the KlezmerShack

Okay, with luck this is it for the posts on faux nostalgia day on Eldridge St (where a lot of neat people did get together a couple of weeks ago). Suzanne Schwimmer took a nice set of photos and posted them on flickr:

flickr.com/search/? q=great+day+on+eldridge+street

And for those who want more, here is the photo from the "The Villager," from the Oct 17 edition: Klezmer convention blows into town on Eldridge St.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 7:51 AM | Permalink

If you are a fan of Michael Wex (which is to say, if you have ever met him, heard him speak, or read his previous best-seller), and you live in Toronto, you will be quite pleased to know that the new book, Just say nu is out. It's available at Pages and fine bookstores everywhere. The launch party is going to be this coming Monday night at one of Queen St.'s great reformed hotels (unless you were one of the indigent people who could afford the SRO that it used to be), the Gladstone.

The reading is sponsored by Pages—it's part of their "This is not a reading" series which presents writers and artists with new books. Even if you don't want the book, don't want the autograph, it's still worth showing up because Wex is so damn funny.

Why is Wex so funny? I blame it on Alberta, or at least the Calgary Hebrew Day School, which we both attended (me for just a few early years, insufficient for an adequate humor education, in the early 1960s).

Posted by Ari Davidow at 10:48 PM | Permalink

Over at the Blog in Dm, I just found out about this interesting blog for women who perform for "women only audiences" to share info about their music and musical events.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 10:31 AM | Permalink

GOT MUSIC ? November 1 DEADLINE for submissions to Shalshelet's Third International Festival.

Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music is currently accepting submissions for its Third International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music. Guidelines and applications are available at www.shalshelet.org/submission.html.

November 1, 2007 is the postmark deadline. The Shalshelet Music Review Committee will announce results on March 1, 2008. The Festival takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 13 to 16, 2008. Questions: E-mail Shalshelet

Posted by Ari Davidow at 12:38 PM | Permalink

Yale Strom
The Absolutely Complete Klezmer Songbook
Format: Paperback, 420pp.
ISBN: 0807409472
Pub. Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Transcontinental Music Publications
$49.95 from URJ Press (www.urjpress.com)
Also available from Amazon.com and fine vendors everywhere

And if you want to know why this might matter, read Eric Zaidins' review now.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 12:33 PM | Permalink

I have corresponded with Julie Egger since the days of her first band. It gives me great pleasure to review this latest CD by the Red Hot Chachkas. I am in awe. Like their Sacramento colleagues, the Freilachmakers, this band consists of great musicians who have been playing together forever and it shows. (I might add that after this CD was recorded, Glenn Hartman, formerly of the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, also joined the group.) I highly recommend that you give Spice it up! a good listen. I suspect that you'll wind up with your own copy, and so will your friends.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 8:23 AM | Permalink

It's not enough any more to write about an event. It isn't complete without the blogs full of photos. But, I've already presented those. Today, from two different sources, I got the podcasts.

First, the folks at Nextbook did a really nice job of gathering photos (including the final photo of the musicians) and captured the event on audio. For a delightful "you are there" impression of the synagogue and the event, listen to Julie Subrin narrate, and let the sounds behind her do the talking.

The redoubtable Mark Rubin wasn't on Eldridge St. (but he made sure his friends knew about it, and why. I, for one, am grateful.) Neither was Henry Sapoznik. Jon Kalish captures their voices, along with the people and music which did make the scene, for the Forward.

