Miami Experience 2

Brooklyn College Whitman Hall

April 1, 2010 7:45 PM

Yoni Zigelboum, Shloime Gertner, the Miami Alumni,

and Yerachmiel Begun and the Miami Boys Choir

Also featuring the Shirainu Orchestra

By: Josh Block (www.joshsjm.com) FOR THECOOLJEW.co

Another Miami Experience goes down in history! On Thursday, April 1^st, Chol Hamoed Succos 2010, the Miami Experience 2 took place at Brooklyn College. With nearly a packed house, this concert was one not to be missed. The concert was sponsored by Pomegranate (a Kosher Supermarket in Flat Bush) and featured Yerachmiel Begun and the Miami Boys Choir, Shloime Gertner, Yoni Zigelboum, and The Alumni. The concert also included the 7-member Shirainu Orchestra, which was a welcomed addition to this performance. The emcee was Yoely Karr.

“By 8 o’clock the lights were dimmed slightly and the audience was treated to a double feature from the night’s sponsor, Pomegranate. Both videos were reruns from MBD’s Kulam Ahuvim concert, the first titled “The Pester Rebbe Goes Shopping”, showing Yoely Leibowitz making the trek from nowheresville to Pomegranate. Shockingly enough, people actually sang along with the second video, which featured the bizarre yet catchy Pomegranate song that debuted at the Kulam Ahuvim concert.” (JMR)

The concert began 25 minutes late with the opening act of Yoni Zigelboum. This new up and coming star sang 2 songs including Avraham Fried’s Hesech Hadaas, from Yossi Green’s 8^th Note and a medley of Miami songs. These songs were Sunshine (One By One – 1995), Nikadesh (Yerushalayim Can You Hear Our Voice – 2001). He mentioned that the recent passing of his Zaidy inspired him to sing the medley. The crowd enthusiastically enjoyed his performance.

Up next was one of London, England’s top Jewish singers, Shloime Gertner, performing in New York for the first time. Shloime sang 4 songs including the title track of his first album, Nisim. Next up was Hashomayim, off of Gertner’s second album, Say Asay. Continuing with the next track on Say Asay, Gertner sang Ashrei Mi. As a fan yelled out “Happy Birthday,” Gertner mentioned next that it was his wife’s birthday, and the day after was his. Because of this, he gave us a quick a capella sample of his version of Happy Birthday from the 13^th track of Say Asay. He also added in a line of “Happy Pesach.” Gertner completed this part of his show with Kodesh, the 2^nd track of Nisim. The crowd just couldn’t get enough of Gertner’s energetic voice.

Finally it was time for the main attraction, the Miami Experience. Before I go into a rundown of the repertoire, I’d like to share with you some observations on the current choir. Many of the boys are young and new to the choir. The choir has many sets of brothers. These include the Abramowitz’s, Ayal’s, Jacobson’s, and Herskowitz’s. It was a delight to see all of the new faces, and we can look forward to their voices strengthening the sound of the choir.

The choir was made up of Rachamim Asis, Akiva Jacobs, Yehuda Ayal, Sol Ayal, Yehuda Gorkin, Jeremy Herskowitz, Binyamin Ravina Abramowitz, Chia Abramowitz, Chaim A., Dovid B., Mordechai Weisman, Akiva Jacobson, David Shanadoff, Albert Ayal, David Herskowitz, Dovid Kranzer, Menachem Mendel Gordon, Aron Shaul Kahn, Yair Kenig, Sruly Ruben, Moshe Yaakov Braun, Akiva Abramowitz, and Naftali Jacobson.

The Miami Boys Choir came out singing a medley, which included Shiru Lo, The Simcha Song, Shabbos Yerushalayim, B’siyata D’shmaya and other songs from the openings of previous concerts. It gave the feel of one of the older Miami Experience openings! Next up was Me’im Hashem. At this point, Yerachmiel explained the cycles of the Miami Experiences. The first was from 1991 to 1995. Last year was the first of the second cycle, and this concert was the second. He concluded by saying “we’ll see what happens next!”

Next was a new song from the next regular album coming out next year between Succos and Pesach, Hatov. Soloists included Moshe Yaakov Braun, Yair Kenig, Sol Ayal, Binyamin Ravina Abramowitz, Yehuda Gorkin, David Herskowitz, Mordechai B. (not sure of last name), and David Shanadoff (not sure of last name). This song has an absolutely beautiful melody! Ayom V’norah followed. It’s obvious that the boys are comfortable with this song, which is off of the choir’s most recent release, Miami Yovo.

It was about 9:15 when a short intermission was announced. During this time, I noticed that Lipa Schmeltzer was in the audience. I had the chance to meet him and found that he has a very warm personality. Others in the audience included producer Avi Newmark and composer Elimelech Blumstein.

The concert resumed 15 minutes later with the Alumni. The Alumni, made up of Eli Sinnreich, Tzvi Friedman, and Menachem Klein, sang a medley followed by a new song, Avarcha, at the piano from Tehillim. The medley was made up of It’s Min Hashamayim (1993) and Klal Yisroel Together (1985). This trio is very comfortable on stage and has performed at many a Miami concert.

Shloime Gertner returned to the stage singing Say Asay followed by Im Ein Ani Li, the 3^rd track of Nisim.

The Miami Boys were up next. However, it was not the usual “boys on stage entrance.” Instead, the second half began with a multimedia production of Yovo performed by the boys while shopping at the evening’s sponsor, Pomegranate, for snacks during a rehearsal. This choice of opening was quite innovative and very well received by the audience.

As the presentation came to a close, the boys in Pomegranate attire returned to the stage singing Moshiach. This included the usual excitement and dance. Even Begun was wearing a Pomegranate jacket. This was followed by a Kiruv medley of 2 English songs. Yerachmiel also mentioned that a new English album, Ultimate Miami, would be coming out near Lag B’Omer. The first was I Want To Know (Miami Meets Toronto – 1978) sung as solos by David Herskowitz, Yair Kenig, Jeremy Herskowitz, Albert Ayal, Moshe Yaakov Braun, and Yehuda Gorkin. The second, One By One (1995), was done in solos by sets of brothers (Herskowitz’s, Abramowitz’s, Jacobson’s, and Ayal’s). Yerachmiel concluded this special section with introductions of these sets of brothers.

Next was another new song, Melech, off of the next upcoming album. Soloists in this song included David Herkowitz, Jeremy Herskowitz, and Binyamin Ravina Abramowitz.

Towards the end of the show, Yerachmiel (at the piano) called Shloime Gertner back out to sing a duet of the older version of M’heiroh (Yerushalayim Can You Hear Our Voice - 2001). Soon after, the boys came out to join in the medley, singing the newer version from Miami Yovo. During the medley, Yoshi Bender made a special appearance singing When (It’s Min Hashamayim – 1993). Gertner also sang Say Asay with Yerachmiel on the piano and the boys providing harmony. Next Yerachmiel suggested that they sing Miami’s version of the song from the track P’sach Libi (Torah Today – 1990). Yerachmiel continued, telling Shloime Gertner that they had waited years for him to come, and the boys began to sing We Need You (Shabbos Yerushalayim – 1989).

The choir continued with another English song, The Hand of Hashem, sung originally by Gershon Veroba (The First Annual Miami Experience – 1991). Now it was time for the introductions, which Yerachmiel mentioned were the hardest part of the show. Yoshi joined the boys to finish out the final song of the concert, Yovo. As is customary at a Miami concert, the crowd stood for the last song.

All in all, the evening was extremely entertaining. It was clear that a lot of effort was put forth to make this production a success. What a way to celebrate Chol Hamoed Pesach!