CHICAGO — They are round, shiny and popular. But CDs don’t melt like chocolate coins — and they have fewer calories. To give the gelt without the guilt, try the gift of music.
“Rick Recht: Shabbat Alive!”
Recht transmits spirituality, social conscience and a sheer love of Judaism, all in an irresistible rock-n-roll package. His is the sound of America’s Jewish youth — happy, strong and blessed with boundless potential.
Achinoam ‘Noa’ Nini/Gil Dor: “First Collection”
Born in Israel to Yemenite parents and raised in New York, Noa says her music is anchored on “both sides of the sea.” Her first all-Hebrew anthology, “First Collection,” arrived this year. The album chronicles a decade of her music — from a single guitar to the Israeli Philharmonic. But the centerpiece is that voice, sparkling as silver and warm as gold. If you’ve ever enjoyed Noa’s concerts, all her best stuff is right here.
Diaspora: “The Diaspora Collection”
Founded at the Diaspora Yeshiva by rock-loving students in the late ’70s, Diaspora created the Jewish rock genre, now reaching a new plateau. “The Diaspora Collection” is a two-CD set that captures the history of the band. It proves Diaspora’s claim as the seminal Jewish rock band…and also the greatest Jewish country band ever, thanks to Avraham Rosenblum’s rangy guitar and Ruby Harris’s down-home fiddle and mandolin.
Sam Glaser: “The Songs We Sing”
We’ve always sung “Adon Olam,” “Tumbalalaika” and “Erev Shel Shoshanim.” But we’ve never heard them the Sam Glaser way. A tireless, gifted producer, Glaser established the annual Jewish Song Festival that helped launch many careers. An engaging performer, he combines old-fashioned haimishness with state-of-the-art technology. Here, he re-imagines Jewish favorites as rock, blues and reggae numbers. In “The Songs We Sing,” Glaser explains why this music has endured: It always sings to the current generation.
Philip Don and Ruby Harris: “Tzalel Nafshi”
The title song won an international Jewish music competition and is featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “The Long Way Home.” Encompassing American, European and Israeli music, “Tzalel Nafshi” features the words and voice of Don and the compositions and music of Harris, who is a one-person string section, playing up to four instruments on one track. Paul Zim: “Shabbat is Here”
Zim’s latest, “Shabbat is Here,” is a Chanukah present you can open every Friday afternoon. Zim makes children’s albums their parents won’t tune out. Featuring Zim’s big, warm voice, the CD uses his usual magical mix of styles, instruments and comedy…and a backup group powered by presweetened cereal. Although he passed his 30th release some time ago, Zim is very up to date, as evidenced by “The Tot Shabbat Song.”
Shirona: “Judaic Love Songs (Love Songs to the Creator)”
Ruth Wieder Magan: “Songs to the Invisible G-d”
Two takes on the same idea: a woman with a plush yet soaring voice singing love songs to God.
But here the similarities end. Shirona writes her own material, based in Scripture and liturgy, and backs it with lush instrumentation. Her debut release evidences not only Eastern European and Middle Eastern but also Celtic, influences.
Wieder Magan (no relation) sings cantorial works composed by the great classical Jewish arrangers. The only sound on the entire album is Magan’s haunting voice. The works are beautiful, but can be challenging, even frightening at times. “Songs to the Invisible G-d” is the more difficult of the two, but also the more profound.