Nefesh Mountain is pioneering a new sound where Jewish Sprit and Soul meet with Bluegrass and Old-time musical traditions. Founders, husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, are blending their love for both of these rich traditions, and have created a debut album that marries these two seemingly disparate worlds. Since the recent release of their Debut album with bluegrass greats Sam Bush, Mark Schatz, Scott Vestal, Rob Ickes, and Gary Oleyar, they are winning the hearts of audiences nationwide.

“There is common ground here,” says Lindberg, “for centuries Bluegrass and Old Time music have been embracing the Old Testament, and through the years have created a powerful vehicle for spirituality and expression.” The origin of Bluegrass music itselfbegan as a melting pot, fusing African instruments and sensibilities, with that of Western Europe and the Scotch/Irish traditions.

Zasloff adds, “Today, Bluegrass music is an outlet for so many cultures and their own traditions to come through. I can fall in love and connect with Chinese, African American, or Irish cultures though the music. Likewise, as Jewish Americans, we want to share our background with the world through the art of Bluegrass.” 

“Nefesh” is a hebrew word which loosely translates as the soul or animating spirt of all living things. The Mountain is a cross-cultural symbol used widely in Jewish text as well as in Bluegrass and Old-Time musical forms. “We’ve found that another commonality is that both traditions unapologetically celebrate and honor our natural world.” says Zasloff.