(bright music) (instruments whirring) (gentle music) (audience applauding) (gentle folk music) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (upbeat folk music) ♪ Again, it's you and me ♪ As we sail away ♪ To another place ♪ Another day ♪ Out on the sea ♪ All the plans we've made ♪ Will surely change ♪ Our course will stray ♪ 'Til we're swept away ♪ So if these wayward winds ♪ Against our backs are howling ♪ ♪ Let us look within ♪ For love ♪ And with each breath of trust ♪ ♪ Give us some hope, the wanderlust ♪ ♪ And light these ways ahead ♪ For us (lively folk music) (lively folk music continues) ♪ This should be easy now ♪ We've been here before ♪ We've packed these bags and walked through this door ♪ ♪ But as much as we let go ♪ We'll hold on to more ♪ Let's you and me each grab an oar ♪ ♪ And climb aboard ♪ So if these wayward winds ♪ Against our backs are howling ♪ ♪ Let us look within ♪ For love ♪ And with each breath of trust ♪ ♪ Give us some hope, the wanderlust ♪ ♪ And light these ways ahead ♪ For us (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) ♪ In the wild, there's a heartbeat within the unknown ♪ ♪ When you're untamed, you can't be thrown ♪ ♪ For every mile and every stone ♪ ♪ It's you and me ♪ You're not alone ♪ You are my home ♪ So if these wayward winds ♪ Against our backs are howling ♪ ♪ Let us look within ♪ For love ♪ And with each breath of trust ♪ ♪ Give us some hope, the wanderlust ♪ ♪ And light these ways ahead ♪ Ahead ♪ Ahead ♪ For us (audience applauding) (solemn folk music) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) ♪ When the first light came in ♪ It was cold up north again ♪ And the frost slowly thawed in the dawn ♪ ♪ It takes a faithful breath ♪ To put a worried mind to rest ♪ ♪ And still remember the narrow bridge we're on ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ You don't ease a worried mind ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ You don't ease a worried mind ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind (dramatic folk music) ♪ It's not far from our homes ♪ Where the woods are turned to stones ♪ ♪ And the feeling of wonder is nearly gone ♪ ♪ But in the cracks of barren land ♪ ♪ Where the beauty grows unplanned ♪ ♪ So we just keep to the narrow bridge we're on ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ You don't ease a worried mind ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ You don't ease a worried mind ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind ♪ Just stay behind ♪ Just stay behind ♪ Just stay behind (dramatic folk music continues) (lively folk music) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) ♪ I have walked this world on a narrow bridge ♪ (vocalist sings in foreign language) ♪ From the lowlands so low ♪ To high up on the ridge (vocalist singing in foreign language) ♪ I have walked this world on a narrow bridge ♪ (vocalist sings in foreign language) ♪ From the lowlands so low ♪ To high up on the ridge (vocalist sings in foreign language) (lively folk music continues) ♪ Now, when the night returns again ♪ ♪ And brings quiet through the glen ♪ ♪ In the still, we hear the blackbirds call ♪ ♪ From over these rivers, you can see ♪ ♪ In the moonlight through the trees ♪ ♪ That the bridge was not so narrow after all ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ You don't ease a worried mind ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ You don't ease a worried mind ♪ ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind, yeah ♪ Troubled times, troubled times ♪ ♪ Just stay behind (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music flourishes) (audience applauding) - That is Nefesh Mountain live here at The Greene Space.

(audience applauds) The song called "The Narrow Bridge."

What a wonderful song.

Doni, what does the name Nefesh refer to in Nefesh Mountain?

- Nefesh means soul in Hebrew.

- Okay.

- Spirit.

- And, presumably, you were Jewish before you became bluegrass musicians.

(audience chuckles) So, the combination, you know, bluegrass has gospel in its roots.

How did this sort of confluence of things come together for the two of you?

- Oh, my turn?

- Your turn, honey.

- Thanks, wifey.

(audience chuckles) Well, it all happened by accident.

The two of us have been huge bluegrass fans and players forever, but we didn't quite think to do it, to infuse something Jewish in it until we met and we fell in love.

So it's kind of a love story, and I think each of us has given us the courage to kind of get up and talk about always wearing the star, so to speak, on our chest of always being outwardly and openly Jewish in a world that so many of my heroes, including bluegrass musicians, are Jewish.

They just don't talk about it, and the question that we ask, I think through our music, is what does it mean to be Jewish?

