By: Thomas Cutler
Sheera Ben-David said of the Gershwin classic, “It Ain’t Necessarily So”,
“This is a classic naughty little number that I have always been attracted to. After a lifetime of working at synagogues teaching Bible stories and songs to kids, I like using this song to be a little rebellious.”
John Hoglund, of Cabaret Scenes recently commented, “On her exceptional new album, On a Carousel, Sheera Ben-David celebrates a decade of songs from her life. Recorded live at the Metropolitan Room, with her multi-talented brother Adam Ben-David as musical director, the album is a theatrical journey of reflection that resonates with anyone who ever had a dream.”
The review suggested that starting with the lilting “I Miss the Mountains” (Kitt-Yorkey), Ben-David captures both an innocence and a wise maturity fused with a yearning for life that is palpable. With careful phrasing, she unleashes a waterfall of emotion in song that allows the listener to peek inside a centered artist who has weathered some bumps and moved on. Warm readings on “Here’s to Life” (Butler-Molinary) and Leslie Bricusse’s “When I Look in Your Eyes” are perfect samplings of one who has lived and understands the subtexts she’s singing about. She digs even deeper on John Bucchino’s “If I Ever Say I’m Over You” and “This Moment” as well as on two of Jacques Brel’s frenetic mad scenes, “Brussels” and “Carousel,” where she gets to breathe new life into these showy theatrical neo-classic war horses.
/>
The album was named Cabaret Hotline Online’s Outstanding Female Vocalist Album. Complementing Adam Ben-David’s sublime arrangements are Mat Fieldes on bass, David Rozenblatt and Damien Bassman on drums and J.J. McGeehan on guitars.
For decades, Sheera’s mother, Batyah Godfrey, was a soloist at the Metropolitan Opera. Their father, Kerry Ben-David - who met Batyah at Juilliard - was cantor at Scarsdale Synagogue for two decades after working at the Rome Opera as a Fulbright scholar.
"When we were growing up, we spent a lot of time backstage at the Met," recalls Sheera, "I spent a lot of time being exposed to what I consider still the finest of the finest when it comes to music. I have a deep appreciation for classical and opera and all those things."
She also was drawn to sacred singing.
This June, the New York cabaret star gave birth to her first child, Baxter. Sheera insists that Baxter is her best performance to date, however those listening to this extraordinary CD may beg to differ when listening to this amazing young woman sing.
At the 20th Annual Cabaret Convention held this past October at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, Sheera Ben-David received the Julie Wilson Award. The CD, On a Carousel, is produced and arranged by Adam Ben-David, and is available at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sheerabendavid2/from/tblink.
Sheera Ben-Davidwww.sheerabendavid.com
