Customer Reviews

Brother Moses Smote the Water

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is shaping to be quite a year for Jewish music. First, The Klezmatics join up with Joshua Nelson for the klezmer-meets-gospel soul extravaganza "Brother Moses Smote The Water". Then, Hip Hop Hoodios come out of leftfield with the Latino-Jewish urban music fest that is "Agua Pa' La Gente" (which coincidentally features Frank London of The Klezmatics as a guest).

The sheer diversity and open-mindedness of both of these releases astounds me, and shows that Jewish music more than ever can appeal to the gentile masses as well. Go Klezmatics! Go Hip Hop Hoodios! I can't wait to see what else comes out this year....

When you grow up Jewish, Gospel Music isn't exactly a staple of your musical diet. They don't really encourage songs praising Jesus in Hebrew School. But when you grow up with rock'n'roll, R&B and Soul, you can feel gospel in your musical foundation. The Klezmatics and Joshua Nelson, a Black Cantor from New Jersey, have put together a Gospel album that Jews can embrace and love! They choose songs about liberation with a Hebrew sensibility and a Gospel soul . . . and it works! Cantor Nelson and the Klezmatics wail, foot-stomp and fly in this live performance. The straight gospel tunes actually outshine the Klezmer and Yiddish tunes, in my opinion. The best endorsement? When I first played "Brother Moses Smote the Water", my 9 year old son immediately began clapping his hands, stamping his feet and singing along from the back seat of my car. On the way to Temple, he now wants to listen to "Elijah Rock", "Mary, Don't You Weep" and "Didn't It Rain". Maybe we've got another Jewish Gospel star in the making?!?

I was eagerly anticipating listening to this combination of klezmer and gospel, two of the most "soulful" genres in music today. The CD was a bit disappointing to me in that it was uneven, with some songs being as good as I had hoped and others being the kind to make me hit "skip" on my CD player. I would like them to try again; I would be willing to buy a second effort.

This is an obscure jewel. A blend of two people who value freedom - Jews and African Americans. It is music of the soulful ghetto - the true spiritual - good for any occasion. It is a great sing along. It needs a resurgence - people should re-listen to its message.