Does it mean that we go to shul every weekend or Shabbat or day or are we praying multiple times a day or is it part of our genetics?

Is it part of our make-up and our heritage and our history?

And a lot of the band, what we've leaned into over the years is a lot more of this heritage and this tradition that we wanna carry on, you know?

- Well, it's also... (audience applauds) Bluegrass, I mean, you guys have worked with some of the greats, Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush and people like that, but when you showed up here today with a piano, and, you know, a full drum kit, I'm thinking, well, I'm really hard pressed to think of a bluegrass band that has a piano in it.

So it seems like, and, already, we've heard in your set, that the palette has widened.

So what's that process been like?

- Well, we love bluegrass, and a lot of folks know us as a bluegrass band, and we still are.

I think the core of the band is still rooted in very much bluegrass and the string band tradition, but we realized along the way, we've never been traditional, so we've never really, we've always been breaking the rules, and a lot of the folks, we would go to the big bluegrass conventions and the festivals, and a lot of folks love us, and a lot of folks also look at us like, what are they doing?

What's going on?

So, you know, and so, like, we're just leaning into, a lot of us, I have a jazz background, so.

I have a jazz background.

(audience chuckles) - Well, what also had happened was that he started, during COVID, started saying that he was missing the electric guitar, and we're home, listening to tons of music, and kind of bringing up every song we've ever known and loved, and he's like, you know what?

I miss that electric guitar, and, gosh, it'd be cool to have some drums, and we then looked at each other.

We were like, well, why not?

And so- - It's your band.

There's no one to say you can't.

- We're not taking anything away from what we were.

We're just adding.

(gentle folk music) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) ♪ Oh, little bird, I hear your song ♪ ♪ You've been overlooked for far too long ♪ ♪ We've met before on the ancient road ♪ ♪ And we share a tale and a pain ♪ ♪ Both new and old (dramatic folk music) (singers vocalizing) ♪ They say you're small, not worth a thing ♪ ♪ But I know the truth ♪ I've heard you sing ♪ And face to face, I've felt it too ♪ ♪ When they see themselves and their hate ♪ ♪ And they don't see you ♪ And so we sing ♪ A sparrow's song ♪ For those who were told they don't belong ♪ ♪ A call of love for the days gone wrong ♪ ♪ Don't fear, little bird ♪ Just fly, fly on (lively folk music) (lively folk music continues) (singers vocalizing) (singers continue vocalizing) ♪ Too many times, too many years ♪ ♪ We forged on ahead and held back your tears ♪ ♪ While you abide by the hawks and crows ♪ ♪ Because you believe in the dream we all should have a home ♪ ♪ And so we sing a sparrow's song ♪ ♪ For those who were told they don't belong ♪ ♪ A call of love for the days gone wrong ♪ ♪ Don't fear, little bird ♪ Just fly, fly on (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (vocalist singing in foreign language) (vocalist continues singing in foreign language) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) (lively folk music continues) ♪ I'm just a sparrow from the ancient road ♪ ♪ I sing from my heart into the vast unknown ♪ ♪ With my little voice, my spirit soars ♪ ♪ In the sparrow songs of long ago ♪ (singers vocalizing) ♪ Oh, little bird, I hear your song ♪ ♪ You've been overlooked for far too long ♪ ♪ We've met before on the ancient road ♪ ♪ We share a tale and a pain ♪ Both new and old ♪ And so we sing a sparrow's song ♪ ♪ For those who were told they don't belong ♪ ♪ A call of love for the days gone wrong ♪ ♪ Don't fear, little bird ♪ Just fly, fly on (solemn folk music) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (solemn folk music continues) (gentle folk music) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (audience applauding) (upbeat folk music) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you hear it ♪ The song is in the air ♪ We're in a revolution ♪ Don't you know we're right ♪ When everyone is singing ♪ There'll be no one left to fight ♪ (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) (upbeat folk music continues) ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you hear it ♪ The song is in the air ♪ We're in a revolution ♪ Don't you know we're right ♪ When everyone is singing ♪ There'll be no one left to fight ♪ ♪ Oh, no, people can you feel it ♪ ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Come on ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Oh, love, love, love is ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ People, can you feel it ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere ♪ Love is everywhere (audience applauding) (upbeat folk music flourishes) (audience continues applauding) (audience continues applauding) (lively folk music) (lively folk music continues)