BS”D
While I believe Carlebach’s intent may have been to compose Jewish music, his behavior was really one step above a Baruch L. or Avrohom M. Would anyone listen to niggunim those 2 composed? No.
I will only listen to Carlebach when others sing it and really I only listen when forced because I can’t “change the channel” from Jewishbroadcast to Toker or vice versa.
Non-commercial, authentic Jewish composers (meaning the songs were composed as niggunim) whose songs are 10000 times better than the abovementioned include:
Reb Michel Twersky shlit”a – check his website also check out Karev Yom on Mendy Werdyger’s Sefira beShira album.
Reb Mottel Twersky
Niggunei Chabad – newer arrangements
Belz tapes – Reb Yirmia Damen, Reb Y Tzvi Breier, the Kalish brothers.
Reb Chaim Banet – anyone know if he is still active? He is my favorite of all time.
Reb Yankel Talmid A”H of Ger – regardless of the fact that Reb Dovid Werdyger amus”h (the real father of modern Jewish music IMHO as had he not commercialized it tapes and later disks would not have reached buyers properly) commercialized them, you can hear them in the Gerer beis medrash in Yerushalayim to this day.
The Modzhitzer Rebbe ZY”A (again his niggunim were commercialized by Reb BenZion Shenker amus”h and probably distributed by the Werdygers but they were composed as niggunim).
this is NOT a comprehensive list.
Yankdownunder – do you mean Benzion Miller who is a chazzan or Benzion Shenker? If the former I would love to hear some of his music – I never did.