ESSENTIAL:

For piano virtuoso and composer Jamie Saft, music is a means to help people feel happier and at peace. As Saft explains, "That is the deepest spiritual practice of which I can conceive."

That winning approach has led Saft to collaborate with some of the music industry's biggest names: the Beastie Boys, The B-52's, John Zorn, Donovan and scores of others. On stage, Saft leads both the New Zion Trio and the Jamie Saft Trio and is a core member of a spate of bands, including Electric Masada, The Dreamers, Kingston Yard, Whoopie Pie, Swami LatePlate and many more.

His long list of credits includes composing original film scores for the Oscar nominated "Murderball" and the Sundance winner, "God Grew Tired Of Us," and has scored for Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, Vice TV, NFL Football, CBS and A&E. He runs the independent record label Veal Records as well as Potterville International Sound in Kingston, New York in the Hudson Valley where he lives with his wife and three children.

In this interview with The Times of Israel, Saft -- who was raised in a strong Conservative Jewish household and attended Camp Ramah in New England for many years -- shares more about his work and musical influences.

What is the essence of your music?

To constantly push forward to new realms in sound, I try and constantly redefine all parameters within my music at every moment of every day of my life. Music, and specifically making records, has always been my primary interest and focus.

I always try to use my selfish interest in making records in the service of the tikkun olam [the Jewish concept of "repairing the world"]. No matter the style, sound, or density of the music, it should always be put forth with the primary intent of making the world better or improving the world. I work to make everything I do musically have that guiding principle every day. Honoring and respecting the tradition while constantly pushing the music towards new areas is also important to me.

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