ATZILUT

This ten-member high-energy Middle Eastern ensemble from Philadelphia, PA, re-imagines the Hebrew tradition of ecstatic music as a vehicle for spiritual ascent. Blending virtuoso cantorial vocals with the lightning percussion and hypnotic melodies of a middle-eastern orchestra. It has its own unique contemporary sound. Atzilut brings Jewish mystical poetry alive with ancient rhythms and soaring improvisations. The ensemble plays "Concerts for Peace", that won standing ovations at the United Nations. Atzilut has released two CDs, The Fourth World, and Souls on Fire (1996), available thru the website. In its "Concerts for Peace" modality, Atzilut has a  cd called concertsforpeace.com. The resulting musical collaboration is infectious, joyous, deep, sweet and passionate. www.atzilutmusic.com

ZETZ!

The Jewish “fusion” group, Zetz, out of Buffalo NY, combines the musical talents of Marty Kerker (keyboard and vocals), Leah Saada (guitar and vocals), JoAnn Vaccaro (guitar and vocals). and Alex Gordon (percussion and clarinet).  Their repertoire offers an array of Jewish genres, including Klezmer, Israeli and Ladino music.  All their songs bear their own unique identity, keeping the music fresh, contemporary and entertaining –in other words, it’s Jewish music like you’ve never heard before!

Susan Gaeta is a vocalist and guitarist. She performed jazz and both American and Argentine folk music as a soloist in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Under the auspices of a Folklife Apprenticeship Program of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, Susan completed studies with National Heritage Fellow, Flory Jagoda, a Bosnian Sephardic composer, singer and musician honored by the National Endowment for the Arts for her contribution to preserving a traditional art form. This apprenticeship included studying and performing with Flory in numerous venues.

Susan performs nationally as a soloist, as well as a guest accompanist of Flory Jagoda. She has appeared at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, at the Greater Washington Jewish Folk Arts Festival, the Holocaust Museum and before numerous Jewish and Inter-faith communities. From Her Nona's Drawer, was recorded to preserve and continue the music of her mentor. This recording traces the evolution of the authentic a cappella women's Sephardic vocal tradition and Ladino language that Flory learned from her grandmother, to Susan's interpretation of the composer's more contemporary pieces.