When I started PensEyeView.com, I began receiving new CD’s in the mail on a regular basis. Consistently, I was so amazed by what I heard, I thought to myself, “I think I’ve heard it all.” But every time I said it, I ended up eating my words shortly thereafter when another album arrived or an email from an agent or record executive touting the next big thing came my way. However, as PensEyeView.com prepares to celebrate its two year anniversary on April 1, 2009 and over 365 consecutive features, I can at least say, “I have encountered some pretty interesting people.” And Ricky Orbach of Kohane of Newark is definitely one example of an individual that stands out of that 365.

Ricky not only blew me away with his music, but also with the story of how he became the person he is today.  Orbach’s tale immediately made me feel completely inadequate; granted he’s got some years on me, but with stories from the 70’s about playing bars in North Tel Aviv till the early morning and hanging out with The Beach Boys, Patti Labelle, James Taylor and Ann Wilson in a hotel lobby in London… I mean, how can you compete with that? I haven’t even been to Israel, let alone hung out with anyone of the legendary status that Orbach ran with (although, while in London, I swore I saw Mick Jagger at a hotel but it ended up being a woman – true story). It’s instances like this in Orbach’s life; the people he’s met, the music he’s heard and the venues he’s played, that have helped shape his sound and styling.

However, what his musical life gave him in style, his personal life gave him in soul. What Orbach holds closest is his relationship with his parents who are Holocaust survivors. Orbach says, “The Holocaust is the backdrop that shades my perceptions for nearly every aspect of my life.” He adds, “While almost every child of Holocaust survivors will have tales to tell about the darkness of it all, I am instead inspired by the quality of human beings to interpret events that evoke kindness, joy and love of all mankind.” This is an inspiring statement; you might expect someone in his position would be so built up with rage and madness that hate would totally consume every minute of their lives. But with Orbach, it doesn’t… or if it does, his music has allowed him to channel that energy into something more positive.

Orbach’s focus now is on his band’s latest release, “New Midlife Crisis.”  Orbach says “It’s in that moment - it’s kind of a creative sweet spot - that we come closest to the heart of our craft because our next move might just sink the ship or raise us to that higher place called transcendence.” The record seems to bounce from genre to genre allowing it to live a little bit in multiple playlists – perfect for any music lover. The title is vintage Orbach as well – “New Midlife Crisis” implies such a dynamic story with twists and turns in so many directions; it seems having a midlife crisis doesn’t always deal in age. So it makes sense that most will say that Ricky Orbach “beats to his own drum” and they’re right. Then again, all the good ones do.