Y O S H I E
F R U C H T E R

g u i t a r / b a s s / o u d / m a n d o l i n / c om p o s e r

Website photos by Erika Kapin

About

Yoshie’s skills as a musician, composer and bandleader transcend boundaries. His original music is singular in its questioning of what it means to compose based on Jewish heritage, and fearless in the answers it produces. Collaborating with fellow artists is also a key part of Yoshie's journey, finding inspiration from them for his own creative work and helping others to realize theirs. His signature style and affable personality makes him a versatile and dynamic work partner. In addition to his own projects, Yoshie is a sought after sideman and has worked and played in projects with John Zorn, Frank London, Marilyn Lerner, Zeb Bangash, David Krakauer, Joey Weisenberg, Basya Shechter, Eitan Katz, Deborah Saks Mintz and many more. He is also currently a guitarist on the Tony award winning Broadway show Hadestown. Outside of his performing career, Yoshie is an experienced teacher and has taught music workshops at schools, festivals and synagogues throughout the US, Canada and Europe.

Recordings

Pitom - Alive and Well (2025)

The newest effort from Yoshie Fruchter's Pitom featuring special guest Jamie Saft. The third release from the band brings together the quirky tunes and dark heavy sounds of the their first two records, creating a blend of rock, Jewish music and beautiful cacophony that could only come from these four individuals.

Sandcatchers - The Lines (2023)

Led by oud player and composer Yoshie Fruchter, the Brooklyn based Sandcatchers’ sophomore effort shatters conventions of songwriting and performance. Using their signature blend of Middle eastern sounds and Americana, the songs are at once deep and lighthearted, sometimes approaching intense subject matter but doing so with an air of whimsy. With the world getting smaller by the day, sonic textures and traditions are blended like never before. Sandcatchers is the rare case where this mix carves out a truly unique space in a crowded musical landscape - a band that you can enjoy with your ears and experience with your soul.

Yoshie Fruchter/Marilyn Lerner - The Pieces Broken (2021)

The Pieces Broken is a duo project from world renowned pianist Marilyn Lerner and guitarist Yoshie Fruchter. Combining the minimalist chamber jazz sensibility inspired by albums like the seminal Bill Evans/Jim Hall duo recordings and Jewish compositional tropes from their klezmer backgrounds, The Pieces Broken is a truly unique and unparalleled musical voice.

Sandcatchers - What We Found Along the Way (2017, Chant Records)

Sandcatchers was formed in the corner of Cheryl's, a soul food restaurant on the corner of Underhill avenue and Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Given the opportunity for a weekly gig, oud player and guitarist Yoshie Fruchter brought in his friends Myk Freedman on lap steel, Michael Bates on double bass, and Yonadav Halevy on percussion to see what kind of music they could make together. Over the course of many weeks, a fresh sound was created blending the middle eastern trope of the oud with the dreamy, americana infused textures of the steel - and a new project was born. Featuring original music by Fruchter inspired both by middle eastern maqam and the Appalachian trail, Sandcatchers is a beautiful collaboration of sound and souls.

Schizophonia: Cantorial Recordings Reimagined

SCHIZOPHONIA is a series of Jewish cantorial recordings as you've never heard them. Led by NYC guitarist/composer Yoshie Fruchter this "Rosenblatt meets Radiohead" endeavor takes these iconic albums of performative prayer music in a completely different direction, and creates rock masterpieces full of sonic texture, heavy riffing, and deep groove. With Shanir Blumenkranz, Brian Marsella, Yoni Halevy and Rich Stein

Pitom - Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes (Tzadik 2011)

In their second CD for Tzadik, a sonic homage to the Day of Atonement, Yoshie Fruchter and his remarkable band Pitom continue their exploration of the New Jewish rock sound with their unique blend of punk, noise rock, metal and jazz filtered through the Jewish tradition. Echoes of the Melvins, Mahavishnu, Zappa and Masada make this a fiery and soulful CD that you will listen to again and again. Intense new Jewish Music from this exciting quartet of punk rebels.

Yoshie Fruchter - Pitom (Tzadik, 2008)

Avant-garde rock meets the Jewish tradition in Pitom, a shredding Jewish instrumental band led by Yoshie Fruchter. Born in D.C. and now living in Brooklyn, Yoshie combines influences from Frank Zappa, Sonic Youth and Masada into a rocking band performing catchy, hooky compositions that both pay tribute to and challenge its heritage. Recorded and mixed at the studio of legendary musical terrorist Bill Laswell, Pitom is a hard-edged new addition to the legacy of Radical Jewish Culture.

Yoshie Fruchter/Chaim Fruchter - Beyond the Book (2005)

A collaboration between father-son duo Chaim and Yoshie Fruchter, Beyond the Book is an exciting exploration into the emotional subconscious of Biblical personalities. Adam laments his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Noah releases his anger at the destruction of the world, Sarah expresses her excitement at the promised birth of Isaac. The music ranges from rough-edged rock to tearful ballad, citing influences like Elliot Smith and Crosby Stills and Nash. Using catchy melodies and thought provoking lyrics, this music imagines the emotions of these figures at pivotal moments in their lives.

Yellow Sneaker EP (2012)

Yellow Sneaker, created by brothe and sister duo Ora annd Yoshie Fruchter, performed original shows and music with the aim of connecting audiences and creating a sense of community. This EP presents some of the original material they developed in their time performing in venues all over the city. Past clients include Brooklyn and Queens Libraries, Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum of Jewish Heritage, CUNY FoodFest, Education Alliance, Wellness in the Schools, Hudson Eats and the Tribeca Family Festival.

