Conceived in 1965 and recorded in 1968, Hear, O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony In Jazz is an incredible, one-of-a-kind recording.
Composed by Jonathan Klein, then a 17 year old Orthodox Jew, the work combined Hebrew worship with modern jazz, and was originally intended to accompany Friday night prayer service in Worcester, New York.
The undertaking proved successful, and was subsequently staged in a number of synagogues throughout the East Coast.
A live recording from one such service features several heavyweights: Herbie Hancock on piano and bassist Rob Carter, both with Miles Davis at the time; Thad Jones on trumpet; drummer Grady Tate; and Jerome Richardson on reeds. They were joined by Klein on French horn, along with a pair of female vocalists offering wordless accompaniment.
Outside of a Rabbi reciting scripture on two tracks, it’s pretty much a straight ahead jazz date. It might be Hebrew prayer, but the band swings throughout – with a hard, post-bop sound. The result is far more accessible, for instance, than John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme – one of the few major works to mix jazz and religion, and the closest comparison.
In spite of the players’ pedigree, the album was unknown to all but the most fervent collectors. Only a few hundred copies were pressed, and those were only available at prayer services. Klein himself disappeared years ago – no one seems to know his whereabouts since the early 70s.
A few years back, British collector Jonny Trunk chanced upon a copy of the LP, and after some detective work, secured rights for a proper reissue. Surprisingly, the sound quality – mastered from an original vinyl – is excellent throughout. The album was recorded live, but as it was a prayer service, there’s no applause or any other extraneous noise.
As fresh as the day it was recorded, Hear O, Israel is a magnificent, inspiring work, and an unqualified success on every level.
© John Cody 2005