LEXI LANDSMAN

PERFORMING as a young soprano in a synagogue choir in Camps Bay, Cape Town, ignited Mark Ginsburg’s lifelong passion for cantorial music.

“Cantorial music struck me as something very beautiful. It was only much later on that I thought back to my earliest memories of music and that’s what made me dig back,” he says.

Ginsburg grew up in an Orthodox household in Cape Town and moved to Australia in 1982. Now 53, and living in Sydney, the musician recognises the indelible mark that his early “stomping ground” had on his life and his latest offering.

Last month he launched The Mark Ginsburg Band’s debut album, Generations, at the Basement in Sydney. He says that apart from the album being inspired by cantorial music, it also reflects the “heartbeat of Africa”, which he says is “in my blood as well”.

“I just remember the African singers – the gardener at our house, being exposed to African rhythms, drum beats and sounds. When I grew up, it was a period of revolution and music was a part of it.”

The album explores Ginsburg’s musical roots and heritage, combining ancient modes with modern themes. It was borne out of Ginsburg’s research work, part of a masters of music at the Sydney Conservatorium, which is examining the linkages between Jewish cantorial singing and jazz improvisation.

Using a slideshow on his laptop to discuss the background of his studies, it’s clear that his album is inextricably linked to his research, which has, in turn, had an overwhelming impact on his life.

“Music was in the air in the 1920s-50s – the golden age of chazanut. They were almost like rock stars in a way. Today things are very different. It’s being diluted. We’ve seen a ‘dumbing’ down of music in synagogues.”

When he began his thesis, Ginsburg focused on seminal jazz musicians and was startled to discover how many were Jewish and how they had been musically informed through the exposure to chazanut and Jewish folk music and culture.

“When I started out, my main goal was to improve my playing and understanding of music. Not only am I doing that, but  I am discovering my true voice and coming up with music that is exciting to play. It has given me my own identity. It’s a journey.”

That journey was only made possible when Ginsburg, at the age of 44, decided to change his career path and study music after working for 20 years in the IT industry.

“I don’t earn much money out of [music], but I feel more integrated as a person. I’m doing what I love doing. Generations is documenting me at this point of time and my Judaism is a very important part of that.”

Generations is available on iTunes at Birdland Records and at www.jazzgroove.com. Mark Ginsburg will tour Melbourne early next year. Enquiries: www.markginsburg.com.au.