January 26, 2006

CANTOR MIKE STEIN Shabbat in Swing Time!

Ben Jacobson writes in the Jerusalem Post:

Member of the clergy team at the Los Angeles-area's Temple Aliyah, Cantor Mike Stein has maintained an active and accomplished musical career outside of Judaism. As a teenager, he appeared in the original cast of Broadway's "Jesus Christ Superstar," and he went on to write and record the wildly successful series of "Dinorock" children's recordings, which even garnered him a Grammy. His family band, The Rolling Steins, tours the US extensively, and he also plays the violin on Craig Taubman recordings.

Stein's new album, Shabbat in Swing Time!, is surprisingly exactly what the title claims - a collection of Sabbath-themed original melodies, almost all of which are presented in a jazzy, homey rhythm. Both the opening "Shalom Aleichem" and the evening service-inspired "Ahavat Olam" showcase Stein's version of laid-back shuffle-beats well. Other styles explored here include lounge crooning ("Or Zauua"), hazzanut ("Mi Chamocha") and blues ("Shalom Rav"). The goofiness of the cover art reverberates on "Refaenu," while the Cantor's "Barechu" is transformed into a call and answer-structured exercise in scat whimsy.


Posted by yudel at 09:39 PM | Comments (0)

Emanuel Steinbaum Presents Puch

Vivah Sarah Press writes in the Jerusalem Post:

A recent debut in record stores is a solo effort by Emanuel Steinbaum, better known as Puch, and the Helicon record company has been heavily promoting its new young singer.

Born and bred in Jerusalem, Puch wrote lyrics and composed the music to all but one of the tracks on this album. His first single, "Nemalim," was quickly picked up by radio stations. His music is pop with a splash of rock, electronica and world beats. The album is fun to listen to - Puch sings softly, then louder, croons and harmonizes, and sounds totally at ease with singing solo.

On the track "Meaz She'halacht," musical backup is provided by none other than Idan Raichel (who collaborated with Puch before Raichel became a star). Like its melody, the words of this break-up song are touching.

Puch is not afraid to play with different styles: "Od Horim," which follows "Meaz She'halacht," is more lively and even has a polka intro.

The one song not written by Puch on the album ("Kol Hazman") was penned by his musician brother, Ronen. The 26-year-old Puch has been involved in the Jerusalem music scene since the age of 12.

The album has a high quality sound, and whereas other bands quickly record and release their material on disc, Puch and Helicon took over two years to put this debut together.

There's no doubt we'll be hearing a lot more from this up and coming Jerusalemite.

Posted by yudel at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2005

Hanoch & Arzi in Caesaria

Jerusalem Post reviews Shalom Hanoch, Shlomo Artzi In Caesaria (Hed Arzi)
One of the most hyped Israeli rock concerts of the year now comes to you on CD. Once competitors, rock giants Shalom Hanoch and Shlomo Artzi, have united to bring local music fans an awesome double CD album of the best of both their songs.

From "Kama Tov Shebat Habayta" to "Yareach" to "Gever Holech Le'eebud", fans of this genre of music will love this album.

Hanoch and Artzi have each stamped the Israeli rock scene with their folk-rock musical styles. Most of their fans are devoted to both of them. And so, for them to hook up was unexpected but not outrageous.

While it's touching to hear Hanoch sing Artzi and Artzi sing Hanoch, for the most part it sounds like they preferred to duet ather than offer solos of one another's signature songs. Duets are always good, but solos are sharper. Hearing the crowd before each track brings the listener into the excitement of the crowd at Caesaria Amphitheater.

Overall, Artzi fans and Hanoch followers alike will find this album favorable.

Posted by yudel at 05:21 PM | Comments (0)

April 02, 2005

Post hits Hitman

Jerusalem Post's Viva Sarah Press hits Hitman as a debut with no punch:

Ohad Hitman might already have a long list of accomplishments to his name, but his debut album isn't up to scratch.

The 27-year-old offers 12 tracks on this self-titled disc that are just not fully formed. The melodies are pleasant, but nothing special.

Although this is his first full-length album, expectations were high because of his background. Hitman, whose uncle was the late music-maker Uzi Hitman, has composed songs for numerous Festigal events, and wrote music for the TV show Domino in his early career.

The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance graduate has also participated in a number of festivals throughout the country, including the Piano Festival and the Holon Hebrew Song event.

His single, "Tagidi Lo," which is popular on the radio, is enjoyable to listen to, but doesn't push one to invest in the album.

Other singles include "Nocturno" and "Talot," though songs like the melodious "Nahar Ha'ahava" and the compelling "Tefilin" better showcase his strengths as a musician.

Will this Hitman be a force on the Israeli rock scene? Yes, most likely. He just has to let loose on his follow-up album, and give that extra zing that this one is missing.

Posted by yudel at 08:47 PM | Comments (0)

Press Pans Pearl

Vivian Sarah Press reviews Itay Pearl's first album, Banot, in Jerusalem Post:


Itay Pearl's solo debut is a collection of mostly acoustic guitar songs about girls.

The album pretty much sticks to its "girl" theme, with the 13 tracks enlightening us about Pearl's personal experiences with women. It's sweet.

Musically, however, Pearl seems mixed up. He throws in an array of musical styles that don't mesh. As a whole, the album, feels disjointed: there's jazz ("Avraham V'Ibrahim"), folk ("Ben Kechol Habanim") and acoustic rock ("Kol Hatovot Tfusot").

Moreover, background voices and laughter give the bizarre sensation that the music was perhaps recorded in an amusement park.

Pearl is definitely talented, but he's just trying to do too much on this debut album. The Safed-born musician not only wrote and composed the music and plays guitar, but also produced almost the whole album. He fine-tuned his skills at the Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University.

This isn't the last we'll hear of him, but hopefully his next release will be more cohesive.

Posted by yudel at 08:45 PM | Comments (0)

March 02, 2005

Yoni Rechter keeps spreading the joy

Liat Collins reviews the new Yoni Rechter album for the Jerusalem Post


YONI RECHTER
Bechol paam sheani menagen
(Hed Artzi)

Yoni Rechter has made a great contribution to the Israeli music scene in a career spanning more than 30 years. But his name, for some reason, is rarely mentioned with the greats: Arik Einstein, Shlomo Artzi and Matti Caspi. Perhaps it is because his work is not "sing-alongable," as this double-disc collection proves. His music constantly shifts tones and beats, and his classical piano training (and penchant for jazz, Bach, Bartok and Shostakovich) is evident.

An accomplished singer, his main impact has nonetheless been as a composer. His 1977 "Atur mitzhech" (Wreath of gold") to the words of poet Avraham Halfi and performed by Arik Einstein has, on several occasions, been voted the most popular Israeli song of all time.


Posted by yudel at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)