Sorry Arnie, Project Ben David is great. Please tell my mother I'm not a jerk. Ok?
Ok, Arnie. I get the message. Now even my mother is telling me that I'm an opinionated jerk and that your album "Project BenDavid" is great...
So let me take this opportunity to straighten out any misconceptions, Arnie. While it's true that I didn't love the album, it's also true that I loved the track "Esa Einai." I think many of the compositions are fine, I just personally have a hard time with some of the performances. Just not my thing, ok? But everyone else should check out the album's music samples and decide for themselves.
...But then I heard Davidson's "Esa Einai." Davidson voice has a strong, understated, sincerity. The lyrics are simple and sublime. The guitar playing lifts them and me up. I'm not sure why, but I believe this one lives up to the "new standard" claims. I'll remember it for a long time. I've listened to the full track about 5 times already (Davidson's made it freely available) and expect I'll listen to it 5 more times tonight and play it for my wife when she gets home.
Totally unexpected. Totally wonderful.
So, go listen to the song clips on the Project Ben David website. Maybe there one of the tracks I didn't like will hit you like Esa Einai hit me. I'm willing to believe one might.
Jack Zaientz, Editor - Teruah - Jewish Music Blog (Apr 28, 2008)
Return of the Friday
Night Music Project.
Project ben David
The concept of the Friday Night Music Project began
about a decade ago in Glastonbury, CT at Congregation
Kol Haverim. Originally it was a “cover band” of sorts
for the work of Craig Taubman of Friday Night Live
fame. It gave a wonderful opportunity for old friends to
play together, and ultimately, have some very spiritual
conversations together. Surprisingly, Jewish text began
to speak to them in ways they hadn’t expected, the
result being a personal and intimate creation of their
own. The music has now evolved into a complete Friday
night service, with almost all of the music original.
Friday Night Music Project performed at the Reform
Movement Biennial in Providence and was so well
received they were immediately invited to return to
the Boston Biennal. They have brought incredible joy
to their own temple in addition to many congregations
throughout the Northeast.
We were privileged to have the Friday Night Music
Project play and inspire us last year at this time,
and we are thrilled to have them return once again on
Friday, Feb. 29th, at 7:30 p.m. services. We look forward
to having Steve and Ellen Harris, Steve Ravis, David
Blumenkrantz, Arnie Davidson, Eric Schaffer and our
own Neil Gottfried inspire us and share the beauty of a
musical Shabbat.
~Marilyn White-Gottfried
Marilyn White-Gottfried - Cong. Beth Shalom (Feb 29, 2008)