Jeff Klepper is a cantor and influential figure within Contemporary Jewish religious music, particularly the "American nusach" scene.[1] He has performed with Rabbi Dan Freelander as part of the group Kol B'Seder since 1972.[2][3] Their melody for Shalom Rav is the most popularly sung in the denominations of Judaism where many prayers are sung rather than chanted.[4] His compositions have been preserved in the Milken Archive of Jewish Music.
Jeff was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and earned a master's degree in music from Northeastern Illinois University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music from HUC-JIR in 2005. He co-edited the song section in the Reform prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, and co-founded (with Debbie Friedman) the annual Hava Nashira song-leader workshop.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Remembering and Celebrating Debbie Friedman"
- ^ Judah Cohen, LINER NOTES FROM SNAPSHOTS: THE BEST OF KOL B’SEDER
- ^ "Kol B'Seder".
- ^ Jim Ball, "Musical Settings: Shalom Rav"
- ^ "Jeff Klepper Bio"