Project ben David - the music of Arnie Davidson: Press

Arnie Davidson, a frequent accompanist, songwriter and member of our Kol Haverim band, the Friday Night Music Project (FNMP), performed at a special Shabbat service with the noted band, "Shabbat ReSouled", on December 19th at the Finchley Progressive Synagogue in London, UK.

"This band has evolved at Finchley in much the same way as our FNMP has become a part of our culture and music at Congregation Kol Haverim," says Arnie. "I've come to know the band's guitarist and founder, Dean Staker, during the past year and we've been comparing notes and ideas. Dean is a stellar guitarist and composer, originally from Australia, and I'm honored to play keyboards with them in December." They will also be introducing some of Arnie's familiar music, from his Project ben David CD, at this service. Later in the week, Arnie also scheduled some recording with Dean at his studio in London.

A week later, on December 26th, Arnie was one of the two featured US performers at the international conference, "Limmud" This annual conference, held this year at the University of Warwick campus, about 3 hours outside of London, is a 7 day Jewish learning community experience where 2500 attendees, of all jewish backgrounds, first share Shabbat together and then explore Jewish learning at more than 800 workshop sessions. In addition to performing his music, and playing at the closing concert, Arnie hosted 3 workshops for attendees during the conference. Topics included "Finding Meaning in Music and Prayer," "Welcoming Shabbat - Leaving the Work Week Behind" and "Hinei Ma Tov - A Community Open to All."

We wish Arnie a hearty "Kol haKavod." (congratulations!). We are pleased that the rest of the world is now getting a chance to enjoy some of the music, ideas and innovations that had their roots with us here at Congregation Kol Haverim.

The hotly tipped December Shabbat Resouled was amazing. The musicians were joined by Arnie Davidson, from the States, and used his composition for Veshamru for the first time in the service. Arnie has been doing musical Friday night services in his home community for 10 years and he brought some great experience to the band. After the service, Arnie, Dean, Sara, Tim and Mischa played and taught songs at the Oneg, which was supplemented by a sumptuous dinner provided by Denny Kingston.

All in all, this was another opportunity to celebrate the musical talents, creativity and excitement of FPS whilst, as usual, lifting our spirits for Shabbat.

CAJE 33 Performers!

Posted by melbray on July 11, 2008

As if you needed yet another reason to come to Vermont this summer, here’s a list of CAJE 33 performers.

* MacArthur Genius Award Recipient Liz Lerman
* Grammy-Award Winner Doug Cotler
* Peter & Ellen Allard
* Craig Taubman
* Jeff Klepper
* Eric Komar
* Josh Nelson
* Baal Shem Tones
* Fran Avni
* Doug Mishkin
* Li’l Rev
* Evan Handler
* Todd Herzog
* Bob Alper
* Sam Glaser
* Sue Horowitz
* Ross M. Levy
* Beth Schafer
* Dana Mase
* Batya Diamond
* Chana Rothman
* Guy Mendilow
* Storahtelling
* Yisrael Campbell
* Rebecca Joy Fletcher
* Sheldon Lowe
* Shirav
* Arnie Davidson
* Gesher
* Marge Eisemen
* Rachel Cole
* Third House Rising
* Adrian Durlester
* Akiva
* Naomi Less
* Penninah Schram
* Shmuel Simenowitz
* Silvio Berflein
* Carol Boyd Leon
* Rahel
* Karen Daniel
* Rabbi Joe Black
* Jonathan Kinkin group
* Kenny Ellis
* Larry Karol
* Larry Milder
* Yom Hadash
* Cherie Schwarz
* Stacy Beyer
* Lucky Break

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.

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

new Jewish music blog
Arnie Davidson, a songwriter and Contemporary Jewish Music composer based with a Reform congregation near Hartford, CT, started a blog called JewMuse http://jewmuse.blogspot.com/ exploring the use of Contemp Jewish Music to encourage involvement in worship and to strengthen community.
Posted by jmwc at 11:34 PM

Arnie Davidson - Project benDavid Annonced
Our own Arnie Davidson has released a new CD of original songs with a host of talented singers and musicians. If Beth Schafer, Julie Silver, Peri Smilow, Josh Nelson, Cantor Lisa Segal, Rabbi David Kay, Shelly Aronson, Laura Bennett and the Friday Night Music Project all came together to sing and play, wouldn't you want to be there? For more information including free downloads and purchasing, see Project benDavid website