By Yehuda Ceitlin, COLlive
Yossi Piamenta is saying goodbye to the land of the free, as he swaps a home in Flatbush, Brooklyn, for a beach-front house in Israel’s Tel Aviv.
In an interview with COLlive last week, Piamenta stressed that aside from loving his native country, the move was to assist his elderly father.
“He’s 84 and can’t walk anymore,” he said.
Piamenta lived in New York for some 32 years and it was from there that he traveled for concerts worldwide.
But as he attests, “my home was always in Israel. I only rented in New York and lived out of my suitcase. And from now on, whatever I do, will be as an Israeli.”
The guitarist, who is an observant Jew, concluded his years in the U.S. in a Farewell Concert on July 5th in Manhattan’s Highline Ballroom.
“The numerical value of 32 is Lev, heart,” Piamenta told COLlive. “I gave my heart to America and I benefitted a lot.”
Moving to the States with his brother Avi Piamenta, a flutist, influenced both their lives in two ways – spiritually and musically.
“I am a different person from the one who came to America because of the Rebbe. He’s the guy who influenced me most, most, most. He guided me.”
Until then, the Piamentas had been cooking up a tasty sonic stew of Jewish Middle Eastern rock ‘n roll fusion, unlike anything served up in Jewish music circles before.
A meeting with jazz legend Stan Getz put the Piamentas in a position to feed the souls of an entire generation of young Jewish music lovers hungry for something exotic and exciting.
The years here shaped his career, as well as his identity.
“I wasn’t frum in Israel,” he says. “Here, I got to know what exile is and started keeping Shabbos. Today I can’t imagine myself in my old kind of life. Maybe I needed 32 years to understand that.”
He knows there won’t be a minyan waiting for him at Hayarkon-Frishman, Israel’s Riviera. “Maybe I will make a little change in Tel Aviv,” he muses.
The future looks positive for the talented veteran musician. A gig is already booked in Jerusalem for after Tisha B’Av and a few simchas in the U.S.
Will he be back for the annual Simchas Bais Hashoeiva in Crown Heights?
“My brother Avi comes in special for that. Maybe I’ll come too. If they want me enough…”
Yossi & Avi Piamenta: Poteach Et Yodecha
Yosi Piamenta’s Heavenly Jams Band
yossi we love u
an individual neshama is not worthwhile? oh yeh lets throw one or too in the trash.
watch your sharp tongue
Yossi, wishing you all t he best!
I remember the first simchas beis hashoeva that you played at; as a young boy I was fascinated by how alive and big your guitar sounded. It was a big inspiration for me. After all these years, your music is still very much alive and amazing. Keep making people happy and Hatzlocha Rabba. Chaim
I don’t need your thanks or your wishes. And the fact that you don’t even use a Jewish name shows me where you are coming from. It is time for us to raise our standards even if it means risking losing a person or two. If we start worrying about what every Evan or lange reggae singer thinks of us we will be Reconstructionist/Renewal with a kippa in 20 years. I see it happening already. And if that means using music to discuss problems, so be it. We need to clean house in many ways, and certain things connected with… Read more »
who agrees with me? just poeple that dont have a taste, – well they do have a taste but a strange one – you dont have to agree with me ok? just please dont right nast comments
You sound very judgemental. What are you trying to accomplish by your tirade against another Jew? Why should Piamenta’s simcha serve as a springboard for your lashing out? Please think twice before you post negative words in a public forum.
thanks and take care,
evan
If you were going to China or EY should read “if you were going to China and not EY”!!!!!
Notice the difference between the way we respond to Yossi Piamenta and the way we respond to Matisyahu. Why is this? Very simple. Yossi Piamenta is an honest and decent man, a talented performer who like many creative people is an individualist, and as such can’t find a place in the traditional Chabad community per se. However, he has nothing but respect for the Rebbe while he continues to do his own thing and to serve Hashem in his own way. Never once did he claim to be a Chossid in the community sense (nor should he have, and nor… Read more »
the yeshiva at zamenhoff 37 is open and you are welcome anytime for davening and to learn a bit if you so wish
These guys bring unparalleled Simcha with their music. They simply rock the house wish him much Hatzlacha
my favorite song from the good old days is “ZEH KINOR DAVID” you sang it once in camp emuna when i was a kid.
He & Charlie could be twins!
We will miss you very much!
May hashem be with you in whatever yo do! Hatzlacha!
do not refer to the Rebbe as “the guy.”