Cantor Helfgot sings..... Shlomo Carlebach?

This evening I came across an interesting video of Cantor Helfgot, Chief Cantor of the Park East Synagogue in New York City, international Chazzanut concert performer and possibly the most hyped Chazzan of our time.

Instead of his usual chazzanut classics like Zibert's "Mimkomcha," Kwartin's "Tiher Rabbi Yishmael," and Rosenblatt's "Ad Hena", he took on Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach's Moshe Ve'Aharon from Kabbalat Shabbat.



 Some of the most memorable Kabbalat Shabbat's of my life were spent with my good friend Danny Weinstein at Brandeis University, who introduced me (and many others) to a true Carlebach service.

Glad to see a professional chazzan perform a contemporary piece which speaks to those who have been moved by Carlebach's music.

Chazzanut Online- For your Cantorial needs

Last year I showcased a site called Virtual Cantor, a rich database of free traditional Nussach for many Shabbat/Holiday services. Today I would like to give a shout out to Chazzanut. This site contains a plethora of Cantorial sheet music as well as MIDI files, so you can pickup Abraham Katz's V'Shamru or Birkat Kohanim. Take a look and let me know which piece is your favorite? Better yet, why not make a youtube video of yourself singing the piece and share it? I am thinking of starting to upload some cantorial pieces to CantorsClub.

Happy Singing!
Mishebeirakh- Cantor Katz Midi

Cantor Yaakov Motzen Sings at Kemp Mill Synagogue in Maryland

This past friday evening I went to the Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silverspring MD to hear the visiting Cantor Yaakov Motzen lead Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv.

I did not know what to expect. Over the last several years all the buzz had been about Cantor Helfgot and a select other few. I am familiar with a handful other Chazzanim that are all very talented but Cantor Yaakov Motzen had slipped under the radar.

He is a true professional. Every phrase that comes out of his mouth is carefully crafted with strong vocal technique and artistic interpretation. He sounds like he could night float as an Opera Singer.

The accompanying choir from YU was passable at best but still added an important element that is essential for a strong Cantorial experience. A good choir not only helps push the Cantor/Congregation to new heights but helps make the Cantorial soloist's singing more accessible so the congregation can sing along as well.

Cantor Motzen's high notes were the most exciting part of the evening. Whether just touching a high note during an arpeggiated chord or holding a sustained high note at the end of Lewandowski's tzadik katamar they all were thrilling, effortless, and inspiring.

This type of experience is what we so desperately need to jump start Jewish music as an art form in the synagogue again.