Shir Exuberance, the Shabbat band I lead at Congregation Kol Ami in Flower Mound, TX kicked off the new season last night. I am here to tell you that music really does the trick. No matter how tired or worried a person might be, once we start jamming to Hine Mah Tov and Rabbi Joe Black's Yismechu the energy in the room turns a vibrant color. Performing and leading worship are intricately and interestingly bound to each other. I'm singing, sharing non-verbal communications with the musicians, watching the crowd ("I see that woman who hasn't been here before, with a rapturous smile, singing with gusto") and sending my thanks to God for this great gift of Shabbat. It's such a simple thing, really.
Cheers to Toby Rotman, flute and piano, Jim Porter, guitar and vocals, Deborah Armintor on drums and Marshall Armintor on bass and vocals. Next up: Simchat Torah service on 10/19/11. Dancing with the Torah will be taken to a whole new level with Shir Exuberance as the soundtrack. I'm still smiling, and I think those happy endorphins will last quite a while.
