A (NOT SO) BRIEF HISTORY: Mah Tovu’s first recording, “Jewish Rock and Roll
Singer”, (now out of print) was released in 1992, and quickly
garnered them a loyal and enthusiastic following. They performed at the 1993 Conference on
Alternatives in Jewish Education in San Antonio, Texas, and gained national recognition as
up-and-coming songwriters and performers. Appearances in Florida, Illinois, Missouri,
Kansas and Colorado soon followed, and as Josh spent two years in Israel beginning
Rabbinic studies Steve recruited talented Denver musicians for performances throughout
Colorado and beyond.
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Steve and Josh released their second recording, “Only This” in 1996. A diverse and eclectic blend of styles, ranging from rock to reggae, soul, jazz, folk and gospel, “Only This” was an immediate critical and popular success. Three of Mah Tovu’s songs were chosen as finalists in the 1995 American Jewish Music Festival, and Steve and Josh continued to perform across the country: Oregon, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Indiana, and California. In 1997 Ken Chasen, an accomplished keyboardist, guitarist, singer and songwriter, joined Mah Tovu. Ken was a childhood friend of Josh's older brother, Adam, and rabbinical school classmate of Josh's, and had known Steve from their days together at Goldman Union Camp Institute. Ken had spent several years in music production in Los Angeles before attending rabbinic school, and brought a wealth of talent and music industry experience to the band. Ken's high third harmonies gave Mah Tovu a distinctly "Crosby-Stills-Nash" vocal sound. The threesome was invited to perform at the 1997 Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education (CAJE) at Stanford University in Palo Alto, and brought down the house with their rendition of “Pharaoh, Pharaoh”, a parody of the 60’s Kingsmen’s song “Louie, Louie”. It has since become a huge hit on the Jewish camp and youth group circuit. Mah Tovu have become favorites at CAJE, performing at the Conference nearly every year since.
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| In 1998 Mah Tovu was honored with an invitation to attend the
Limmud Conference in Nottingham, England, an annual gathering of study, prayer and
community for over 1500 British and European Jews. They traveled across the pond in
December of 1998, and their first international performance was a smashing success. In
1999, Mah Tovu released a CD single of “Pharaoh, Pharaoh” and vicariously
participated in hundreds of Passover seders across the country and around the world.
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| 2001 brought the release of two exciting new projects. After
three years of production, and nearly six years since "Only This," the band released their second full-length recording
"Turn It", a collection of 12 original English and Hebrew songs based on Jewish liturgy. Producer Gordon
Lustig's lush arrangements of horns, strings, and intricate three part harmonies add a
special touch to these 12 outstanding selections. Mah
Tovu's commitment to teaching prayer through contemporary music make this collection a
must-have for Rabbis, Cantors, and songleaders in search of new melodies for use on the
bimah and in the classroom.
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| "Days of Wonder, Nights of Peace: Family Prayers in Song for Morning and Bedtime" is a unique 4-song CD and
accompanying booklet published by Behrman House,
Inc.. Designed for parents and young children, Days of Wonder, Nights of
Peace helps us give children a sense of ordered, daily rhythm at those moments that
are part of each and every day -- waking up and going to bed. The songs included here, two
for morning and two for evening, make the beauty of traditional Jewish rituals
understandable and accesible. Their powerful themes of thankfulness, everyday miracles,
creation, and protection can help us infuse meaning into even the routine parts of each
day.
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 Click above to read more about "Days of Wonder, Nights of Peace" |
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| In the fall of 2001 Mah Tovu's song "Round and
Round" was chosen from among dozens of entries for inclusion on the "Celebrate
Kids" compilation, produced by well-known Jewish musician Craig Taubman. Fourteen
tunes by thirteen of today's leading Jewish musicians make up this "collection of
simply delicious songs for the entire family to treasure". "Celebrate Kids"
is the fourth release in the "Celebrate Series", joining the hugely successful
"Celebrate Hanukkah," "Celebrate Passover," "Celebrate
Shabbat," and "Celebrate Jewish Love Songs". "Celebrate Kids" can be ordered directly from Mah Tovu (click on the BUY NOW button at right). The other CDs in the series can be ordered from Craig 'n Co. at http://www.craignco.com.
NEW!
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| 2002 brought the publication of The Mah Tovu Songbook, the definitive collection of Mah Tovu music. It was released in time for Mah Tovu's performance at the American Cantor's Conference Convention in Beaver Creek, Colorado in June, 2002. This 134 page, wirebound songbook includes 24 fully notated songs from Turn It, Only This, and Pharaoh, Pharaoh, complete with guitar chords, melody line, Hebrew, transliteration, and translation. In addition to the sheet music, a lyric sheet for each song is also provided, ready for songleaders to photocopy as a teaching aid. This songbook is ideal for Cantors, soloists, and songleaders. | 
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In 2006, Steve joined forces with Robbi Sherwin and Scott Leader to form Sababa. They recently released their debut CD. Steve continues to perform with Mah Tovu whenever possible.
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| MAH TOVU
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Ken
Chasen (keyboards, guitar and vocals) |
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Josh
Zweiback
(guitar and vocals) |