Two very different audio diaries of the same event. Brought to you in one place through the magic of Kabbalah, er, HTML. Enjoy.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 10:24 PM | Permalink

One of the most exciting discoveries at this past summer's KlezKanada was a new-to-me band of KK participants called The Lithuanian Empire. When I first heard them at one of the late night cabarets I was awe-struck. Judy, my wife, had a similar reaction. Now, Eric Zaidins digs their CD and comes to a similar conclusion. Check out his review of the Lithuanian Empire, get a copy yourself, and try to disagree.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 7:01 AM | Permalink

Pete Rushefsky posted this request to the Jewish-Music list. I have been so jealous of the talent and opportunity in NYC. It matters enough that people who love dancing keep this program alive:

Dear friends, we're looking for a few more students for this important new Yiddish Dance Class … please call the 92nd St. Y’s Harkness Dance Center at 212.415.5552 to register or Pete Rushefsky at 917-326-9659! Here's some more information (we apologize if you receive this message more than once):

The Center for Traditional Music and Dance in partnership with the 92 St Y presents a new Yiddish Dance Class led by Zev Feldman and other master dance leaders. Building on our hugely successful monthly Tantshoyz (dance house) series at the JCC in Manhattan, the 92 St. Y classes will provide intermediate and advanced dancers with a more in-depth opportunity to explore classic Yiddish dances such as the sher, hora, freylekhs and bulgar and coterritorial dances such as moldavaneasca. Special focus will also be given to the expressive power and gestures of solo dance. Classes will feature live klezmer music performed by Jake Shulman-Ment on violin and Pete Rushefsky on tsimbl (hammered dulcimer) as well as other top local klezmorim.

Seven three-hour sessions will be held from 2pm-5pm on the following Sundays: October 21, November 18, January 20, February 17, March 30, April 27, and June 1. Cost for the eight class series is $250 (folks interested in trying out a single class may call the Y for more information). To register or for more information, call the 92nd St. Y’s Harkness Dance Center at 212.415.5552.

Yiddish Dance Project Coming Dates:

• Next Tantshoyz: Thursday, November 1 and Thursday, Decembe 6 at JCC (76 & Amsterdam)
• Yiddish Dance Research Symposium: Sunday December 9 at NYU Bronfman Center

Support for the Yiddish Dance Project was provided to the Center for Traditional Music & Dance by the Forward Association, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Program, a State agency, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:00 PM | Permalink

Pete Rushefsky spotted this in the NY Times last week:

October 17, 2007, 10:15 am
A Yiddish Revival, With New York Leading the Way
By Sewell Chan

The question was bound to come up at some point: Vifl fun aykh do redn yidish? (How many of you here speak Yiddish?) About half of the audience raised their hands—some after a moment’s hesitation.

The audience had gathered Tuesday evening in the basement auditorium at the Museum of the City of New York for a panel discussion, “Yiddish Is Alive and Well and Living in New York,” that traced the language’s rich history and future prospects.

Read the whole article

Posted by Ari Davidow at 5:57 PM | Permalink

Frequent KlezmerShack contributor Stewart Cherlin wrote two fascinating articles this past summer around the theme of "Apprehension and Longing:"

"For Europe, the early decades of the twentieth century was a time of transition, anxiety, instability and the rise of unprecedented hatred culminating with two world wars and a holocaust of unparalleled brutality and slaughter.

"In contrast, it was also a period of consummate artistic creativity that transformed 18th century Romanticism, giving birth to Modernism. Aurally, a door opened to an innovative new music landscape by composers exemplified by Arnold Schoenberg, Béla Bartók, and Igor Stravinsky, and lesser known composers including Alexander von Zemlinsky, Victor Ullmann, Franz Schreker, and many others. Positioned at the vanguard, each had their own unique expression; their music reflects a period of apprehension and longing….

• Arnold Schoenberg and Béla Bartók
• The Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass

I think that these articles will open new doors to those of us less familiar with classical music, especially in its 20th century manifestations. Enjoy!

