Search - Ben Zebelman :: Kol Nidre Variations

Pianist Ben Zebelman has attempted something remarkable with Kol Nidre Variations, a disc of piano trio compositions based on the ancient Jewish prayer sung on the eve of Yom Kippur. While Yiddish klezmer music has seen plenty of spinoffs and branches (it can be heard in jazz, classical, and even pop tunes), the haunting melody of the Kol Nidre hasn't been too exploited: Schoenberg used it in an orchestral score, and Beethoven's Op. 131 begins with the Nidre theme. Zebelman's project, however, is much larger. It's entirely focused on the ancient prayer. With its soft focus and mesmerizing piano line, the first movement "The Vow" is a cross between contemporary instrumental music and classical. At five and a half minutes, "Dance of the Spirits" is the shortest but perhaps most interesting movement on the disc. Filled with soulful passages courtesy of the string section, its quick pace is riveting. "Redemption," the work's final movement, is surprising, filled with peppy movements where cellist Maureen McDermott is able to show her skills. Does it work? Yes. The simple, centuries-old chant--transformed here into chamber music in four pieces--ends up sounding fresh and (thankfully) still powerful as an instrumental work. In all, it's 39 minutes of moving, serene, and soulful music. --Jason Verlinde