Higher (Jewish Music Group).

The band's success in the mainstream probably has less to do with their lyrics – many of which embrace Jewish spiritual themes – and more to do with their rock/folk/reggae sound. Various songs recall other successful contemporary performers, such as the Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts and the Dave Matthews Band. The feeling upon hearing the Moshav Band is familiarity; that you've heard them before on the radio, no matter how unlikely that is if you live in Vancouver. They have a vibrant, if not completely original, sound and, although they write about some serious issues, they leave you with a sense of hope: their music leans toward the inspirational more than the depressing and angry.

Higher and Higher has 18 tracks and provides a good introduction to the Moshav Band, both their English and Hebrew songs. As well, the CD is accompanied by a brief history of the group and the featured songs. For more information, check out www.moshavband.com.

Rappin' surfer Jews?

With Songs of the Spirit and Higher and Higher to their credit, you know that the Jewish Music Group (JMG) can produce quality music. This makes at least one of the following releases a bit of a mystery. We'll start with the worst.

Meshugga Beach Party: Twenty Songs of the Chosen Surfers presents some of the most over-sung Jewish melo-dies played by guitarist Mel Waldorf. While instrumental versions of "Hava Nagila," "Shalom Aleichem," "Dreidel, Dreidel," "Dayenu," "Siman Tov" and "Shalom Haverim" - not to mention "Kol Nidre" (!?!) and "Hatikvah" - all done to the twangy chords and reverb of the surf guitar may suffice for a giggle or two, they grow tiresome quickly ... very quickly.

No doubt Waldorf put this recording together with the right kavanah (intention). He truly seems to respect his faith. He really seems to want to encourage people to let loose and have a little fun. Unfortunately, this beach party is not worth attending.

But just so you don't think that the Independent doesn't have a sense of humor, another JMG release brought several laughs.

Chutzpah calls itself "the first-ever Jewish hip-hop supergroup"; the Beastie Boys, 2 Live Jews and other such groups notwithstanding. On its recently released Chutzpah (Eponymous), the group raps about Yiddish, tsuris (worries), nagging mothers, Chanukah and other such things. They do so with complete irreverence, playing on all the stereotypes about Jews, but they are funny and the music is actually pretty good.

Take, for example, the introduction to the song "Old School Jew," where Dr. Dreck (aka 71-year-old actor George Segal) says, "I want to give a shout out to all my peeps in the Ukraine. C'mon. Yah. We're goin' back old school. I'm talkin' way old school, as in Lithuania, Poland, Austria, eastern Brooklyn...." Then there's "Curse of the Blessing," the chorus of which is "The curse of the blessing, the blessing of the curse, when things get better, you think they're gettin' worse. When things get worse, then at least you feel that life is worth living 'cause this pain is real. Is real, is real, this pain is real. Is real, is real, that's the deal."

The group's three permanent members are Master Tav, MC Meshugenah and Jewdah (otherwise known as Tor Hyams, Jerran Friedman and David Scharff, respectively). Their promotional material, including a mock documentary, includes testimonials from actor Gary Oldman, rock star Deborah Harry and other celebrities.

It's difficult to tell whether Chutzpah want to be taken seriously as musicians or not. Their lyrics probably do not have mass appeal and the band members look ridiculous in their baggy clothing, sporting their baseball caps and other hip-hop-appropriate gear. As well, Segal as Dreck is an annoying, almost embarrassing, part of the CD – luckily he does not actually rap with Chutzpah in concert.

Regardless of their intent, the group is seeing some success. According to New York's Forward, their music video for "Chanukah's da Bomb" is now appearing on MTV Online and on Video on Demand, and they are touring venues around the United States. Perhaps they will achieve their stated goal of bringing young Jewish listeners "something to be proud of in a world that often steers them away from their birth heritage."

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