Rebbe Soul Comes To The Bay Area 12/5, 12/6

Rebbe Soul, a musician who brings a new voice to Jewish music by combining it with rock, world fusion, jazz and pop, will perform in two Bay Area concerts in December. He and his band will be at Chochmat Ha Lev, 2215 Prince St., in Berkeley on Dec.5th at 7:30 PM, and at Peninsula Sinai, 499 Boothbay Ave, Foster City on December 6th at 4 PM. Both concerts are open to the public.

Rebbe Soul, actually Bruce Burger, is a versatile musician. His Bay Area shows will combine rock sensibilities, world-fusion stylings and traditional Hebrew melodies to create a sound that is ageless yet completely progressive.

Growing up in Utica, New York, Rebbe Soul's first influences were the old-school rockers. From the time he began to play guitar at 13, he had an innate ability to hear, understand and reproduce any style of music. This ability opened many doors for him when he moved to Los Angeles and though he kept busy with sessions and rock/jazz collaborations, he never really took the time to discover his own musical voice - until he heard the traditional Hebrew prayer "Avinu Malkenu." Inspired by its haunting beauty, he produced an acoustic instrumental version.

In 1992, the acoustic rendition of "Avinu Malkenu" garnered the highest-ever amount of listener call-ins when played on maverick San Francisco radio station KKSF. Propelled by the success of "Avinu Malkenu," he played the Great American Music Hall, Ashkenaz, and at Union Square's menorah lighting for many years. Rebbe Soul's first full-length, self-titled release became an instant hit with Jewish and non-Jewish listeners alike. His second album, Fringe of Blue, sold more copies than almost any other Jewish music album in the country. Rebbe Soul followed it with Rebbe Soul-O, the soundtrack to the award-winning one-man show about his life and musical journey. He has since moved to Israel where he plays concerts all over that country and tours the world.

Rebbe Soul's last album, Change The World With A Sound, mixes Mizrahi chant and electronic beats with his signature funk/folk/ethnic rock style. He is currently at work on an album of Shlomo Carelbach's music.

Nightlife/Cabaret listings:
WHO: Rebbe Soul
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, Dec 5th, 7:30 PM; Chochmat Ha Lev, 2215 Prince, Berkeley, Sunday, December 6th, 4 PM, Peninsula Sinai, 499 Boothbay Ave., Foster City
TICKETS: $18-$24, Berkeley; $19-$55 Foster City
PHONE: For Berkeley event: www.chochmat.org or 510 704 8687
For Foster City event: 650 349 2816 or rebbesoulpsc.eventbrite.com