Zach Mayer / זה היום (Zeh Ha-Yom)

In recent years, Zach Mayer has become a wonderful member of Boston's Jewish Music scene. I've encountered him recently leading the audience dancing at a concert by The Klezmatics, backing up the "Jewgrass" band, Jacob's Ladder, or sitting in with local Klezmer bands. This album, however, reflects a side of his music that I love most: meditative work with familiar lines from psalms and prayers, set to his own new music.

The album starts off with an energetic "Ki tovim" from Song of Songs. Other melodies, such as his setting for "Esa Enai" remind me a bit of Shlomo Carlebach, but here his saxophone, Richie Barshay's steady percussion, and Yoni Battat's oud give the song an introspective strength that speaks to me. Likewise "Ein Keloheinu" (There is none like our G-d) morphs from the spiritual fight song I grew up with, to something quieter; no less strong, but with a spiritual longing that is absent from the melody I learned as a child. "I am grateful" takes a slight gospel lilt that transforms the traditional "Modeh ani l'fanekha." It is a prayer to which he turns again, this time with an African lilt, on "Mbira Modeh" with mbira and sax. He even reaches for some bluegrass fiddle on a new "Yigdal".

I especially love his setting for "Elohai Neshama", (Lord, this soul you have given me is pure), which converts a part of the daily morning psalms that has always struck me as far too saccharine for davenning. Here, it begins with gentleness and strength and then reaches a choral strength that just rocks and rolls. This, I could daven. His setting for the Passover seder Aramaic, "Ha Lakhma Anya" gives the words a Mizrakhi feel, and a grace that the tune with which I grew up lack (or, perhaps because I grew up wih them, seem to lack). Cantor Becky Khitrik's clarinet, Itsav Lal's piano stand out. "This is the bread of affliction … let all who are hungry come and eat / &ellip; this year we are slaves / next year may we be free."

I love the many musical traditions that come together on this recording, and I love the voices, instrumental and human—including the wordless nigun "The setting rain," and the instrumental meditation that ends the final song, "Vitaher Libeinu," after the voices fade away. This is a remarkable recording and special music.

Reviewed by Ari Davidow, 7-Jul-2026

Songlist

1. Ki Tovim (from Song of Songs) 4:47
2. D'vash V'khalav (from Song of Songs) 4:54
3. Elohai Neshama (morning liturgy) 4:03
4. Esa Enai (Adapted from Psalm 121:1-2) 3:49
5. Ein Keloheinu (Shabbat morning service) 3:26
6. Hazorim B'dimah (Psalm 126:5-6) 5:11
7. Ha Lakhma Anya (Passover haggadah) 3:43
8. I Am Grateful (Hebrew text, "Modeh ani," from the morning liturgy) 3:47
9. Mbira Modeh (Morning liturgy) 5:10
10. Oseh Shalom (Traditional liturgy) 4:17
11. The Settling Rain 4:59
12. Yigdal (Sabbath morning service) 3:09
13. Zeh Hayom (Adapted from Psalm 118:24) 4:41
14. Vitaher Libeinu (Traditional liturgy) 10:53

All songs © Zach Mayer.

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