... and 1/2 .... Creative music that shines w/ talent, motivation & determinatio
author: Joe Ross
Playing Time – 50:41 -- Binyomin Ginzberg studied music at Mannes School of Music, New School in New York City, and privately with Harry Max, “Moogy” Klingman, Bill O’Connell, and Garry Dial. His resume includes performance at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, youth programs, concerts, Jewish community events, conventions, Yiddish culture retreats, musicals, hospitals and TV broadcasts. Gigging professionally since 1990, Binyomin Ginzberg formed his trio in 1998. Featuring an interesting variety of Klezmer, Chassidic, jazz, and contemporary music, the core trio includes keyboard, drums, and either woodwinds or guitar. There are also four tracks on “Purim Sameach” that showcase an expanded quartet sound. The highly competent and gifted musicians include Binyomin Ginzberg (keyboards, vocals), Aaron Alexander (drums), Ken Hatfield (guitar), John Tendy (sax), and Michael Heitzler (clarinet). Eclectic fiddler Kenny Kosek provides excellent embellishment to their “Mordechai Medley” (Ish Yehudi/Sason Viykar/Kain Tihye Lanu).
Ginzberg puts a large responsibility on his shoulders as the only vocalist. He builds an aesthetic that emphasizes youthful exuberance and zeal. While a few stellar guest lead vocalists (as well as some harmony or backing vocals) could have provided some freshness of voice to enhance this album project, it’s still a very good showcase of the band’s ability to arrange, present and infuse this kind of music with spirit and excitement. Ken Hatfield’s guitar stands out in “Layehudim,” but his crowning moment is the bluesy “Mishenichnas Adar.” Other memorable moments on “Purim Sameach” are when arrangements get jazzier with clarinet, tenor saxophone, or fiddle. Well known on the European concert stage, Michael Heitzler is a member of a Klezmer and jazz group called Kol Simcha (formerly The World Quintet). He lyrically imparts considerable emotional electricity to four tracks.
Preferring the fuller ensemble sound, I especially took to their quartet offerings with both clarinet and sax (“Debka/Hora Set” and “Al Hanisim Medley”), and I commend Ginzberg for his grooving chordal accompaniment and bass lines on the keys. Aaron Alexander’s rhythm accompaniment on drums is first-rate, and he’s a well-known composer and drummer on the world music/downtown NYC Radical Jewish culture scene whose band is called “Midrash Mish Mosh.” On this album, It would have been interesting to perhaps arrange a number like the opening track, “Mishenichnas Medley,” with an even expanded Klezmer-like quintet or sextet band including all the participating cast of impressive musicians.
Based in New York, the band draws its repertoire from a broad base of traditional and contemporary Jewish music. The CD’s thematic concept explores the many kinds of music presented on the Purim holiday. Thus, we hear songs from many Hassidic sects, from folk melodies to more contemporary covers, and Klezmer classics to African-American inspirations. The ambitious approach results in a tastefully-rendered eclectic set that enlivens us with the spirit of Adar. The band clearly has a vision for its creative musical approach, and they also shine with talent, motivation and determination. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
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A great way to get into the spirit of Adar!
author: NYC Jewish Music - Gili Houpt
"Purim Sameach," a new release by Binyomin Ginzberg just in time for the holiday, comprises traditional Purim favorites spanning genres: Chassidic nigunim, Israeli classics, Klezmer melodies, Jewish folk rock. Binyomin plays keys and does all vocals, and his Trio is joined by guest musicians for a tight sound. The CD features some great medleys, such as the Mordechai Medley of Diaspora's classic "Ish Yehudi" with "Kein Tihye Lanu" by Reva L'Sheva, and there are some more great covers of popular songs by Chaim David Sarachik, Ruach, and Mordechai ben David. It's a great way to get into the spirit of Adar!
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I love it!!
author: Barry Reisman, Program Host WNWR AM 1540
Your "Purim Sameach" CD arrived, and I love it!! In fact, I'm not waiting until Purim to play it; I'm going to use a track on tomorrow's show. You've got a great group, and I hope to one day be at a simcha where you are performing. In the meantime, I'll enjoy listening to your recorded music and using it to entertain my listeners on WNWR and wnwr.com in Philadelphia.
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sophisticated and worldly... a mind-bogglingly eclectic mix of inspirations.
author: Jerusalem Post - Ben Jacobson
Binyomin Ginzberg Trio
Purim Sameach
(Jewishmusician.com)
Doing gigs since 1998, The Binyomin Ginzberg Trio is a New York area band with a stripped-down sound. The music would be run-of-the-mill Hassidic pop, but thanks to its sophisticated and worldly methods, standards are mixed in with less-known gems and presented in an honest, jazzy manner.
In addition to Ginzberg's own understated vocals and jazzy keyboards, Aaron Alexander plays an extremely snare-centric, nicely-accented drum kit. The third member of the "trio" is usually Michael Heitzler on clarinet, but many other guests also make appearances.
The group's newest recording, Purim Sameach, is a veritable world tour, exploring the Purim holiday's various musical themes through the prism of a mind-bogglingly eclectic mix of inspirations.
Washington, DC's well-known DJ duo Thievery Corporation is famous for making albums that lead listeners around the globe with moods, samples, instrumentations and rhythms from Brazil interspersed with those from India, France and elsewhere.
Here, Ginzberg's arrangements draw from a comparably varied well, with each track focusing on a theme such as "Mordechai Medley" or "Mishenichnas Medley" and putting it all together into an ambitious yet cohesive composition.
The repertoire on this album includes the songs of a variety of Hassidic sects (including Lubavitch, Bostoner, Rav Areleh, Skulener); a Mordechai Ben David parody; covers of songs by Reva L'Sheva, Chaim David and the Diaspora Yeshiva Band; a Nurit Hirsch tune; a tribute to seventies American act Ruach; Hungarian folk melodies; some klezmer standards, and even an old-time African-American spiritual.
The opener, "Meshenichnas Medley," kicks off the journey in a manner that teeters on familiar religious-pop, but by the time it closes with a punchy "hava narisha rash rash rash" teaser, we know there's a lot more to this record.
"Debka/Hora Set" shifts gears halfway through, going from meandering to maximum power. And the "Layehudim Medley" appropriately falls apart at the end with the "ad lo yada" vocal repeated, a fun touch, even if the band could have let the falling apart go on longer.
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