Discography

Yoshie Fruchter Pitom (Tzadik) / 2008
Pitom Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes (2011)
Schizophonia: Cantorial Recordings Reimagined (Blue Thread/Jewish Currents) / 2014
Sandcatchers What We Found Along the Way (Chant) / 2018
Sandcatchers The Lines / 2023
Juez Shemspeed Alt Schule (Modular Moods) / 2005
Soulfarm Monkey Dance / 2008
Chana Rothman We Can Rise / 2007

Yiddish Princess EP / 2012
Krakauer and Tagg’s Mazel Tov Cocktail Party (Label Bleu) / 2022
Deveykus Pillar Without Mercy (Tzadik) / 2013

Beyond the Book / 2005

Asefa Resonance / 2007

Frank London City of God (Borscht Beat) / 2024
Jon Madof Zion80 (Tzadik) / 2013
Zion80 Adramelech: The Book of Angels vol. 3 (Tzadik) / 2014
Zion80 The Book Beriah, Vol 8 (Tzadik) / 2019
Zion80 LIVE (Chant) / 2016
Zion80 Warriors (Chant) / 2017
Eitan Katz Unplugged / 2006
Eitan Katz Boruch Hu / 2008
Eitan Katz Unplugged 2 / 2011
Eitan Katz Shuvu / 2013
Eitan Katz Live in Jerusalem / 2014
Eitan Katz Pure Simcha / 2017
Eitan Katz Ashrecha / 2019
Eitan Katz Unplugged 3 / 2020
Eitan Katz Truma / 2022
Eitan Katz Sh’or Yoshiv Mishmar / 2023
Eitan Katz Live in Jerusalem 3 / 2023
Eitan Katz The Chabad Album / 2024

Eitan Katz Beis Hashem / 2025
Joey Weisenberg Joey’s Niggunim: Spontaneous Jewish Choir (Hadar Rising Song) / 2011
Joey Weisenberg Joey’s Niggunim Volume 2, Transformation of a Niggun (Hadar Rising Song)/ 2012
Joey Weisenberg Joey’s Niggunim Volume 3, Live in the Choir Loft (Hadar Rising Song)/ 2013
Joey Weisenberg Niggunim Volume 4, Brooklyn Spirituals (Hadar Rising Song)/ 2014
Joey Weisenberg Niggunim 5, Songs from the City of Brotherly Love (Hadar Rising Song) / 2016
Joey Weisenberg Niggunim Volume 6, By the Waters of Babylon (Hadar Rising Song) / 2017
Joey Weisenberg Niggunim Volume 7, Songs of Ascent (Hadar Rising Song) / 2019

Deborah Sacks Mintz The Narrow and the Expanse (Hadar Rising Song) / 2020

Deborah Sacks Mintz Yetzira (Hadar Rising Song) /2023
Midwood Out of the Narrows (Chant) / 2018
Eleonore Weill Fada / 2016
Sandaraa (featuring Zeb Bangash) EP / 2016
Cat Toren’s HumanKind Self Titled / 2017
Cat Toren’s HumanKind Scintillating Beauty / 2020
Batya Levine Yevarechacha (Hadar Rising Song) / 2024
George Mordecai Safra (Hadar Rising Song) / 2018
Micah Shapiro Zeh Hasha’ar / 2023
Miriam Margles This is the Day (Hadar Rising Song / 2018
Breslov Bar Band Have No Fear / 2010
Breslov Bar Band Happy Hour / 2013

Ruthless Cosmopolitans Ruthless (Chant) / 2020
Carla Friend Challalala (Tkiya Presents) / 2022
Ora Fruchter Yellow Sneaker EP / 2012
Bellflur Self Titled / 2004
Bellflur Read.Walk.Take.Talk / 2006
Joanne Borts Lush and Hora (Borscht Beat) / 2025

Andrea Daly Silly Folly and the Rune (song) / 2014

Nochi Krohn Band Ananim / 2006

Nochi Krohn Band Bonai / 2012

ErikaKapinPhotography_YoshieFruchter_202

Press

ON SANDCATCHERS (Chant)

"I was quite moved by the music. The melodies are interesting and the harmonic accompaniment is at times beautifully haunting. Sandcatchers is bringing a new sound pallette to the genre"

-Ara Dinkjian, oud virtuoso

"[Sandcatchers brings] a convincing blend of Near Eastern classical and Americana"

-John Schaefer, WNYC

ON PITOM (Tzadik)

“A rocking band performing catchy, hooky compositions that both pay tribute to and challenge the Jewish tradition...Pitom is a hard-edged new addition to the legacy of Radical Jewish Culture.”

-John Zorn

"Equal parts jazz school, seminary school and Nirvana's 'School'"

-The Village Voice

"A dazzling debut"

-The Wall Street Journal

"Yoshie Fruchter convincingly distills the essence of jazz improvisation into his rock-meets-klezmer workouts"

-PopMatters

"Deeply immersive instrumental music...it's roughness is invigorating"

-The Forward

ON SCHIZOPHONIA: CANTORIAL RECORDINGS REIMAGINED (Blue Thread)

"Doesn't pull any punches while slapping around the Jewish liturgical tradition"
-Relix magazine

"A post-modern approach to Jewish sacred music...this set should appeal equally to open minded jazzers, fans of Yiddishkeit and downtown habitues"