“The very embodiment of the term Crooner. Knows his way round the ivories better than most, with an unbeatable repertoire of Classics and originals to keep you entertained."
Island Records artist
BS'D
"I especially like the substantive intellectual meaning that you weave into your music. You remind me of the inspiring Shlomo Carlebach עה”ש
The interface with the late great Rabbi Sacks is profoundly meaningful."
Rabbi Daniel Lapin
OPERETTA format I
"There's something needs to be done"
Mesoud Benasully
"My purpose (niche) is to look after abandoned people of all ages, and to help stop the behavior of those who abandoned them; by playing the protagonist in my Operetta: Paper Gun"
Paul Toshner
Click here for SHOW BOOKING FORMATS
0:00 OPERETTA sampler I
8:52 Operetta: Testimonials
11:32 WELCOME TO MY SHOW
“Paper Gun" by Baby Tosh is a poignant musical piece that delves into themes of vulnerability, emotional fragility, and the human experience. The operetta uses the metaphor of a “paper gun” to illustrate the contrast between outward appearances and inner realities. While a gun typically symbolizes power and aggression, rendering it in paper suggests delicacy and impermanence, highlighting the disparity between perceived strength and actual fragility. The piece resonates with listeners by addressing the universal struggle of maintaining a facade of strength while grappling with internal challenges. Its jazz-inflected melodies and heartfelt lyrics create an intimate atmosphere that invites reflection and connection.
A solo piano-singer performance of music, stories, and reflections. With humor, heart, and melody, Paul brings audiences on a journey through music, memory, and meaning — from the pubs of Scotland to a soul searching for the American dream. Openly Jewish-influenced but universally resonant. Whether you’re secular, religious, or somewhere in between, this is music for the part of you that still believes in light."
Ideal for fund raising events, for friends, family, neighbors, or small theatre space recitals.
For the live visual and auditory experience of “Paper Gun,” book your Baby Tosh performance through me"
Alan Gestetner management
Monsey NY
OPERETTA:
An operetta is a form of theatrical entertainment that combines spoken dialogue with music. They are generally more accessible, and incorporate a variety of musical styles, from soaring and catchy melodies and harmonies that appeal to a broad audience, to lively numbers.
& be on time or miss the thread…
NOTES
My Operetta is to help people work through complex emotions, to be illuminated with a Paper Gun as it fires.
I operate from a pool of pieces that work in sync - it's always a different show, but revolving around the same end point; that through shared reflection, there is a path from illusion and pretense, to truth and integrity — to living authentically and with purpose.
Where people have overly compromised they all the more so need to express. The PAPER GUN doesn’t solve the problems because it's not in the forum of the exchange of where things should have taken place. However it can still make a person / and audience feel expressed, and find a necessary sense of relief, and at best sense of direction.
The process of much of my writing through the years has been cathartic and personal, but effectively impacted in perspective through live performance - my live therapy sessions, when "the mews is upon me" invariably renders a broader and more generous context.
In ANOTHER OLD SONG the emphasis is on the “old” not “song”, in other words; same old story - it’s down on paper but nothing changed. The closing lines…..“is it the beginning my friends …. There's something needs to be done” is asking the main question; are you going to do something, even internally, but not just “paper gun” it…..
In FEAR HATE no matter the kind of evil people think of each other, or are afraid of... "don’t let fear turn into hate"; is the perennial mutual obligation. A person is only cruel as self defense. If no other way exists to prevent an extreme pain then cutting off for a time, then that’s what must be done - you can know yourself.
No-one will ever take you seriously unless you take yourself seriously.
It is my understanding that belief in G-d is a first step in strengthening a person’s character to be able to discover and then LIVE up to something.
And in YOU MKE ME ROK N ROLL you are hearing my conversation with Him.