Posted by Ari Davidow at 10:51 AM | Permalink

It started innocently enough. (Doesn't everything?) Lori Cahan-Simon spotted a Yiddish Tango on YouTube and called it "terrific," (presumably thinking of the obvious—Yiddish Tango, on YouTube—Sexy Yiddish!) The singer, Zully Goldfarb is one of the featured artist on the CD, "Yiddish Tango, " available from our friends at Hatikvah Music. But the Yiddish words have meaning. The song is a farewell, written by someone about to be sent to Auschwitz. Just because it's a tango, doesn't make this particular song appropriate to this setting:

Indeed, Lloica Czackis, well known as an expert and a performer of Yiddish tangos, wrote:

"Terrific? What's terrific about it? The tango gloss? We can find that in any video "for export". Are we going to be charmed by whatever we're presented only because it's exotic and unknown?

"The song in this video is 'Makh tsu di eygelakh' by Dovid Beygelman. Beygelman, a well-known composer and orchestra director in pre-war Lodz, wrote it, to words by Isaiah Shpigl, before being sent to Auschwitz, never to return. The song is a lullaby, a farewell. Nothing can be more painful than to sing as a mother or a father saying a final goodbye to one's child.

"So where's the place for the lipstick? What are the sexy dancers doing there? Are we so forgetful? Can we be so macabre as to make a mockery of our own history? I find this totally inappropriate.

"There was a lively discussion some months ago about the Polish singer/actress Justyna Steczkowska and her interpretation of 'Yidl mitn fidl.' Many people felt this was an 'appropriation' of 'our' culture. I personally don't believe one has to be Jewish to interpret Jewish music. But one should have the sensitivity and respect towards our material. One should also try to learn about the context of the music we perform. My point is not about 'authentic' performances. But only if we know the material and it's context can we produce an consistent interpretation.

Adrienne Cooper and Zalmen Mlotek interpret this song in 'Ghetto Tango'."

Lloica Czackis
France

What do you think? Email me

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:33 PM | Permalink

First of its kind; worldwide Hanukah parties to take place on December 8

New York NY – October 15, 2007 – Taglit-birthright israel and JDub Records announced today the launch of the first-ever multi-city Hanukkah concert event series. All taking place on December 8, 2007, The Eight (goeight.com) celebrates the Festival of Lights with parties in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington DC (as well as Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Moscow, and Sydney!) that will feature music from up-and-coming artists handpicked by JDub, multimedia performances, and a unique menorah lighting ceremony at each event.

Confirmed musical guests include Israeli hip-hop superstars Hadag Nachash at Webster Hall in New York; the indie-vaudeville-art-rock-act Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players at Crocodile Café in Seattle; hip-hop-inflected Middle Eastern-Gypsy collective Balkan Beat Box and Cambodian Rockers Dengue Fever at the Echo Plex in Los Angeles. Full lineup follows below.

The Eight was conceptualized based on Jewltide, JDub’s successful annual Hanukah concerts, which evolved over the last five years into mini-tours the week during the holiday. By partnering with Taglit-birthright israel, the two organizations will create a worldwide, interactive Hanukah event on a massive scale, offering participants a unique shared opportunity to engage with Judaism outside of an institutional or religious Jewish setting.

“The Eight event will bring the next generation of young Jews together to celebrate the festival of Hanukah on a worldwide level,” said Rabbi Daniel Brenner of Taglit-birthright israel. “Having sent over 145,000 young people from 52 countries on 10-day educational journeys to Israel, we are committed to significantly investing in further opportunities for our alumni to engage with their peers and deepen their connection to Jewish life.”

“This is the first worldwide event of its kind, with young Jews reclaiming old rituals like the menorah lighting and celebrating a Jewish holiday in their own way, in the places that they find community,” said Aaron Bisman, founder of JDub Records. “We are thrilled to partner with Taglit-birthright israel to take the Hanukkah events we’ve produced over the past 4 years to elevate it to a worldwide audience.”

Tickets for The Eight will go on sale on October 19th to alumni of birthright israel via goeight.com and October 26th to the general public via goeight.com.

