Newcomer A.T.(avrohom tzvi) Friedman is just eighteen years old, and he is NOT entering the Jewish music world. He is doing something rather unique and original by entering the much smaller arena of chazanus. Yes, you heard right.
The world of chazanus you see is usually full of seasoned veteran cantors who have been doing this a long time. However, it is not very often that new young blood has entered the arena.
The young Friedman’s father is a beautiful baal tefila, and so are his brothers, though they were never formerly trained. A.T. is the first in his family to train.
Though he grew up listening to chazanus, at first he didn’t appreciate it. As he got older, he started to really love chazanus and today he actually LIVES chazanus. The world renowned Chazan Moshe Koussovitsky is one of his favorite cantors among other world renowned chazanim.
The piece of chazanus A.T. is releasing to the world is titled “Akavia Ben Mehalalel” with words from Pirkei Avos. The song is a classical piece of chazanus made famous by Chazan Moshe Koussovitsky. Friedman’s goal is to inspire more people, especially the younger generation to listen to chazanus and give it a chance, to connect to it on an emotional level deeper than the typical pop tunes out there.
Akavia is a perfect message to send out to the world during Elul, days before Rosh Hashanah.