Best regards
Paul
“Last night made me feel like pre WWII era
of the arts in society! Loved it”
Libby Fox, Hostess Charleston home
where Operetta performed for;
friends, family, and neighbours
“A poetic call to presence—reminding us that the pursuit itself is the purpose, and that love, more than anything, is the foundation of it all. So much fun to watch Baby Tosh’s creative brain at work… a true pleasure. He really knows how to incorporate an audience into the experience.!"
-Amy Kirshtein
at Libbys & Daniels home concert
"The world would welcome something like this now with open arms”. -Orna Wellmandrama and English teacher, Canada
I like to get into your mode though. Because I haven't heard music like this before. And your free, you know some people stick to things, but your very fluid. -Video testimonial
"Really good solid organic original material, it has to be experienced live, they’re not simple in terms of structure nor in terms of emotional content."-Miguel Cavazos, session drummer, LA
"When you go into the like spoken word kind of style it sounds a little bit like Bob Dylan and David Bowiecombined."-Sound engineerFox recital roomCharleston
"Baby Tosh held up a mirror to the audience, inviting us to wrestle with ourselves, with each other, and with G-d. And isn’t that the truest form of art? Even as the performance ended and we instinctively returned to lighthearted conversation, the depth of what we had experienced lingered within each of us, waiting to be unpacked in solitude. Unforgettable!"
- Tzipporah Naim
Charleston 2025
home concert recital
OPERETTA introduction
OPERETTA introduction
Paper Gun 2025 Annapolis
The Visitors Tosh
WHO KNOWS JUST WHY
OPERETTA INTRODUCTION
OPERETTA format II
"A lot of effort for a little bit of truly good things"
Mesoud Benasully
OPERETTA format II
Frum version
entitled: The Visitors
CUSTOMERS SERVED
the frum oilam
the not so frum oilam
the secular oilam
the oilam of the other nations
A set of cover and original songs that bridge two worlds, some of the best Jewish and non Jewish written ideas delivered all with a twist of wisdom revealed
Hotel California The Eagles (musser shmeez)
Across the universe (ain od milvado)
The Visitors
Havanagila jazz looping version
Hakol yochol by a famous Monsey Rov
Becoming alone again. Regina Spektor
Precious angel. Bob Dylan
Forever young. Bob Dylan
Lord is it mine. Supertramp
Broken man. Bob Dylan
G-d bless. baby Tosh
Rainbow (chizuk song)
Stars Nina Simone
+ MORE MKAREVED SONGS
ALSO FEATURING
Original songs
Some history of the J writers
Divray Toirah: by the Rabbi puppet.
Followed by Talmudic insights
and perki avos (ethics of the fathers)
Program Structure (45–75 min)
🎵 Part 1: “The First Song I Ever Loved” Sumer Highland Falls (incorporates "shtibles")
• Opening number — nostalgic or universal piece. SEE 50:55 IN THE BILLY JOEL SECTION in main video
• Short story about your childhood relationship with music.
• Reflection: “Before I ever found observance, I found sound. The neshama already knows song.”
🎵 Part 2: “Between Night and Morning”
• Medley of heartfelt or searching pieces.
• Story about teshuvah — not as “religion,” but a homecoming.
• re: yarmulke:
“This little cloth isn’t about rules. It’s about remembering the Source — even when the lights go out backstage.”
🎵 Part 3: “Sparks in the Silence”
• Instrumental solo or stripped-down vocals.
• Insight: “Judaism doesn’t ask me to stop being an artist. It asks me to become a vessel.”
🎵 Part 4: “Songs I Brought With Me”
• Well-loved secular songs recontextualized with depth (e.g., Beatles, Dylan, Carole King, The Eagles).
• Show how meaning can be drawn from anywhere.
• Hebrew piece to close: Havanagila or Anenu or Narrow Bridge.
🕯️ Final Words:
“This show is just me bringing my two halves to the same bench. The performer and the soul guy. The Jewish me and the jazz me. I used to think they were at war — now I know they’re singing harmony.”