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"Summer With Juliet is
truly wonderful, full of that all too rare quality of vision meeting craft
and giftedness head on... The world will always need....music written
with depth of soul, character, and heart. David's voice is beautiful,
his lyrics surprising, his range impressive, and the record stays with
you..."
-- Rob Mathes, performer, songwriter, arranger (Norah
Jones, Elvis Costello, Sting, Bonnie Raitt)
“...Summer with Juliet is one of those rare works in which what
may seem to be disparate parts meld into a compelling statement of beauty
and wonderment…. accomplishing a travelogue of sorts that would cause
envy in some of the pop world’s most notorious border crossers, such
as Sting, Paul Simon and David Byrne...” Tom
Staudter, Croton Gazette “On The Beat” 8/7/03
Roots Music Report
CD: Summer with Juliet
Label: WorldWave Records
Rating: ***** Top Rating
Genre: Mixed
"What a wonderful mixture of 17 songs performed and mostly written
by David Goldman.
This is an album for all who enjoy good music. (Folk, Pop, Blues and Worldbeat.)
A superb vocal range and the passionate feeling David Goldman instills
in his songs makes for an outstanding CD."
All Music Guide: “This is first and foremost a pop album…But
what makes it a unique recording is David Goldman's implementation of
a wide variety of worldwide folk influences. He seems to have accurately
captured the vocal nuances of Japanese, Indian, and Mexican music as well
as the stylings of American blues and Celtic music. He is joined by a
large supporting cast…Through all the stylistic changes and shuffling
of personnel on this album, there exists the undeniable unifying component
-- Goldman's voice. He has a pure, accommodating, and comforting voice
that gives credence to his globetrotting tendencies…” Dave Sleger
“The word eclectic is often misused as describing a style. More
accurately it is a method of choosing the best components selected from
diverse sources, systems, or styles. David's "Summer with Juliet"
is an eclectic trove of genuine and provocative styles that flow like
honey from the bee. On this remarkable CD we take a romantic journey across
the world. Beginning with an Americana song that feels as familiar as
its title, Blue Collar Town. Through dynamic and curious episodes of the
Blues, World, Latin, Country, Asian, and Jazz, we explore and experience
the enchanting music of David Goldman. David's clear and resonating voice
adds dimension to his songwriting genius. He writes and sings in many
languages exquisitely. A true troubadour and romantic, his songs are spontaneous
yet consistently thoughtful. The musical accompaniment is top rate. The
production flawless. It has been a real joy to play "Summer with
Juliet" in my car as I drive on my quest for antiques and art. Like
this incredible CD, it is a glorious quest indeed.” --Rick
Rock, Founder, Tribes Hill News and Hammond House, Valhalla, New York
www.TribesHill.com
"David Goldman is ridiculously good! He has a terrific tenor voice
with great power and flexibility. I love the fact that he can negotiate
the middle eastern and Indian scales so easily. Quite eclectic and diverse
in his tastes and musical pursuits and puts it all together with verve
and elan...." --John Hammel, Host, "Mozart
to Motorhead", WNTI FM, Morristown, NJ
CROTON GAZETTE AUGUST 7-16, 2003
ON THE BEAT
All Around the World
By Thomas Staudter
The first few cuts on Summer with Juliet, the debut album from David Goldman,
settle into musical styles befitting a singer-songwriter with a broad
range of musical tastes: there’s a country rocker with crunching
electric guitars followed by the title track, a Celtic-flavored air that
could be borrowed from the Solas songbook. A 24-bar blues reminiscent
of “St. James Infirmary” is then featured, slow and thick with
melancholy, the mood echoing on the next track, too, a folk-pop lament
that includes backing vocals from Cherish the Ladies.
But Goldman, a 52-year-old Croton resident and musical idealist (and thus
seemingly younger), puts on wings and soars around the world for the next
few songs, accomplishing a travelogue of sorts that would cause envy in
some of the pop world’s most notorious border crossers, such as Sting,
Paul Simon and David Byrne.
All sung in their native languages, a Japanese lullaby, “Takeda No
Komori Uta,” and a Hindustani-Urdu drone quickly change the album’s
landscape, and although a modal-heavy blues offers listeners some familiar
ground, a Spanish bolero and a Brazilian samba lead into the album’s
centerpiece, a six-and-half minute long worldbeat workout called “É
Nossa Canção (It’s Our Song)” that spins off dizzyingly,
alluringly into spoken parts in 35 different languages, all propelled
by congas, bongos, djembes, dumbeks, tablas and other assorted percussive
instruments. Whew!
And that’s the album’s midpoint.
So, the obvious question is, where does all this come from exactly?
“I didn’t start putting this album together with any particular
cross-cultural ideas,” said Goldman last week, “If anything,
it’s a bridge between my musical preoccupations. Marketing records
requires a certain clarity, though, and this…” he paused for
a chuckle, “…is more of a sampler.”
“Of course, I hope listeners find more than one song on the album
that they like. Maybe my next recording should be more singular”—again,
a chuckle—“I don’t know.”
