Lipa Schmeltzer (was: Yom Tov Erlich)

[Sam Weiss <SamWeiss...>]

At 11:17 AM 3/5/04, r l reid wrote:
>Aderet has just released a CD by Zeesha Schmeltzer, produced by Lipa
>Schmeltzer, called "the Songs of R' Yom Tov Erlich".
>As you might predict, it becomes sing-songy and has a trite, soft rock
>sequencer accompiament.

It surprises me that Lipa Schmeltzer would lend his name to such a mediocre 
product at this point in his career, considering that his own Yiddish CDs 
are among the most exciting frumpop albums out there, with a top-notch 
Israeli-American production team, and very moving original lyrics very 
cleverly arranged.  (Maybe it was throwaway gift to his kid brother or 
something.)  BTW Schmeltzer is only one of several Chassidic singers (like 
Abish Brodt, Yonason Schwartz, Michoel Schnitzler) creating original 
Yiddish recordings today for the "Heimishe" crowd. They call their works 
"Gramen" ("rhymes") but there are some real powerful pieces of music among 
them.  Their works rarely get considered when we compile the occasional 
short list of contemporary Yiddish songwriters.  Too bad.

_____________________________________________________________
Cantor Sam Weiss === Jewish Community Center of Paramus, NJ


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