(Photo courtesy of Yoshie Fruchter)

Punk-ass Jew jazz is the closest classification for the eclectic and distinctive music of Yoshie Fruchter’s band Pitom.

Combine punk, rock, avant-garde, klezmer and jazz stylings with the influences of Frank Zappa, Masada and Sonic Youth, and out comes an artistic endeavor that is deep in the realms of contemporary music.

Pitom, which is also the name of the band’s new album that was released on Sept. 16, means “suddenly” in Hebrew and was born from Fruchter’s desire to express himself musically with a Jewish presence, Fruchter told The SHPiEL.  

The music is excitingly jarring at times and leaves you peeking around every corner for what’s going to happen next.

The band has been picked up by John Zorn’s acclaimed label, Tzadik Records, which supports adventurous artists who don’t quite fit into the mainstream. Tzadik encourages the same experimental endeavors that Fruchter displays so well.

(Photo courtesy of Yoshie Fruchter)

Pitom’s eclectic sound is strident but also pensive. A singing violin that is nothing but otherworldly gels with haunting guitar melodies to make this album a tasty treat. It boasts everything from the heavy “Go Go Golem” to the funky yet peculiar “Lungs and Spleen.” 

Then there’s the odd-time signature and jazz fusion-esque “The Dregs.” If you think you’ve heard it all, then check this album out. Actually, you should check it out either way. It’s definitely worth the listen.

Fruchter’s background is rich and diverse, musically and Jewishly.  His art is an amalgamation of years in yeshiva and formal jazz training, with the backdrop of the D.C. music scene. But, he said his parents are the main basis for his strong connection between music and Judaism. 

“Pitom is really a mish-mosh of my upbringing, my musical influences, my slightly off-kilter personality and a corned beef sandwich. Hold the ketchup,” Fruchter said.

While using Middle Eastern scales and phrasing typical to the klezmer style may be a valid basis for calling a certain music Jewish, that’s only one aspect for Fruchter.

“Some people see the Jewish element as kind of a loose presence, and some people feel it’s right there,” he said. “But for me, Jewish music is such a part of my psyche that it seems to come out somehow in everything that I write in some form, be it a melody, or just an emotion.”

Fruchter said he throws everything he’s made of into Pitom.

“It’s just a part of who I am. Maybe you can hear it, maybe you can’t, but it’s there. And that’s what makes it Jewish.”