My interest in Jewish concert music began long ago as I grew up with the great renditions by Jan Peerce and Robert Merrill. They opened up this world of music that was different from the synagogue, yet connected through its various Jewish characters, some sad, some happy, and always full of life and humour. I never thought of doing my own arrangements and compositions however until I became a cantorial soloist at such congregations as Adath Israel in Toronto and Temple Tikvah in St. Catharines (now B'nai Tikvah in Niagara Falls). I then began to ask myself how I could express what I thought was the essence of Jewish musical traditions. This began a journey which has led to more study with eminent composers such as Srul Irving Glick and then to my settings for 6 Yiddish folk songs, music for services, and even some purely instrumental music. Eventually I felt the need to put some of this into a CD, so that others could access and use thi...