released fall 2025! enjoy free initial browsing, then consider helping with studio costs by buying the high-resolution audio files (which come with enhanced liner notes, unlimited streaming, etc.) via the user-friendly artist-supportive Bandcamp platform:
https://LarryLesser1.bandcamp.com/
This album (followup to Sparks, Winner and 4-time Finalist at the 2021 New Mexico Music Awards) offers original non-liturgical Jewish folk-rock to engage seekers and believers in any/no denomination. It offers emotional immediacy for dark times when we seek assurance that night will end. See this NMJJ piece.
Here’s an overview of THE SONGS (the album and songs #2,6,7 were longlisted for the 2026 IFMAs and #6 will be on the first-round GRAMMY® Award ballot for Song of the Year):
1. “Every Shul” — each congregation’s connections are different, yet the same
2. “Talking to the Wall” — where so many pour out their prayers (or tuck them into crevices), believing each is answered, even if not with the answer or timing they imagined
3. “Belief” — belief’s not enough: we must also make-believe what we believe
4. “Why Do You Ask” — in Judaism, questions are not only allowed, they’re fundamental
5. “Highest Praise” — aspirational parenting values (live debut)
6. “Held” — 5 days from the Goldberg-Polin family’s October 7 ordeal and amazing strength
7. “Peace” — what Judaism and Mom taught me about navigating truth vs. peace
8. “Who You Are” — affirming Jewish identity, even under threat (in gallery or a service)
9. “Night Will End” — illuminating stranger as neighbor (live debut)
Lauren Davis photo of the musicians (in decreasing order of footwear worn during recording)
Ross Ingram (bass, drums/percussion, electric guitar, keyboards) is a producer/engineer who has been recording records for 20+ years in top Texas and New Mexico studios (including Sonic Ranch, Estuary Recording, Arlyn Studios, Wire Recording, Brainville Studios). He won New Mexico Music Awards for Best Rock Album (EEP’s Winter Skin) and Best Indie Album (his solo album Sell the Tape Machine).
Larry Lesser (acoustic/classical guitars, vocals) is an award-winning educator whose songs have won local, state, and international awards in 3 genres (singer-songwriter, contemporary Jewish folk-rock, and STEM songs). His songs have appeared on albums of other artists (Sababa, Folkus, Larry Bach, Ellen M. Wilson) as well as his own albums, and over a dozen of his songs have had FM radio airplay.
Amalia Kelter Zeitlin (violin) is former principal second violin of El Paso Symphony, the founder and former executive director of chamber orchestra Camerata Del Sol, an international performer and worship leader, and part of the sacred music duo Merchav. Her other collaborations with Larry include playing on 6 songs on his Sparks album, writing a Las Cruces song, and performing with him at the New Mexico Music Awards, El Paso’s Jewish Food Festival, a Layali Al-Sham concert, and a Tisha B’Av program.
