Presenting the singing business man: New single by Avi Gasner – Modeh Ani

21 Jul, 2010 by yossi

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Avi Gasner (aged 55) from Kfar Saba, an insurance agent by day, with a rich musical background which he acquired through his own hard work. Gasner has studied music, sung, played and dreamed. A glance at his personal history reveals that he has sung in a local group, appeared on stage, played flute, accordion and guitar. In the past he “took a break” from music, until five years ago, following life-changing events, or a mid-life crisis, depending how you look at it, he took up music again.

This particular song was written by Moshe Laufer. Barak Ben Tzur, known drum player and producer of the whole album is responsible for musical accompaniment and arrangement. Of Ben Tzur, Gasner says “We connect, he
understands me and knows what I am looking for and manages to make all my musical dreams come true.”

Gasner put Laufer’s musical creations away in a drawer, as he couldn’t spare the time needed to devote to them. Until two months ago when he was looking for a song to sing for Shavuot. Gasner’s father who had passed away four months before, would have been 88 on Shavuot. “He left happy memories, so I wrote a song for his birthday basically thanking him for what he left me.”

Avi Gasner presents “Modeh Ani” a song of gratitude to Hakadosh Baruch Hu for the people he sent to accompany him through life. “Abba was a messenger from Hakadosh Baruch Hu who taught me so much in life. He was always happy, no matter what and was always thankful for everything, now it is my turn to thank Him.”

The debut album which will appear be”H this winter, promises to be richly flavoured with various styles, from Laufer to Bocelli and Pavarotti. Gasner enjoys light opera, but in addition has been studying for the past four years at a Jerusalem school of cantorial music, with the aim of becoming a fully fledged chazzan. Fellow shul members say that to hear him leining is like listening to a performance of light opera…”

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