Re: Question: Modzitz cd (Fusion Music)

[Klezcorner <Klezcorner...>]

In a message dated 1/5/99 7:17:52 AM, you wrote:

<< The problem with much
of the Chassidic/religious music that is fused with pop/rock is the quality
and shmaltz not the fusion.  Religious songs joined with lame music are lame. 
>>
                                  THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG
On a purely personal note, I tend to stay away from ANY "fusion" or hyphenated
music. I generally find that 'fusion' tends to dilute both of the styles that
are being brought (forced) together.  I can see where a musician wants to
experiment  with music to reach a broader audience, but more often than not,
they abandon(for Commercial reasons) their original style with  which they
have made a trade mark.
That does not mean that you can't update the music. Count Basie in the 40's is
just as recognizable as he was in the 60's, yet he kept that "thing" that
differentiated him from the others. 

Too many times the "Jewishness" gets fused out of Jewish music. If you ever
heard some of the stuff that is sent for me to "audition" , you would platz!
Unfortunately, anyone can call their recording Jewish Music. I keep using  the
" Burt Bacharach: Jewish Music" Cd as the prime example.The only reason this
is called Jewish Music is because Bacharach is Jewish.

There are now a bunch of "Jewish-New Age" recordings (notice the dreaded
hyphen); some are classified  as "healing" tapes. They are mostly recorded in
the style of Irish singer Enya ! That must be part of the "New Age-Celtic-
Jewish-Fusion" rage that is sweeping the country !!!  One of the leading Frum
music distributors actually includes Yanni recordings - as JEWISH Music????
I guess by covering all the bases they think they are getting cheap insurance.

A personal Story: (Wolf,you're going to like this)

A number of years ago, I went to see my buddy, Jackie Wilson, the "Rock &
Roller" perform at a club in L.A.  As I have mentioned before, Jackie had
converted to Judaism, however I think it was probably more due to the fact
that everyone around him was Jewish, and he loved Yiddish , and especially
"Jewish home cooking".

While visiting with him in the dressing room, I noticed he was wearing a very
beautiful gold bracelet. In the center,  a there was a large etching of Moses
holding the 10 commandments. To the right of Moses, was etched a smaller
Madonna and Child. To the left of Moses, there was a small Buddah.
I looked at the bracelet and said, "What the *%#& is this"? As Jackie turned
to look at me, he smiled, winked and said,..."Insurance."

Yanni as Jewish Music?????...Insurance!
Simon
Hatikvah Music