Performers' Index X-Y-Z
Yachad
The Traveling Tefillah Band describes themselves as "a Kansas City-based musical ensemble whose mission is to bring a refreshing spirit to Jewish worship." Their website provides samples of music, links and contact information as well as a nice photo of the group.
http://www.yachadmusic.com/
Hanna Yaffe
Produced a CD of lullabies in various languages such as Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic and Russian.
http://www.batkol.com/
Yale Klezmer Band
The Yale University klezmer group has a CD, "Klezmosis," which was recorded by the band of 2002-03. Webpage will need updating with the new school year.
http://www.yale.edu/klezmer/
Yavneh Ensemble
The Yavneh Ensemble, conducted by Robert A.M. Ross, is the Philadelphia area's
newest independent Jewish chorus.
Composed of professional and experienced amateur singers, Yavneh presents tightly
themed programs of historic and newer Jewish choral works, with narration, which
both educate and entertain. Yavneh made its debut in the spring of 2006.
http://www.yavnehensemble.org
Yehuda
Yehuda is a native of Cleveland. Yehuda learned his stage presence early, singing with his father's simcha band. Both his grandfathers were singers in the Chassidic courts of pre-World War II Klausenberg and Vishnitz. (he has music yiches). His website says: "Yehuda is not just a star, but a Yeshiva-educated young man with a mission."
Yerachmiel Begun and the Miami Boys Choir
This website features information about current albums, a clearly arranged listing of concert schedules, music samples and enthusiasm in a visual site.
http://www.ybandmbc.com
Les Yeux Noirs
This Paris-based group has published 4 CDs with EMI records and plays Yiddish and Gypsy music. They do both traditional music and original compositions. The group consists of 8 musicians (2 violins, 1 cello, 1 bass, 1 cymbalum, 1 guitar, 1 drums and 1 accordion) 4 musicians are singing in Gypsy, Russian and Yiddish.
Contact: Eric Slabiak. 22 boulevard saint denis - 75010 PARIS. tel + 33 1 45 23 31 32 . fax + 33 1 45 23 31 82.
http://www.emi.fr/lesyeuxnoirs/">
Yiddish Blues
Yiddish Blues, founded in January ,2000, is a Dresden, Germany-based band consisting of Mandy Muller, violin, Bernard Muller-Weber, guitar and Reinhard John, bass. They play adaptations of early twentieth-century klezmer greats from Eastern Europe and America. They will play the standards such as hora, bulgar and chusidl, but also branch into the combo elements with swing and tango and newly composed pieces such as "The Flatbush Waltz" by Andy Statman. Their website includes nice clips of several selections and includes their CD and contact information. Additionally special is a brief history of klezmer and photos of Jewish and formerly Jewish sites in the Polish part of Galitzia and environs. the site is primarily in German. A visit to the website gallery of photos is well worth it if you want to get a glimpse how some former Jewish synagogues, mikvehs and other property are being used by Europeans today. (If anyone is interested in an entire book on this subject of former Jewish property, email me and I'll give you more info).
http://www.yiddish-blues.de/
Yitzhak Yedid
Pianist and composer. "Yitzhak Yedid's music reflects a multitude of ethnic and cultural aspects of
modern-day Israel. The composer/pianist is working on a synthesis of traditional musical patterns from his native country and contemporary Western music. In this real 'meeting of cultures', Oriental melos (Arabian and Jewish scales or the micro-tonality which is so typical of the Middle East and the Mediterranean) encounters New Music and jazz improvisation."
http://www.monica-fallon.com/artists/yitzhak_yedid.htm
Yohanan Sebastian Winston
Composer, classical, jazz and pop performer, Jewish music advocate. Typical of the renaissance in Jewish music phenomena of today's contemporary music world. Musicians today are combining secular careers with Jewish activities and involvement. Today, those Jewish activities are also going on the resume. One such example is this website of a working musician in California. Website contains bio, links, resume. mp3s must be updated.
