WISHING OUR CLIENTS A
EAR
HAPPY & HEALTHY r FA E

Songs For
The Holy Days

6092 W. Maple Rd.
at Farmington Rd.

(248) 855-3354

Craig Taubman "inscribes"
listeners for a good year.

—coupons good at both locations—

Don Cohen

I

Special to the Jewish News

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4

September 29 . 2005

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raig Taubman has
been helping provide
the soundtrack to
Jewish life for more than 20
years.
My kids enjoyed My Jewish
Discovery and its sequel, The
Newish Jewish Discovery,
and I did, too. The lyrics
and the variety of musical
styles provided a great introduc-
tion to both Jewish life and
music. They brought freshness
and fun.
I also found Taubman's more
adult-oriented albums, which my
kids liked, too, worth repeated
listenings. The mix of Hebrew
and English, the rich, solid voice
and the mix of original songs
with creative covers are both
fresh and comfortably consistent.
Taubman's new album,
Inscribed, continues in that same
vein.
Inscribed: Songs for Holy Days
is Taubman's 14th recording on
Jewish themes. Originally intend-
ed for the High Holy Days of
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,
it also includes other songs that
build on the themes of returning
and growing.
Taubman's style is to enunciate
each word so clearly that it is
easy to follow and sing along.
The music is well done, and the
arrangements on this album are
simple and reverential without
being sappy.
Notable is Greek-born cantor
Alberto Mizrahi, currently at
Chicago's Anshe Emeth
Synagogue, singing B'Rosh
Hashanah to a tune originally
composed by Taubman for
another purpose. Though only a
two-minute song, it is the clear-
est expression of the holy day.
The album's highlight is
Sha'alu, with the words from
Psalm 112:6: Sha'aly Shalom

°

I Total Food BM

I

exp. 10 15 05

ROSH HASHANAH
DINNERS
Buy 1 Get 1 Free

@$12.95z'

includes mashed potatoes,
vegetable, soup or salad

carry out only

-

exp. 10-15-05 I

[ DAIRY TRAY 1

I $13.99

Yerushalayim,
Hallelu, Halleluya ("Pray for the
Peace of Jerusalem, Praise God").
Taubman is at his most expres-
sive, and the music weaves a spell
that is easy to submit to and
enjoy. Simple but substantial, it is
the song most likely to be the
breakout that choirs will adopt as
their own.
The album, however, ends with
a misstep. The Im Ani Li ("If I
Am Only for Me") rap is in con-
trast to the mellow mood of the
album. Bouncy, harsh in compar-
ison to everything else, and sung
by someone other than Taubman,
it would have best been left for
his next children's album.
One advantage of Taubman's
bridging the musical divide
between kids and adults is that
children brought up on the
Jewish Discovery albums are
comfortable listening to his
more-adult music. They know
the artist and his voice.
My almost 14-year-old daugh-
ter actually liked some of the
songs on this album more than I
did because they were sung by an
old friend she had known from
previous albums.
Check it out and see if you can
make friends, too.

Learn more about
Craig Taubman and
purchase his music at
www.craignco.com.

I

per person

1 /2 lb. fish each person
I includes fresh fruit or homemade cake
I
exp. 10-15-05

L

ari'm .. am III Nair ma mot um iiirmiej

Min. 10 people • 24 hour notice
exp. 10-15-05
Aim
ir. ..

Vincenzo Bellini

October 8-15, 2005

at the Detroit Opera House

Norma finds herself trapped in a fiery love
triangle filled with secrets, lies, betrayal and
redemption. In the end, this quintessential
desperate diva proves that love is the
ultimate sacrifice.

o= des erate
p divas of

35th Anniversary Season
David DiChiera, General Director

FREE OPERA TALK 1 HOUR PRIOR TO CURTAIN
featuring Dr. Wallace Peace

PERFORMED IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH
SUPERTITLE TRANSLATION

For Tickets Call 313-237-SING
or visit www.MichiganOpera.org

Real Time Ticketing makes it easy
to order tickets 24/7

OPERA

OPERA...GIVE IT A TRY!,

Opera brings der SOMA
art forms... music, tuna,
dance mul And arts...
creating ONE INCREDIBLE
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The 2005 Fall Season is made
possibte by Ford rvtotor Company.

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