Been Busy!

As you may have guessed from the counter on top, I've been spending time with my kallah and that's why I haven't been posting. I'll be back in the near future!

Barcheinu by Sandy Shmuely

(Via JewishInsights)

Introducing the first track from his eighth album. Sandy Shmuely, a well known Israeli-American artist, is about to complete the preparations for another album of Jewish music, his eighth. The album was recorded here in Israel, an all Israeli production.
Shmuely is expected to arrive in Israel imminently in order to put the finishing touches to the album, which will be released towards the end of the summer.

Shmuely may live in New York, but he constantly lives and breathes Eretz Hakodesh. “All my friends, and my whole family live there, I am on top of everything that goes on in Israel, from a political, social and artistic point of view, I constantly listen to the news in Hebrew and keep a close watch on what is going on. In fact”, he explains, “I may live in the galut but speak Hebrew the whole time…”

Shmuely and his band perform almost nightly at celebrations all over the west coast. In addition, he is musical director of no less than four yeshivas and colleges in New York, producing plays and directing appearances, as well as working with choirs from these institutions. “My greatest satisfaction is when a children’s choir performs songs that I have written, this also keeps me in touch with what is happening today.”

Shmuely (52) is no longer a child himself, yet relates easily to the latest styles of music, and is considered one of the most creative forces in Jewish music today. The latest album contains 11 tracks that vary in style from the original to the traditional, all created by Sandy Shmuely, and arranged and produced jointly by Shmuely and Asher Lugassi, an Israeli musician who owns a recording studio in the north of the country.

Berry Weber - NOW AVAILABLE!

Berry Weber's debut album, Biezras Hashem Yisbarach, can now be purchased through Mostlymusic as a CD or through download!

Pictures from the B'Derech Concert

(Via Facebook - Pictures by Sruly Green)

This concert, which was held in Brooklyn, this past Thursday, June 18th was packed with up and coming Jewish music vocalists.
(In the order that they appear below) Berry Weber, Yoni Zigelbaum, Shea Rubenstein, Yoely Lebovitz, and Yossi Fraenkel.

Yossi Fraenkel - Giving back to the Chabad community

"Singer Yossi Fraenkel Offers Free Performances to Chabad Houses, Chabad Tzedakos and Fundraising Dinners: “I Want to Give Back to The Rebbe and Those Who Give to Many More.”

Yossi Fraenkel a well known and popular Jewish singer has announced his offer to perform free of charge at events held by charities and other nonprofit organizations for the duration of 2009. “Chabad Houses and other Charities face so many obstacles in the current economic crisis, with more people in need, and fewer donations pouring in,” Yossi explains. “I want to give back to the Rebbe who's bracha and dollar accompanies me at every show, as well as all those who give to others.” His magnanimous offer extends to all charities and nonprofit organizations who seek to enhance their events with professional vocal entertainment. Instead of having to set aside a large part of their budget to obtain a musical artist, Fraenkel will now provide that for them, free of charge. Yossi Fraenkel has performed throughout the United States, Israel and Europe. His audiences have included various elected officials and religious leaders. Yossi performs at special needs homes, schools, events and Kumzites on a regular basis as well as being on call every day for Mekimi to go sing at hospital beds of sick patients. He is sought after at weddings, Sheva Brachos and other Simchas throughout the country.

Organizations seeking to accept his generous offer should contact Yossi Fraenkel by visiting his website, www.jewishsinger.com . Alternately, he can be reached by phoning 917-677-4545. Yossi’s gracious offer is emblematic of the initiative needed to quell the effects of the recession on our communities at large. It is his hope that others will follow his example and give generously.

Rocky Ziegler and Aaron Razel

(via YouTube user yerachmielz)
Yerachmiel and Aaron Razel team up for a new album called "The Secret of Shabbos" www.myspace.com/yerachmiel

What are my thoughts on this? I think they both look like they're a little off their rockers (see the piece on the roof to catch my drift), but we need a little bit of that in the world. It's actually a very sweet and pleasant song though. Enjoy! :)

Oorah's "The Shmorg" Download for FREE

Mostlymusic continues to deliver. I've noticed that ever since they added Sruly Meyer to the team, they have become way more informative. In general, the site is more up-to-date and fresher. The only thing they have yet to update is their "Free Weekly Download" option, there hasn't been one of those in a while.

This Free download (below) was given out as part of the mostlymusic June newsletter. If you're a Jewish music fan (if you're reading this, you probably are!), then I highly suggest you subscribe to their newsletter. You can subscribe by going to this LINK and filling out your e-mail address.

Oorah 10 Song CD Now Available for Free Download!

Oorah 10 Track CD - FREE!

We are excited to offer to you, in conjunction with Oorah.com, the recent Oorah CD release as a free download on MostlyMusic.com. Oorah put together ten beautiful tracks featuring many hot singers from the industry. Lipa Schmeltzer, Yehuda Green, Michoel Pruzansky, Eitan Katz, Yosef Chaim, Avrumy Schwebel , Moishy Mendlowitz and introducing the 2009 Oorah Auditions winner, Yonaton Shlagbaum.

You can now download the entire CD through MostlyMusic.com.