Modeh Ani, by Zach Mayer

Modeh Ani

by Zach Mayer

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Keith Wolzinger Mayer is accompanied by an all-star lineup of long-established musicians and vocalists who really bring this music to life. While we eagerly anticipate the next project he releases, let's all continue to enjoy Modeh Ani and all the joy it has to offer.

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Order your physical copy of Modeh Ani, signed by Zach, with complete liner notes and beautiful artwork and design by Jill Fogel.

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Full Digital Discography

Get all 3 Zach Mayer releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Winter in California, Zamru, and Modeh Ani. , and , .

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1.	Ashreinu 03:04	info	buy track
2.	Layehudim 02:53		buy track
3.	L'kha Dodi 04:16	info	buy track
4.	The Greatest Love 05:06		buy track
5.	Modeh Ani Dance 04:04	info	buy track
6.	Modeh Ani 05:26		buy track
7.	Nigun Hitbodedut 02:59	info	buy track
8.	Kumi Lakh 03:23	info	buy track
9.	Ashreinu Reprise 00:31	info	buy track
10.	Meyshke's Nigun 03:41	info	buy track
11.	Floating Pollen 04:48	info	buy track
12.	Adon Olam 08:30		buy track

about

Zach Mayer is one of today's few young composers of nigunim, spiritual wordless melodies rooted in Hasidic Jewish Tradition. Dating back to the 1750s, the great Hasidic masters would compose nigunim and sing them in community as a means of elevating the soul--using the rising melodic phrases as a scaffolding structure that mirrors a person's spiritual ascent. While nigunim are traditionally restricted to only Jewish male singers, Mayer's melodies are open to everyone-- modern and easy to sing, yet authentically rooted in this powerful tradition.

Mayer's interest in nigunim grew as he experienced their power to bring people together peaceably in song. At a young age, he sat beside his stepfather Rabbi Sruli Dresdner who facilitated a Tish, a candle-lit gathering of over 100 people singing nigunim around a large table, each year at the KlezKanada music festival in Lantier, QC. The music was transcendent, lasting late into the night with dancing on the table.

This year, Mayer released an album of original nigunim and new melodies for traditional Hebrew texts. Entitled Modeh Ani, the album features Mayer's singing and saxophone playing joined by some of today's most accomplished Jewish musicians, including Frank London, Michael Alpert, Deborah Strauss and Richie Barshay. Mayer says, "Modeh Ani is music meant for singing with community. I want to share melodies that are accessible--that can speak to everyone, through the universal language of music."

In addition to his work as a Jewish musician, he has also performed with Bobby McFerrin, John Zorn, Questlove, Jamie Cullum, Big Boi (OutKast) and Cyro Baptista. He was also in a viral YouTube video with nearly nine million views called "Subway Sax Battle." Mayer plays baritone saxophone internationally with Zion80, a 10-piece Jewish Afrobeat band, and his folk sextet, Night Tree has toured in Europe and has released two albums produced by Seamus Egan of SOLAS. He has been on the faculty at the Brandeis Institute of Music and Art and Laguardia Arts High School in Manhattan, and teaches every summer at the KlezKanada Jewish music festival. He is the musical director of Kahal B'raira, Boston's humanistic Jewish congregation, and leads interactive concerts of the music from Modeh Ani, singing with communities around the country. Mayer received a masters degree from the New England Conservatory in Contemporary Improvisation, and resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

credits

released April 6, 2019

Zach Mayer - lead vocals, backing vocals and saxophones
Michael Alpert - vocals
Frank London - trumpet
Deborah Strauss - vocals and violin
Lautaro Feldman - eight-string guitar and vocals
Richie Barshay - percussion
Utsav Lal - piano and synthesizer
Mat Muntz - bass
Matias Scheines - violin

The Rimon Choir:
Eliana Willis
Yoel Bibas
Shalev Netanel
Oran Franco
Matan Franco
Solina Rulfs
Cody Robertson

Produced by Lautaro Feldman

Recorded and mixed by Todd Carder at Bunker Studios, Brooklyn NYC
Mastered by John Baker at Philly Post
Artwork and design by Jill Fogel

All music composed by Zach Mayer
(c) 2019 Zach Mayer Music

www.zachmayermusic.com

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about

Zach Mayer Boston, Massachusetts

Singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and teacher, Zach Mayer brings people together through the power of nigunim, spiritual wordless melodies, rooted in Jewish tradition.

Zach channels his family lineage of the four-generations of chazzanim (cantors) before him, as he helps communities around the country find their own joyous voices in song. ... more

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