ESSENTIAL LISTENING
A curated guide to the recordings that define New Jewish Music.
ESSENTIAL PLAYLIST:
John Zorn’s Book of Angels
32 albums. 316 Songs. Dozens of brilliant artists.
Enjoy this NJM-curated sample from the mellower side of John Zorn’s Book of Angels series.
Consider this your bar mitzvah brunch playlist.
▶ Amazon Music • YouTube
The Rabbi’s Lover
JENNY SCHEINMAN
Tzadik 2002
To understand New Jewish Music, start here. Scheinman explores the emotional landscape of Jewish life through a singular musical language blending timeless tradition with modern jazz. The result is personal, contemporary, and unmistakably Jewish.
LISTEN FOR…
Lyrical violin melodies
Hypnotic acoustic grooves
Adventurous improvisation
Klezmer sounds woven into modern settings
ESSENTIAL TRACK: Dance Party 1929
▶ Amazon Music • YouTube
Buer:
John Zorn’s Book of Angels, Vol. 31
BRIAN MARSELLA TRIO
Tzadik 2017
A defining statement in New Jewish Music. Marsella’s piano trio brings equal parts fire and beauty, Jewish tonality and modern jazz tradition to Zorn's brilliant compositions.
LISTEN FOR…
Adventurous piano virtuosity
Explosive trio interplay
Surprising stylistic turns
Jewish melodic language
ESSENTIAL TRACK: Akzariel
▶ Amazon Music • YouTube • Spotify
Warriors
ZION80
Tzadik 2017
Zion80's signature mashup of Afrobeat, jazz-funk, electric blues, surf rock, and more comes to life through Jon Madof's inventive arrangements creating an expansive sonic landscape.
LISTEN FOR…
Infectious Afrobeat grooves
Unmistakeably Jewish melodies
Soaring horn arrangements
Madof’s blues-rock guitar phrasing
ESSENTIAL TRACK: Holy Brother