Jonathan Lewis Band combines modern music and Jewish liturgy - providing listeners with a joyous and transporting Jewish music experience, bringing new life to beloved Jewish prayers through original compositions and arrangements.
With vast musical experience in many genres, the influences of jazz, latin, middle eastern and pop can be heard in their music and performances.
Jonathan Lewis’ moving interpretations enliven and enhance services and make for an entertaining concert.
Jonathan Lewis - Vocals, Piano, Arrangements and Compositions
Jonathan Lewis is the architect of the Jonathan Lewis Band, and has arranged, composed, played piano and keys and sung on a soon-to-be released debut album of Jewish Liturgy-Shabbat Yachad music. The album will include original compositions mixed with traditional Jewish prayer melodies and prayers adapted to fit popular secular songs.
In the Jewish music world, Jonathan sang and played trumpet on Debbie Friedman’s renowned Chanukah album. He has sung and played piano for Cantor Paul Zim, and has also been musical director for Cantor Mark Biddleman’s Rock Services and Shabbat Yachad services at Temple Emanuel in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Most recently, he performed cantorial duties for Congregation Gesher Shalom's (Fort Lee, NJ) contemporary High Holiday services.
In secular circles, Jonathan has compositional credits for 3 films for Danny Aiello’s documentary film company and had several songs on pop radio, including Corina’s “Loving You Like Crazy” and a dance record “Bliss” on Universal Records 2008.
He has performed, toured or recorded with Celia Cruz, Cyndi Lauper, Marc Anthony, LL Cool J, Richard Bona( Grammy Award winner) Run DMC, Mariah Carey, Reuben Blades, Chris Botti, and Gregory Abbott and Willie Colon. He also wrote arrangements on Willie Colon’s Grammy nominated “Altos Secretos” album.
Rachel Hanser - Vocals
Rachel Hanser’s passion for singing started at Camp Ramah in Palmer, MA, where her love for Jewish music was also ignited, and has continued to this day.
Rachel is a member of Those Girls, a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning contemporary women’s vocal group that performs an eclectic mix of music from a wide range of styles. Those Girls are based in New York City and can be found on stages all over the Tri-state area and beyond.
As part of the Jonathan Lewis Band, Rachel sings at Fort Lee’s Congregation Gesher Shalom’s (Fort Lee, NJ) contemporary High Holiday services.
Rachel performed with the Poppy Seed Players through the Kaufman Cultural Center, and had lead roles in Jewish holiday-themed musicals for families that were performed at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. She was also a long-time member of the a capella group, Downtown Vocals. Rachel can be seen singing and playing percussion instruments at various cabaret rooms and clubs around New York City, including Don’t Tell Mama and The Laurie Beechman Theater.
Rachel’s vocal versatility enables her to sing a variety of styles from pop and folk to standards and jazz.
