Yosef Gutman Levitt & Itay Sher – Unity (Soul Song Records, 2024)
Bassist Yosef Gutman Levitt and guitarist Itay Sher take a contemporary, orchestral approach to Hasidic Jewish nigunim (liturgical melodies) on their new album UNITY. The set explores harmonic and improvisational reinterpretations of traditional melodies, masterfully intertwining exquisite western classical, contemporary jazz, and chamber music influences.
Unlike Levitt’s previous two-day recording sessions, UNITY developed over an extended period, with weekly meetings between the musicians. “The melodies are kept intact, but the progressions shift and change,” Levitt explains. Traditionally, nigunim lack chord progressions, relying on minimal accompaniment. In contrast, Levitt and Sher introduce harmonic complexity and draw inspiration from artists like Bill Evans and Peter Broderick. That takes the music to another level that is engaging and nuanced.
Levitt, a South African-born musician trained at Berklee College of Music, initially pursued a jazz career in New York before transitioning into commercial music and tech entrepreneurship. His return to music began with Upside Down Mountain (2022), using his distinctive five-string acoustic piccolo bass guitar. On UNITY, he collaborates with Sher under the orchestration of Gilad Ronen, incorporating a chamber ensemble that adds depth to the album’s introspective, layered sound.
The nine-track album, which includes two original compositions by Sher, “The Way Back Home” and ‘Rain Melody,” balances ambient minimalism with sweeping orchestral flourishes. A full performance video set against a striking natural landscape further enhances the album’s immersive quality.
Musicians: Itay Sher on nylon-string guitar; Yosef Gutman Levitt on double bass & five-string acoustic bass, compositions; Gilad Ronen on reeds, arranger, co-composer; and Chamber Orchestra.
Buy UNITY.