New York is a melting pot of cultures: the American Hasidic Jewish musician Matisyahu is certainly an example of blending sounds and themes coming from completely different cultures. The themes of his lyrics are from traditional Haisidic Jewish teachings mixed with reggae, rock and hip hop sounds; it is quite an unusual mix, considering that often Matisyahu (Matthew Paul Miller) alternates Hebrew and Yiddish words with English. He performed at the SummerStage after the progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee.
The Central Park outdoor theatre was crowded and enthusiastic fans were dancing at Matisyahu relentless beat. Although quite different from my memories of concerts of "classic" Jamaican reggae music filled with dreadlocks and Rastafarian beliefs, the energy was there, as my bluried snapshots suggest...
