Gershon Veroba
Reach Out
© 2007 Gershon Veroba (635669065529)
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A long-awaited, all-original album with exciting songs from an unparalleled performer in the American/Jewish music industry whose specialty has been to serve as a bridge with secular styles.
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"... No one else can do what he can do... definitely the most talented guy in Jewish music. One of my favorite guests."
- Nachum Segal
Radio Host, WFMU, NJ
"He's a walking American cultural library of music. He's incredibly talented and really cares about music. Crowds just love him and I've become a big fan of his."
- Andy Statman
Klezmer Performer
"...really brought everyone to their feet and you touched everyone's hearts and souls... He's great. Trust me, listen to him!"
- Paula Abdul
Recording Artist; Judge, FOX-TV's "American Idol"
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Veroba’s newest and most original and dynamic project. Aside from introducing his powerful new concert band “Takana,” Gershon’s latest album is also his most nuanced one to date.
After a decade of his famous pop hit parodies, Gershon Veroba has switched back to his most dominant talents as a performer, composer and producer. His tenth album, Reach Out, reflects his true direction and is a project other Jewish artists could not achieve. Appealing to the broadest audience possible, his lyrics bring critical reflection on the human factors in our lives, not just the religious ones. His messages of brotherhood and insight continues to appeal to audiences from all backgrounds and beliefs.
As is his tradition, the selections provide a wide spectrum containing fun and exciting songs with lush harmonies and fun instrumentation, as well as personal compositions of emotional and religious struggle.
From collaborations with Avraham Fried and Sam Glaser to performances by Reva L’Sheva and Yosi Piamenta, “Reach Out” showcases a level diversity and dimension that will amaze Veroba’s existing fan base even as it earns him countless new ones.
Unique to Jewish music CDs, the insert contains brief commentaries on each song, giving the listener an immediate understanding of the basic idea behind the song. This provides an inclusion for listeners from any religious background.
The lyrics to many of the songs address issues in the Jewish world that Gershon feels have rarely, if ever, been approached.
"Speechless," a song he co-wrote with performer Avraham Fried, speaks of one person's struggle with G-d's silence. While his belief may not falter, he worries about the rest of the world and considers the possibilities as to why our prayers don't seem to be answered.
The title song, "Reach Out," speaks from the perspective of people seaching for direction in life, asking us to keep trying even when they seem to resist.
12 songs, many recorded with his friends (even his children!) and recorded in the US and Israel. His 10th album, he has poured his ability and experience into this project and you'll actually benefit in many ways.
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OFFICIAL BIO:
An artist’s job is to continually escape the constraints of how others label their art and to redefine what they do, both for themselves and their audience. Gershon Veroba is an artist doing precisely that - expanding and building upon his role as the “musician’s musician” in the Jewish music world while bridging the divide between Jewish and secular music. On his latest album, Reach Out, Veroba takes his music to a new level of passion, spirituality and soulfulness, while retaining the elements that have made him a favorite of the Jewish community for years.
Born into a musical family, with his father a well-known cantor and his mother an opera singer, Gershon grew up with music everywhere in his home, a daily fact of life. And like millions in his generation, his musical epiphany came from the Beatles. He recounts, “I went to see A Hard Day’s Night and Help and just became hooked on music.” Gershon’s music sensibility was additionally formed by pop singers/crooners like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin as well singer/songwriters like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor; artists whose influence allowed Gershon to flourish in a multitude of styles.
To break into music, Gershon first became a wedding musician. Even then, Gershon could feel something setting him apart from his peers. “I quickly recognized that my flavor was different, and my (secular) influences made my music come out differently than everyone else,” he remembers. After performing and recording as a featured artist for over a decade,Gershon got into parodies – mainstream popular songs with lyrics redone to incorporate Jewish themes - a staple of the Orthodox Jewish community. It was with parodies that Gershon established himself as the consummate entertainer, winning a broad audience in process, first featured in the “Variations” album series, which reached 4 volumes, then with his own production, “Impressions,” selling even farther beyond the others.
He explains, “I did over five albums in that style. It was a great exercise in learningwhat makes a hit song.. If I liked the song and the artist, thought it had a positive message and if I thought I could do it justice, then I’d cover it. I would shift their message to a more relevent purpose for the Jewish community.” These albums were wildly popular and, while he never encountered the artists whose music he covered, he later heard that legends like Paul Simon and Ringo Starr had heard and appreciated his versions of their music.
But even with the success he enjoyed, for Gershon, there was something missing. Even while working in parodies, Gershon’s dream was to return to writing and recording original material he could call his own – this time, to create music to bridgehis life and his loves; Judaism. and secular music. It was a style he pioneered years before and that people were now paying more attention to. And from that dream, Reach Out has been born.
As Gershon explains about the album, “The album is not meant to be any particular strand of Judaism; it is human and universal. It touches on our relationship to G-d, but it emphasizes our relationship to our fellow man. My concern is about how we as human beings treat each other and, ironically, that’s something that is not addressed in Jewish music as frequently as is our relationship with G-d, even though the former is recognized as more important by rabbinical authorities of all kinds.” Song selections include “Speechless” (co-written with superstar Avraham Fried), which addresses the very true emotional issue of G-d’s silence,and “Reach Out,” speaks to the universal desire for purpose, connection and direction, while challenged with a seemingly uncaring world.
Self-produced by Gershon, and featuring him on keyboards, guitar and vocals, , Reach Out is also the first to feature his band Takana (meaning “edict”) which, for Gershon, is a true joy. He explains, “These are guys that I’ve worked with over the years; I handpicked each and every one of them. They’re ace players, good collaboratorsand they pack a real wallop. They’re a big part of why the album is such a delight for me.” He continues, “I made my own choices of music and lyrics with composers I respect, plus I featured good friends as guests (including Yosi Piamenta, Sam Glaser and Israel's Reva L'Sheva) - what could be better?"
For Gershon Veroba, Reach Out is his time to deliver upon his goals; to expand his own sense of what is possible for both himself and his music. “I’m showing myself as a serious artist. No matter how religious anyone is, they honor mainstream musicians. They’re going to honor a guy who is of mainstream quality but serves his faith. I’m being serious, original and open with the fact that I am a Jewish American and at the same time, I’m communicating American life and global messages to all people, including Jewish purists.” With the obvious quality and dedication of Reach Out, Gershon Veroba can no longer be pigeonholed for anything other than what he is; an artist and musician of the first order. ||
reviews
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stupendous
author: sunshinethis is really a stupendous cd ! the reach out song really is a song of truth !
Its gr8
author: ananyomousI think its a phenominal cd keep up the great work !