Judablue is a Jewish rock band formed in Silver Spring, Maryland in 2002. The band is composed of Shlomo Ari Gaisin (sax/vocals/piano), Yaniv Hoffman (guitar), Ravi Brooks (drums), Moti Schnapp (Guitar) and Danny Feinberg/Rudy Semah (Bass). Though Judablue’s music is mainly considered rock, their sound has influences from Jazz, Reggae, Soul and Funk. [1]
Formation/ origins
editJudaBlue was formed in 2002 by band members Yaniv Hoffman and Shlomo Gaisin when they met at the MJBHA in 7th grade. Shlomo played saxophone and Yaniv played guitar and one day they started jamming together. The musical connection was great and after a few months of busking on the streets and playing with different people they decided to try to put a band together. At first they had planned to be called Yield to Pedestrians but that quickly faded. Yaniv transferred to a different school, CESJDS, a year later for 8th grade and there he met more musicians. Eventually the band had a group of two guitars, sax, vocals and drums. As a more serious band seemed to come together the members decided on the name JudaBlue. Because of the name’s very humble origin and good ring, they felt it fit them well and since then, they have never regretted the name. The band went through different changes in musicians until about 2007 when they took things to the next level and came together with musicians Shlomo Gaisin (vocals), Yaniv Hoffman (rhythm guitar), Moti Schnapp (lead guitar), Danny Feinberg/ Rudy Semah (Bass), Ravi Brooks (drums). Their core genre is rock but their influences are collected from all sorts of musical spheres such as Pop, Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Classical, Funk etc.
Shows
editJudablue started by playing shows in New Jersey where they had a large group of friends to support them and eventually they had their first break when they were offered to play a battle of the bands. JudaBlue performed at the "Five Towns Battle of the Bands" and won first place.[2] Judablue then produced their first song Modeh Ani, a song with lyrics originating from Jewish prayers, with producer Jake Antelis. Since then, they have performed at mainstream events such as "Mexicali Live" with Moshav Band, Congregation Ramath Ora's "The Roc House", playing shows both on their own and with other artists in popular venues in NJ, NYC, MD, and Jerusalem.[2] They produced their first EP in 2009 with producer Taylor Larson in Bethesda, Maryland.
Media
editMedia they have received was articles in the Washington Jewish Week[3], in the YU commentator[2], on Jewish radio stations in America and Israel and on Jewish media blogs such as Shemspeed.com.[4]
Discography
edit- Forty Days
- Hinei Kel
- Im Lo Aleh
- Modeh Ani
- Lech Lecha
- Darchei Noam
- Forty Days
- Falling (single)
- Falling
Religious influence
editThe members of Judablue come from all different backgrounds, from religious from Birth, to Baal Tshuva to Convert.[5] They write from their own experiences about their struggles connecting and feeling Judaism and God. To quote, their message is "An Epic attempt to bring heaven down to earth. Well thought out and personally infused lyrics and music that try to portray and make other people realize that there is more to life than just life itself. We categorize our music as Jewish Rock, but the music and the message crosses all borders and is all in the same image. Help raise awareness of a lack of consciousness that has fallen over this world.”[1]