Not to worry, mi amigo. Summer with Juliet is one of those rare works
in which what may seem to be disparate parts meld into a compelling statement
of beauty and wonderment. Goldman’s rich and determined baritone
singing voice may recall for some readers that of 1970s Southern California
stalwart Stephen Bishop, and it’s what carries his songs, all buttressed
nonetheless by top-notch instrumentation and backing vocals courtesy of
the aforementioned Ladies, Open Book’s Michele Rubin, Groovelily’s
Valerie Vigoda and budding diva Sasha Lazard.
Recorded over a period of four years, Summer with Juliet is Goldman’s
strong bid for wider recognition, something he’s certainly prepared
for and eagerly investigating. Last month he was part of the Tribes Hill
showcase at the Falcon Ridge Folk festival, earning a great reception
from the audience there, he said, and he has just finished recording a
“killer pop song” with Australian songstress Cathi Ogden that
is being shopped for inclusion on a motion picture soundtrack.
“If I was 20 years old again, and thank God I’m not, I would
just try to get a record deal,” said Goldman. “But I’ve
seen how many people get signed and shelved, so that’s not what I’m
aiming for. Getting my music heard in as many contexts as possible is,
for me, a way to further my creativity, which is more fun than I can want.”
A product of Franklin Square, New York, one of the former Long Island
farmlands subdivided for the sake of suburbia, Goldman grew up adoring
the Weavers, Theodore Bikel and Harry Belafonte. He studied classical
piano in grade school, disliking the lessons “but they served a purpose,”
he admitted.
When the mid-1960s folk-rock era blossomed, Goldman was a ready-made adherent,
and soon he was digging the Stones and Ravi Shankar. In 1969 he enrolled
in Friends World College, an experimental program begun just a few years
earlier by the Quakers, in which students plotted their own curricula
(a wet dream that few students today could handle) and traveled around
the globe, unencumbered by final exams.
So, off Goldman flew: first, to Mexico, with farming and language his
fields of study; and then to Japan, where he stayed for a year, immersing
himself in the musical culture. His junior and senior years were spent
in India, studying the sitar and classical vocal styles.
Three decades down the road, he still dreams of returning to the far-flung
nations where he spent his college years.
A number of regular day jobs have kept him busy, though, and in the past
ten years he has focused more and more on music. Two music workshops that
he established are still running in Forest Hills and Nyack. More importantly,
Goldman, whose ancestry is a heady mix of Eastern European and Sicilian,
has worked hard in his free time to hone his songwriting skills, attending
seminars and guild workshops, and putting together the taped demos that
led to Summer with Juliet.
After the Goldman moved to Croton-on-Hudson five years ago, he also began
to frequent some of the open mic soirees in the area, and music fans who
get out once in a while have undoubtedly enjoyed his tuneful art at one
point or another. Not too long ago Christine Lavin, the popular folk musician,
was visiting Westchester, and when she stopped in to check out the Thursday
evening open mic scene at the Funky Bean she was obviously impressed by
Goldman and his fellow performers, enough so to sign up to sing too. Goldman,
generous soul that he is, obligingly lent her his guitar.
David Goldman and KJ Denhart will perform Friday, August 8th at the Funky
Bean Café, 265 Tate Avenue, Buchanan. The show begins at 8 p.m.
Seating is limited and there is a nominal cover charge. For reservations
and more info call 914-737-2275.
"I have not met anyone from the West who attained such fluency and
stylistic excellence in such a short time...”
-- Late Professor Amiya Chakravarty, former literary
secretary to India’s Nobel Prize-winning author and composer, Rabindranath
Tagore, evaluating David Goldman’s two years of music and language
study in India
"An appreciative audience gave singer/guitarist David Goldman resounding
applause and calls for encores at the Paramount Center for the Arts at
his opening for the Rippingtons concert. Accompanied by percussionist
Herman Stephens, David's warm tones and flair for singing his repertoire
of Blues, Spanish and Brazilian songs-including a few originals-got the
evening off to a great start."
-- Gladys Muller, Director, Paramount Center for
the Arts in Peekskill, NY
"Mr. Goldman put on a very impressive show at The Pub here at UMBC.
I highly recommend him for shows catering to various populations and students
from different cultures and backgrounds."
-- Nick Bijlani, University of Maryland at Baltimore
County, Cultural & Performing Arts Chair, Student Events Board
"The students of the University of Maryland at Baltimore enjoyed
an evening of music provided by singer performer Dave Goldman. He created
a warm club-style atmosphere with his diverse selection of songs."
-- Ellen S. Kallins, Director, Office of Student
Life
"Dave Goldman performed at the Suffern Free Library and captivated
the audience with his beautiful voice....Not only does he have an incredible
repertoire of international music, but his original songs are delightful."
-- Miguelina Molina, Community Services Coordinator
"You were great!!"
-- Rutgers University Cook College Events Coordinator
Jody Nealley
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