Yom Hadash
A Boston based contemporary Jewish music group. A three person ensemble influenced by Craig Taubman and Debbie Friedman. They sing their own original songs which are Jewish thematically, but combine musical idioms of modern rock, blues and funk.
http://www.yomhadash.com/home.htm
Za'atar
Za'atar is a band dedicated to the performance of the vibrant music of the Jewish Mizrahi and Sephardic cultures.
http://geocities.com/soho/exhibit/3145/
Zamir Chorale
Zamir Chorale concert schedule and excerpts from recordings are available at their website. This site also contains links to Jewish music resources.
http://www.zamir.org
Ben Zebelman
A new CD (released Oct., 2002) by Ben Zebelman, Song of Songs,with himself on piano and Lorenza Ponce,violin,... a recording based on the Biblical song cycle "Song of Songs". Produced at Steve Rosenthal's New York Magic Shop studio. Ben Zebelman is a young composer and pianist focusing on Jewish themes in "new American music". Ben has composed several works including "Kol Nidre Variations" and "Suite Noah's Ark", the latter using elements of Sephardic song. For website and reviews:
http://benzebelman.com/
The Zemel Choir
The Zemel Choir, founded in 1955 and located in London, UK, is a mixed voice choir that performs extensively in the UK, Israel and elsewhere. The repertoire is inclusive of Jewish liturgical, Israeli, madgrigals, modern and classical music. The choir has performed internationally at festivals, concerts, on the BBC and other media venues. The choir prides itself on its high musical standards.
http://www.the-zemel-choir.org/
Zemer Chai
Jewish community chorus of Washington, D.C., founded in 1976 and under the direction of Eleanor Epstein. Zemer Chai sings "the full range of Jewish choral repertoire, including liturgical and classical pieces, Jewish folk music from around the world, and new works composed especially for the choir." Admission is by audition. Website has contact information, schedules and news about the chorus.
http://www.zemerchai.org/index.cfm
Yerachmiel 'Rocky' Ziegler
American singer-songwriter from Monsey. Grew up in NY. His music combines American folk traditions with Jewish soul, with some MBD and contempo Reform influences (a la Jeff Klepper) thrown in. He has many press reviews on the website, which is graphics rich and takes a while to load if you don't have a fast connection. The website itself, looks good and sound quality was good on the clips.
http://www.yerachmiel.com/
Israel Zohar
Israel Zohar is a member and soloist of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. His webpage gives brief career highlights. Includes a listing of CDs and videos.
http://www.klezmer.co.il/
Zoila
Agentinian woman presents Yiddish songs and information on her recordings.
http://www.zoila.com/frame3.html
Emil Zrihan
The cantor from Ashkelon, Israel, who keeps the Moroccan liturgical tradition alive and well is an international sensation. His recordings and concerts are selling wildly in the world music scene and are extraordinary by any standard. He blends traditional Jewish Moroccan music with Muslim and Spanish flemenco sounds, to name a few. Well worth investigation.
http://www.piranha.de/records/english/all_1260.html
Mark Zuckerman
Choral Composer and arranger. Has written numerous works and also arranged Yiddish choral works, often incorporating some English to help audiences appreciate the texts better. Zuckerman appears to be a highly professional and successful modern choral arranger. You can hear many selections of his music online though his nicely laid out catalog of works. Another nice highlight of the website is the program liner notes online. Take a look at the "Year in Yiddish Song" to get a flavor of the information available. According to his online bio, his "choral music has achieved an international reputation with choruses and at festivals in The Netherlands and Canada as well as in the United States. It's been performed and recorded by the Gregg Smith Singers, The Goldene Keyt Singers, the New Yiddish Chorale, The Workman's Circle Chorus, and Di Goldene Keyt/The Yiddish Chorale.... instrumental music has been recorded by the Chicago Brass Ensemble, Ilya Itin, the Seattle Sinfonia, Peter Vinograde, and James Winn." You may wish to contact Mark if you need Jewish choral arrangements. Contact:
http://www.mazicmusic.com