"Not surprisingly but not without excitement and brave, new exploration, Zoe B. Zak presents another charismatic, exotic album centered around the traditional music's of the Middle East. Woven with her penetrating accordion are her vocals sung in Hebrew, English & Arabic, bound with a breathtaking texture of piano, strings, and percussion. Both based in traditional styles as well as embracing a western fusion (with a nod to trip hop and electronic pop), which reaches forward with new context and content, these plaintive, chilling pieces swirl and envelop the senses, leaving a permanent trace of the mysterious imprinted on the mind."
—CD Baby
"From Zoe's music one can feel that in her blood, it flows the rhythm of the Jewish Neshama.”
-Samuel Hofman, Histadrut Ivrit, NY
"This meditative CD swirls, croons, whirrs, and murmurs, simultaneously otherworldly and earthy. The first listen brought tears to my eyes and goose flesh. The vital spirit of ancient desert people comes alive through this thoroughly modern amalgamation....This balm heals old wounds."
—Dina Pearlman, The Chronogram
"I thought there could never be a way to tell this old story in a new way. Arm-of-the-Sea's amazing puppets and Zoe B. Zak’s irresistible music proved me wrong. What a joyous way to spend Purim!"
—Henry Sachwald
"The unique and fun sounding Zoe B. Zak Ensemble combines Balkan rhythms, Latin melodies and Hebrew words and just might bring the house down."
—Laurel Kiyabu, Taconic Newspapers
"Zak... drives her gifted ensemble through time warps and across cultural bridges to create original and compelling compositions."
—Lawrence Bush, Reconstructionism Today
"This music has had a long gestation, and you can expect it to be as yearning and affirmative, as joyful and sorrowing, as the traditions from which it stems..."
"The musically omnivorous Zak has listened to, absorbed and played it all and all of it colors her writing for this project."
—Mikhail Horowitz, The Woodstock Times
"Zak...blurring the line between praying and playing with the help of five world class musicians."
—Todd Paul, Chronogram
"To enjoy this album, you do not have to have any connection to the religious traditions involved in the lyrics. It is great music no matter how you approach it."
—Philip Farber, Daily Freeman
"Zoe is not your typical Yiddisha Mama, yet her music warms the heart like tasty chicken soup."
"Her music is not Klezmer but it has that foot stomping, heart and soul musical quality which brings on dancing, laughter and tears."
—Emma Masouri, Proprietor, Catskill Mountian Stage