Press and Reviews

review of 2016's "the nosh pit"

With his sweet voice, engaging style, and acute sensitivity to the needs of young people, Jason Mesches presents a wonderful musical offering that appeals to children and parents alike! Weaving together clever rhymes, beautiful arrangements, and a sincere love for Jewish values, Jason takes his little listeners on a journey through Shabbat on the tracks “Whole Lotta Challah” and “Every Friday We Eat Chicken;” spirituality on the tracks “If God’s A Giraffe” and “Faith;” and a delicious dive into the world of Jewish food on the title track.

Complete with movement songs and silly songs, The Nosh Pit offers Jewish music educators a marvelous buffet of great numbers to add to their repertoire. The Nosh Pit is a must-have album for Jewish children, early childhood educators, songleaders, and parents!

—Ben Kramarz, Music Educator, Songleader, and author of A Guide to Songleading and Communal Singing

Review of 2012's "oneg time!"

Jason Mesches added his personal style to this set of twelve songs which celebrate Jewish life and is geared for younger children. Many of the songs include a children’s chorus which enliven the songs and appeal to children listeners. The first track, “Bo-Bo-Bo-Boker Tov”, features a lead-in with a Spanish guitar riff. Another song, “The Baby Naming Song”, is a melody that names different body parts in Hebrew. “What is Kosher” is amusingand contains good information about the meaning of kashrut. “Noah’s Ark” is particularly engaging because the children’s chorus make the appropriate sounds for each animal mentioned. The description of a hungry boy waiting anxiously for the Oneg after Shabbat services is an entertaining title song. “Shabbat in the Parking Lot” is not only upbeat and catchy, but also conveys the message that Jewish spaces can be created anywhere.

A more sensitive tune, “Chanukah”, is told from the viewpoint of a young child waiting for grandmother to visit at Hanukkah time. Unfortunately, the child does not comprehend that his grandmother has passed away. He finally learns that his grandmother is present in the spirit of the holiday traditions. This audio CD is highly recommended for all libraries in Reconstructionist, Reform or Conservative settings.

Heather Lenson, Ratner Media & Technology Center, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland and editor of the Jewish Valuesfinder