Oylam is singer/composer/keyboardist Judith Berkson’s sole ECM effort. Drawing on her experience as cantor and teacher of Jewish liturgical music, in addition to compositional studies under Joe Maneri, she draws in many influences besides into a tradition of her making. Over a set of bas-relief originals, she sprinkles the occasional standard, peppering her Wurlitzer, Rhodes, and Hammond instruments (not forgetting the acoustic grand) with uncanny imagery, poetic contradictions, and unanswered questions. Her setting of English lyrics to “Der Leiermann” from Franz Schubert’s Winterreise is a stroke of genius. An unusually selfless ode to self.