Mendy Portnoy — ELUL (A Live Piano Album)
Six years after Introspection, Mendy Portnoy returns to the piano with ELUL, a collection of unscripted, spontaneous interpretations of High Holiday melodies.
There were no pre-written arrangements or planned directions. Mendy entered the studio with the same core philosophy: connect to the moment, press record, and let the music flow freely. The album features both timeless niggunim and modern Jewish songs, using familiar melodies as starting points to explore new harmonies and unexpected musical paths.
This raw approach mirrors the essence of Elul, a season of quiet reflection, stripping away noise, and returning to what matters. ELUL isn't about over-producing classic songs, but discovering what happens when you sit with them honestly in the moment, much like sitting with yourself, reflecting on your relationships, processing everything that transpired over the past year, and holding your plans, desires, and wishes for the year to come.
One piano. A familiar melody. Pure spontaneity.
ELUL by Mendy Portnoy is available now on all streaming platforms.