Congregational Melodies

90% of being a cantor is leading your community in song. The ideal service for me is just the right balance of davening, congregational singing, and, perhaps, one or two vertical moments to give the congregation an opportunity for reflection. Below are four examples of typical congregational melodies that I hope we can sing together one day.

Holidays

Hatzi Kaddish for Tal/Geshem

This is a little excerpt of davening- a little fancier than normal, because it’s N’ilah, which requires more emotional investment, but this is very typical of how I daven on the High Holidays. #runningonfumes #dehydrated. The first half is just davening in nusach. The second half was composed by Alberto Mizrahi at my request and on the spot. He was so moved by the text while he sang it for me that he got a little verklempt. It still moves me to sing this text, as I think of that moment, and the existential musings of the liturgy.

It’s a High Holiday standard that most synagogues would likely expect to hear, so here it is. Barb Wertico is on piano.

No High Holiday experience would be complete without this.

Funerals

I have included this track because it’s a beloved staple in my funeral repertoire, and you can hear what my voice sounds like in a natural setting.

Although my usual singing range is much lower, I feel it’s important to demonstrate that I am capable of singing in other styles when it is appropriate.

Children’s Songs

Nothing makes me smile from the deepest part of my soul more than leading tots in song. Here is a favorite of mine. If you see any videos of me playing the guitar, you’ll notice a tyrannosaurus rex sticker on my guitar. It was a gift from a child and it will remain there, because it’s the Shabbat Dinosaur.

Traditional Davening

My mentor and friend, Alberto Mizrahi, asked me to lead Ma’ariv on the night of the concert celebrating his installation as President of the Cantors Assembly.  It’s obviously a rough track, but gives a sense of my davening ability, plus it’s cool to have 200 cantors responding in a giant hall.

Below is a “tallis tape” of the repetition of the Amidah on Rosh Hashanah at Anshe Emet in 2016.

Below is another “tallis tape” of the repetition of the Amidah on Yom Kippur at Congregation Beth Shalom in 2014.

I love this text from Rosh Hashanah Shacharit, and my mentor, Alberto Mizrahi taught it to me. He creates melodies that show such a deep understanding of the texts in ways that are very meaningful to me.

Contemporary

I love this setting, for use in a musical service, to set the tone for a contemplative silent Amidah. Todd Kessler is on guitar.

I also love this setting, to bookend a silent Amidah, also in a musical service, as we are all concluding our prayers. Todd Kessler is on guitar.

My friend, Todd Kessler is on guitar and vocals here. I love collaborating with other musicians and look forward to more opportunities to do this.

I derive great pleasure from stepping out of the spotlight and giving some supporting vocals in the name of making good music. I love this piece, and had a lot of fun recording it with Todd, who is again, on guitar and lead vocals.

The FloatingHouse

From 1986 until 2002 I was the lead singer in the ethereal folk band The FloatingHouse (not to be confused with the Floating House Band, please). In its earliest iteration, the band went by the name “Mission to Mars” and later “Mishun:Mars,” but those names didn’t capture the *mission* with our music to transport people within themselves to a higher place. We played coffee houses around LA, and a few amazing clubs, and released a CD called “Our World". You won’t find much of a web presence, but a reviewer at allmusic.com who was clearly doing his due diligence by listening to every. single. track. in a compilation of 4AD-esque music called “Splashed with Many a Speck” raised an eyebrow at our track, and I convinced him to review our CD. Below you can hear a few tracks, if you’re interested….