Hislahavus is an avid Jewish music collector. He gets a kick out of varied and eclectic music, and is in heaven when a bunch of bochurim join him at the Shabbos table to sing some Chabad d'veykus niggunim and Sefardi zemirot. He works in the youth industry, where he puts his passion for good Jewish music to work. He plays flute - though not professionally, by any means, and is the Baal Tefillah and Baal Koreh at his local shteeble.

Music to the Tune of Judaism – A Lesson from the Song at the Sea

With Parshat Beshalach this week, how could we not present an explanation on the Shirat Hayam? We’ll return to our regularly scheduled exploration of music next week. :-) The Song at the Sea has many angles of study that are absolutely fascinating. On of the interesting medrashim on this incredible national experience of music is

Music to the Tune of Judaism

In an effort to explore the Jewish aspect of Jewish music, our very own Hislahavus will be sharing an inspiring weekly message on Jewish music on JMR every Friday. Our Sages tell us about ten special songs, representing deep and cosmic messages. The first of these tunes was composed by Adam, the first human, and

Letter to JM Producers

Dear Jewish Music Producer, Hi! I’d like to introduce myself – I’m Hislahavus. I guess I’d call myself a “semi-professional listener.” Or, as others might call it, a music snob. I’m a music junky. I’m not (really) a musician; I never studied music in a class, I’ve only intensely studied the music that you’ve produced.

Hislahavus’ Reviews of EPs: Eden and Isaac Bitton

What’s the point of an EP? I never quite got it. It seems to be a relic of the vinyl past. But for whatever reason, EPs occasionally pop up, and sometimes with quite good music. Here are two recent albums that are worth a look, despite their short setlist. Isaac Bitton’s Generation Redemption: Isaac Bitton

Scoop – Yaron Gershovsky to Feature Sarah Dukes’ All-New Compositions!

Love solo piano? Here’s a treat for you: In a first for Jewish music, a new album is about to be released of entirely new compositions for piano, composed by pianist Sarah Dukes, and performed by the peerless Yaron Gershovsky. “We were looking for a pianist who really understood the compositions, and after trying a

Exclusive Interview with Andy Statman: Part 2 – “Old Brooklyn”

Part 1 of this interview can be found here; Hislahavus’ review of Old Brooklyn can be found here. Hislahavus: Some of your compositions on this album seem to have tones like niggunim; particularly Eitan and Zeidy. Thoughts on that? Andy Statman: My Hollywood Girls – and I’ll have to tell you about that name –

The Megama Albums – Available Again!

When JMR first started, we posted an item called “The Lost Albums” regarding albums that have disappeared. Among those albums, we mentioned the classic Megama records, whose most famous song, “My Zeidy”, was for many years the anthem of the Baal Teshuva movement. The Megama Duo, made up of guitarist and vocalist Moshe Yess and

Exclusive Interview with Andy Statman: Part 1 – Statman on Niggunim

Part 1 of a wide-ranging, honest and informative interview with world class master musician, Andy Statman. Hislahavus: Mazel Tov on your release of the new album, Old Brooklyn! Can you tell us of the reaction so far in the secular and Jewish music worlds to the album? Andy Statman: There have been some good previews.

Hislahavus’ Review of Andy Statman’s Old Brooklyn

NOTE: I wrote this review before my conversation with Statman himself. That exclusive and wide-ranging interview will be published here as well. But there are a few areas of that conversation that clarify or define parts of the album; concepts that I knew nothing of as a simple listener. So, for insider info on this

Scoop: Isaac Bitton (Raya Mehemna) to Release New Album!

JMR has just found out that Moroccan rocker, drummer and vocalist Isaac Bitton, is about to release his third album! Bitton attained renown in the ’70′s with his French rock band, called Les Variations. Upon entering a new stage of his life, he formed a frum rock band in the early 1980′s called “Raaya Mehemna”

Hislahavus’ Review of Moshe Hecht’s Debut Album, Heart is Alive

A new artist has appeared on the scene, one who truly defines the word artist. And while his work is somewhat new to the Jewish music world; or at least, has not been seen since the disappearance of Megama. Introducing Moshe Hecht: a true folk/rock singer, who comes with English lyrics and his own compositions.

Hislahavus’ Review of MBD’s Kissufim

  So this is it. The “King of Jewish Music” and his last album – Kissufim. I don’t think any of us expected it to be like this – not the singer of Moshiach, Maaminim and Just One Shabbos! – but in the end, it’s up to the artist to go where he wants. And

The Perfect Album?

What makes an album great? Obviously, there are many aspects, but I did a quick experiment. I pulled up iTunes and sorted my 350+ albums by highest rated. As I had thought, I don’t have that many albums that I give a full five stars to – after all, I’m a bit of a critic.