About Taglit-birthright israel

Taglit-birthright israel provides the gift of first time, peer group, 10-day educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. Taglit-birthright israel operates on a belief that it is every Jewish person's birthright to visit Israel. To date, nearly 145,000 young adults from 52 countries have traveled to Israel for the first time on Taglit-birthright israel trips. The gift of the 10-day trip is being provided by our partners: the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, Jewish communities around the world and private philanthropists through the birthright israel Foundation. (Website: www.birthrightisrael.com)

About JDub Records

Founded in December 2002 by two New York University students, JDub, the non-profit record label and event production company, has grown into an internationally recognized brand and has introduced proud Jewish voices squarely into mainstream culture. In its start-up phase, JDub focused on developing a small cadre of artists, including Matisyahu, SoCalled, and Balkan Beat Box, and introducing its unique programming to its target audience, primarily through events in New York City, festivals such as Bonnaroo, national CD releases, and via national media outlets such as MTV and The New York Times. JDub will celebrate its fifth anniversary in December 2007. (Website: www.jdubrecords.org)

The Eight: Participating Artists

Posted by Ari Davidow at 3:39 PM | Permalink

The 2007 Oyhoo Festival Opening Night World Premier Saturday, October 20 - 8pm Kaufmann Concert Hall, 92nd Street Y

A live concert featuring 14 groups each performing one song in the original order of classic motion picture soundtrack of Sholem Aleichem's great tale.

From theatrical legends who have performed the role of Tevye on the stage such as Mike Burstyn or Bruce Adler to the recent Grammy nominated Klezmatics or popular Blue Fringe taking on the material. Imagine the classic song "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" sung by three of the most popular young female Jewish artists on the NY scene for the first time: Basya Schecter of Pharaoh's Daughter, Chana Rothman, and Shira Kline. The Sephardic sounds of Sarah Aroeste to the soulful voice of Neshama Carlebach or Debbie Friedman, the richness of the Jewish music scene is really represented. Even the most popular secular radio friendly pop rock is represented by Jill Sobule. New music from Heedoosh and Good for the Jews is rounded out by the new Klezmer from Greg Wall's Later Prophets, Paul Shapiro's Rib's & Brisket Band, and Frank London's Inebriated Orchestra. If there was a "hit single" from the soundtrack, it would have been "If I Were a Rich Man" which will be very unique collaboration between classic version sung by Mike Burstyn mixed and backed up by the Hip Hop of Y-Love and DJ Handler. The show is a production by Michael Dorf.

Check out the rest of the Oyhoo Festival as well—a week long immersion into Jewish music.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 3:33 PM | Permalink

As I review less, a couple of KlezmerShack regulars have stepped in to fill the breach. Their taste is impeccable—I am jealous that they have beaten me to the punch on some stunning new releases. First up is Keith Wolzinger, whose name will be recognized by fans of the Klezmer Podcast:

Vira Lozinsky, a Moldova-born Israel immigrant, is a fresh voice in the world of Yiddish song. This is the Yiddish of native speakers, not that of those who simply pick up the lyrics and learn the pronunciation. In fact, nearly half of these songs are from the hand of Lozinsky's father, Yiddish poet Michael Felsenbaum…. There's more. Check out Keith's full review of Vayte Shtern (Distant Stars)

One of the stand-out bands at last year's Ashkenaz Festival was Toronto's own KlezFactor. Under the leadership of Mike Anklewicz, the band deftly fuses jazz and klezmer with a nice hard edge. Keith reviews their debut CD, 2005's The Golem of Bathurst Manor. I'm only embarrassed that I keep listening to it myself, can't put it away, and hadn't yet written my own review.

The redoubtable masters of Swedish klezmer, among the first bands listed (and reviewed) here on the KlezmerShack are still at it. Here Keith catches their latest release, hot off the press: Shuff!.

