RebbeSoul performs melodies from throughout the Jewish world, from Sephardic romanceros in Ladino to Lubavitch niggunim to tunes from Ashkenazi nusach. Carlebach melodies and Mizrahi piyyutim collide with a World beat rhythms- its the sound of the Jewish Diaspora coming home. And in after a Rebbesoul show, everyone will go home humming something new!
A rock guitarist and studio session musician, Bruce Burger (RebbeSoul) was inspired by the haunting beauty of a prayer heed heard one night in synagogue. From memory, he reconstructed the melody and lyrics, and so began a spiritual and musical journey that brought him back to his Jewish heritage. That song tapped something inside Burger, who recorded the song and submitted it to local radio stations.
Months later his acoustic rendition of Avinu Malkenu garnered record high listener call-ins when maverick San Francisco station aired it. Now, Burger leads his percussion trio, bringing a new voice to the sometimes-stagnant realm of Jewish music, blending rock sensibilities, world fusion stylings and traditional Hebrew melodies for an ageless yet progressive sound. RebbeSoul mixes Mizrahi chant and electronic beats with the funk/ethnic rock style, layerng balalaika, guitar and mandolin over of a percussion trio using darbouka, djembes, riq and cajon. Having toured Israel repeatedly, he made Aliyah in 2006.
He returns to the US for periodic tours to teaching about Israel and the Jewish people through music that reflects its melodies and those of Jewish Diaspora communities. A Rebbesoul performance is a musical ingathering, mirroring the diverse Israeli society. The sound of the Jewish journey home is at the heart of a RebbeSoul performance.
Kol Dodi
Esa Enai
Shmelke’s Nign
Maoz Tzur
Yoni Ben-Yehuda, also known as Sneakas, was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel in 1981. After moving to Manhattan at age 11, Sneakas quickly became involved and fascinated by Hip-Hop culture. Using his extensive musical background, which includes classical training in both bass guitar and drums, Sneakas started writing rhymes and producing his own music. After years of honing his skills in the underground circuit of New York City, Sneakas was signed in 2001 to the production company, Nu Media whose credits include the Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Brian McKnight, Babyface, TLC, The Fugees, Mary J. Blige and Prince. In the summer of 2003, Sneakas began a one-year tour in the Middle East performing in hundreds of clubs, festivals, fundraisers and venues. Since Sneakas return to New York in 2004 he continues to carve a niche for himself in the New York City Hip-Hop scene with performances at B.B Kings, Nuyorican Poets Café, Pussycat Lounge, Bowery Poetry Club, M1-5, The Groove, and The Bitter End.
