Niggun Simcha • Akiva ben Horin

The name I have seen countless times... scrolling through my music drive, quickly past the Aidan & Dotan and past Aleichem V'aleinu (Oif Simchos). And this has been sandwiched between those two all these years. Listen to him breathe between fluting. A keyboard cannot well replicate that sound.



And see/hear him in a 1991 recital.

Lihiyot biSIMCHA!!! • Aaron Razel

Mo Oshiv • Avshalom Speed (Harei Yehuda)

We met Harei Yehuda in this post. In short, Abie Rotenberg and friends sang to benefit a mutual friend who was stricken with Parkison's. This is Archibald Heed singing his participation.

R' Michel Zlotchover's Niggun • Israel Edelson

For Yammo, wherever it may be. Good Shabbos!
a

Kol Nidre - Perlman and Helfgott

Can I be the next one to add the HH tag?
The CD is being released by SONY on Sept 4th HaShata.

HT: YA

Nafshenu Katzipor • Aaron Razel

Peretz commented on the non-flow of yesterday's post. It is a family thing.

As I recall, Aaron Razel used to jam on Motza'ei Shabbos in random homes and shuls in Tzfas, 1999. He released a recording that year called "Hasneh bo'er"—the Bush is Burning. It was musically original as an acoustic, Jewish, solo-artist, non-Aderet-distributed act. I think it was also lyrically and conceptually original for its reliance on  story/message scripture in addition to the prayer/praise scripture. Examples are "Tzei min hateiva" "Ha'sneh bo'er" "Hayinu kicholmim."

More recently, Aaron composed "Lev Echad" for Yeedle and "B'inyan hasimcha" for MBD, both "alternative" in music and concept relative to "typical" Super Star Singer Stuff, but always eidel, Jewish and good.

Katonti • Yonatan Razel

Sruly M. emailed this new mellow and melodic track last night.

My first thoughts: Excellent background listen. Potentially excellent period.

As both Razel brothers have separately proven to be thoughtful composers—inspired by and inspiring to the Chassidic soul of life—I am fine with "reading into" this whole thing like a three-part niggun.

The low part is simple and structured, almost simple enough to be any low part on any slow song of any "Smashing New Superstar Singer", but with a few note-twists that remind me of JEP (hear 1:05).

Often, a slow start from a proven musician is a sign of a great punchline to come. Indeed, besides for the fact that the composer called this song "Katonti", I think it is about "Hatzileni Na." These words are where the emotion and prayer come in. As if to say "it's true that I feel meritless; and it's true that I may be meritful; but Save me on Your terms, G-d!"

Following the prayer is the self-assurance, "Ki chasdecha gadol"—You have saved me before and You will hold me again. Orchestra, gospel, understated but very full.

Hear here.

Your thoughts?

Ki Anu Amecha • Israel Edelson

And we blessed Chodesh Elul. Here is the first HH tag of the season :)

A gutten EREV Erev Shabbos!

In the final minutes of 1442, I say: thank you for your love, your warmth, and all your music. See you on Monday, bez"h! Meshane makom, meshaneh mazal litova vilivrocha!

a

Jo Amar: Yismach Moshe

Yevarechecha Medley • Avraham Fried Live in Israel

Great songs. Great singing. Ah, the good old Fried!

Adon Olam • Yehuda Glantz (Traditional)

Which reminds me...

Adon Olam - Sruli Ginsburg

Perfectly Pleasant. Well done Guy I Never Heard Of!

Yehuda Green • Holy Brothers (Tayre Brider)

Three-of-three. PUMP IT, BROTHA!


Also, I found an actively publishing blog with fewer clicks than ours! (Checked their Sitemeter for fun.) Check our Shmeeze.com for cool yellow, cooler yellow on highlight, and several excellent posts.

Good Shabbos!

The Return • Avraham Fried

The second of the First-Rate songs that I referenced yesterday. After davening, I was apparently humming the intro to this song. "Dijon" commented that "this intro is one of the best intros in Jewish music period. It is it's own song!" And I thought, Yeaah. It kinda is and it kinda is.

But it wasn't yesterday's Shir Shel Yom.

Binu Bo'arim • Yitzchak Fuchs

This is the first of three #1 blockbusting songs that came to mind this morning. But it's the only one that is from today's Shir Shel Yom.



Now let's hope I both remember and still love the other two when it comes down to it...