For those of you who didn't believe me about Budowitz' latest CD, Wolzinger has his own admiring perspective. Take it from us, this is the one of the best klezmer recordings of the decade: Budowitz Live.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 2:44 PM | Permalink

Once of the things I miss most from my years in California is Gerry Tenney's wonderful Yiddish rock 'n' roll. Someone (maybe Gerry, himself) has taking his version of "hard day's night" (in Yiddish) and synced it to the original video. Priceless:

Posted by Ari Davidow at 9:40 PM | Permalink

From Daniel Halfon:

I want to draw attention to you the release of 'Kamti Lehallel' a Double CD album featuring the music of the Spanish & Portugese communities of Amsterdam, London and New York.

For more information: www.bh.org.il/Music/catalogue.aspx#kamti

Posted by Ari Davidow at 8:23 AM | Permalink

Correction? Am informed that this band, whose videos are on YouTube as the "Shondes" are, in fact, called "Something Fierce." Interesting band, but the real shondes can be found at www.myspace.com/theshondes. So what's up with these YouTube videos?

Found this great punk band with a wonderful Jewish name, albeit, no particularly Jewish content or sound. It's a shonde that I haven't heard of them before. If you know more about them, send me e-mail.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 1:01 PM | Permalink

Keith Wolzinger sends notice that his band, South Coast Simcha Band, has joined the trend and now has a wide panoply of performance clips up on YouTube. S'iz a pleasure, Keith:

Posted by Ari Davidow at 12:57 PM | Permalink

Yesterday, I posted about a new CD, due to be released in a few days, called "The Harlem Experiment". Over at "Hungry Blues," Ben Greenberg has listened to the whole CD and has this to say. בקיצור, he found it sufficiently compelling to listen to it straight through. He's posted a player so that others can do the same. Check it out!

Posted by Ari Davidow at 7:08 AM | Permalink

There is a new website in town. Brainchild of dj handler and a host of folks in the NYC Jewish music scene, Shemspeed claims to be the world's largest and most diverse Jewish music website. True, the KlezmerShack is currently the world's largest and most diverse Jewish music website, but there is some definite potential here to surpass and excel! Shemspeed looks exciting, offers lots of interesting content, and seems worth checking out regularly. (Don't forget to subscribe to the blog feeds.) There is Shemspeed TV, album of the day, a nascent calendar of events with band listings. Any site featuring new content by a diverse group (and it is a diverse group) regularly has to be vital. This one looks good, and feels alive. Check it out.

There will be a Shemspeed blowout on October 25 as part of the upcoming "Oyhoo" festival.

What can we say but G-dspeed and good luck, ha-shem wiling!

Posted by Ari Davidow at 2:09 PM | Permalink

Nancie Schwartz Martin sends this very interesting press release (timed nicely to go with the "A Great Day on Eldridge Street" project)

When you think of New York City's Harlem, you may think of James Brown at the Apollo, Duke Ellington at the Savoy or Bill Clinton's offices on 125th Street. But did you know that Harlem was also home to large numbers of Eastern European Jews in the early 20th century? Some of the grandest brownstones in the Mount Morris Park neighborhood were Jewish family homes.

Grammy-winning producer Aaron Levinson pays homage to the vibrant history of Harlem in 'The Harlem Experiment', to be released by Ropeadope Records October 30th. Featuring musicians such as clarinetist Don Byron of the Grammy-awarded Klezmatics, trombonist Steve Bernstein and many other notable jazz musicians, it showcases Harlem as melting pot and offers a uniquely klezmerized version of the Yiddish folk song "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," with a soaring solo by Byron.

'The Harlem Experiment' Due Next in Tastemaker Label's Innovative City "Experiment" Series

Full Album Available for Pre-Order via www.ropeadope.com; Two Tracks Available on iTunes Now

Ropeadope to release 'The Harlem Experiment' on October 30

On October 30, indie label Ropeadope will release 'The Harlem Experiment,' the third installment in their city "experiment" series. The "experiment" albums are jazz-inspired collaborations by well-known local musicians who set out to capture the sound and spirit of their hometowns.

