Arts Life
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from page 61
Gutman will perform as part of a
Forbidden Broadway ensemble that will
spoof some of the Great White Way's
most memorable musicals. HarPaz,
who gained fame as a rock superstar in
Israel, will highlight his new career as
a solo performer.
Solo Career
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Whether venturing from his home in
SoHo to perform throughout
Manhattan or traveling to
Detroit, Los Angeles, Israel or
elsewhere to play and produce,
HarPaz, formerly of
Huntington Woods, is building
the resume, the contacts and the
audiences to make a name for
himself as a musician. He has
done it before.
"It is one of the most valuable
experiences of my career,"
HarPaz says of his days as a
foundinc, member and lead
singer of HiFive — an Israeli
"boy band" that won four gold
albums and numerous honors in
the mid- to late-1990s. One of
the most successful Israeli bands
ever, HiFive made HarPaz
famous throughout Israel.
But it's been almost five years
since he left the high-profile
group to concentrate his efforts
on breaking into the American
market.
HarPaz, now 31, has found
success writing jingles for cor-
porate clients and writing songs
and producing music for others.
But he seeks the major solo
record deal that will put him
back in the music spotlight.
"I've been meeting with some
big producers and some major
music labels," HarPaz says,
sounding confident. "I hope to
be able to announce something
soon."
Describing his style as
"singer/songwriter, a kind of a
young Billy Joel meets Sting,"
HarPaz is working to have light-
ning strike twice.
"We are working very hard to
get the right sound," says
HarPaz, who is writing and
singing in English to appeal to an
American audience. "We are trying to
get a sound that will stand the test of
time. Lots of what you hear on the
radio or MTV is production driven.
"You take away the incredible pro-
duction, and you don't have much of a
song. A good, strong song should
sound just as good when played on a
piano or a guitar."
It's not a surprise that those are the
instruments he plays.
Last year, HarPaz, son of Natan and
Norma HarPaz of Huntington Woods,
was among the top-name Israeli musi-
cians who came together as "Voices for
Israel" to produce an album to raise
funds to benefit families of victims of
terrorism. He wrote the music and
lyrics and also produced the song
"Power To Play."
Michael HarPaz: `YI kind of a young
Billy Joel meets Sting."
Conservative movement to write
Havdalah Suite, which he performs for
Jewish gatherings across the country.
He also performs at countless benefits
and private gatherings.
He sang at the local Alyn Hospital
dinner and at the American and Israeli
national anthems at metro Detroit's
Oct. 21 Friends of the Israel Defense
Forces dinner, but the ZOA is of spe-
cial importance because of his close-
ness to the honorees.
"Legal issues aside, they are
family," says HarPaz, explain-
ing that his father, Natan,
and Leora's father, the late
Reuven Bar-Levav, worked
together and were best friends
for more than 30 years.
"Our families celebrated all
the holidays together. I know
that Glen and Leora are lov-
ing, warm, giving, generous
people. When ZOA called me
and asked if I would like to
perform, I didn't have to
think long or hard if I could
make it. I am honored to do
it."
Expect a mix of Hebrew
and English songs when he
performs at the dinner, but
don't expect to hear a familiar
medley of Israeli classics.
"I don't like to re-do songs
to sound like the original,"
HarPaz says. "When I hear
someone 'cover' a song just
like the original, it doesn't
give me anything. I think you
should make it your own by
arrangement or interpreta-
tion."
Returning Home
It's been a bit more than five
years since Eric Gutman
moved to New York City to
be an understudy for
Forbidden Broadway's sibling,
Gutman, left, portrays Jean Wjean
in a "Forbidden Broadway" spoof
of' "Les Miserables."
He has just finished writing and
singing on two tracks of an album, in
English this time, that will be available
at 2,500 BCBG Maxazria stores in
shopping malls nationwide by the end
of October.
In a completely different aspect of
his career, HarPaz was commissioned
by the Cantors Assembly of the
Forbidden Hollywood.
Snatched from Farmington
Hills by producer John
Freedson, who was in Detroit
looking for new talent, the
Harrison High School gradu-
ate has appeared in both of
New York City's Forbidden produc-
tions as well as in the road produc-
tions that appear across the country.
Not only will Gutman be coming
to Detroit to perform at the ZOA
gala, he intends to move back to the
metro area by Thanksgiving.
"It's been a wonderful five-plus
years," says Gutman of his time in