The first two in the series focus on Philadelphia (music provided by ?uestlove Ahmir Thompson, Christian McBride, and Uri Cane) and Detroit (featuring Regina Carter, Marcus Belgrave, Bennie Maupin and others). So why Harlem? According to label president Andy Blackman Hurwitz: "The history, the present and the future. We look to Harlem as ground zero for all that is modern day 'American' music—whether you call it jazz, R&B, hip-hop or rock, all of it passed through the neighborhood's gates."

'The Harlem Experiment' takes on the melting pot identity of Harlem, from the early Jewish enclaves to the epicenter of African-American culture to the Latin legacy of Spanish Harlem titans like Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. The Harlem House Band features Carlos Alomar (guitar, David Bowie), Eddy Martinez (keys, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Run D.M.C.), Steven Bernstein (trumpet, Sex Mob), Steve Berrios (drums, Chick Corea), Don Byron (clarinet, The Klezmatics, Vernon Reid) and Ruben Rodriguez (bass, Tito Puente). Grammy Award-Winning producer Aaron Levinson, creator of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, produced the album.

An audio homage to Harlem would clearly have to include jazz, funk and hip-hop, given that Harlem is synonymous with James Brown's 'Live At The Apollo' and Duke Ellington's "Stompin' At The Savoy." 'The Harlem Experiment' does just that with its' big beats, horns, and swagger. But the project also digs deep into Harlem's illustrious roots and gives shout-outs to the Jewish and Spanish communities that also helped to create one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. It makes sense that Latin rhythms are laced throughout the jazz and hip-hop of tracks like "One For Jackie," and "It's Just Begun." It makes sense that the Klezmer style of Don Byron's clarinet transcends the playful jazz on "Reefer Man" and the funkified Yiddish folk song "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen."

'The Harlem Experiment' achieves a mighty task: summing up the cultural rainbow of Harlem in 50 minutes of music. Listen to this album and 100 years of Harlem begins to unfold in your ears.

Pre-Order the album at www.ropeadope.com. "A Rose In Spanish Harlem," featuring James Hunter and "Reefer Man," featuring Taj Mahal, are now available for purchase on iTunes.

• "A Rose In Spanish Harlem"
• "Reefer Man"

Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. One for Jackie (featuring the Harlem Experiment House Band)
3. Rigor Mortis (featuring the Harlem Experiment House Band)
4. Reefer Man (featuring Taj Mahal on vocals)
5. Harlem River Drive (featuring Steven Bernstein on trumpet)
6. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (featuring Don Byron on clarinet)
7. Mums Interlude
8. It's Just Begun (featuring Larry Legend on turntables)
9. Mambo a la Savoy (featuring Carlos Alomar on guitar)
10. A Rose in Spanish Harlem (featuring James Hunter on vocals & guitar)
11. One For Malcolm (featuring Malcolm X)
12. 'Lil Bit (featuring DJ Mums on the mic)
13. Think (featuring Queen Esther on vocals)
14. A Rose in Spanish Harlem (Instrumental)
15. Walking Through Harlem (featuring Olu Dara on vocals, guitar & pocket trumpet)

Posted by Ari Davidow at 1:47 PM | Permalink

From Andy Rubin of the Freilachmakers, the wonderful klezmer/celtic fusionistas from Sacramento, CA:

"This doesn't happen too often to klezmer banjo players—so since it did, I thought you might be interested (see PDF attached to our website). The interview appeared in the July 2007 issue of The Banjo Newsletter, a monthly for banjo fanatics of all stripes."

[I'll add that Andy talks about the claw hammer banjo, klezmer, and the issue even has a review of the most recent Freilachmakers CD. Nice interview. ari]

Posted by Ari Davidow at 1:40 PM | Permalink

Benyamin Bresky, who does the "">Beat of Israel" radio show, emails about this new article. There are lots of photos, as well: