the KlezmerShack

From David Chevan:

During this past MLK weekend the Afro-Semitic Experience celebrated our 12th anniversary of music making with a Friday night service in New York City, a benefit concert for New Haven’s Columbus House Homeless Shelter, and a concert at the Museum of Jewish Heritage also in New York City. We had a wonderful time in New York City sharing our music and having a real Afro-Semitic Experience at the Museum of Jewish Heritage where we gave our New York City premiere of our new work (and new CD): The Road That Heals the Splintered Soul .

Our performance at the benefit concert for the Columbus House Homeless Shelter in New Haven was video recorded by our friend, pianist and visual artist, Richard Gans. Three of the tunes we performed have now been posted to YouTube and they have a lot of good energy. Richard was not limited by his use of a single camera and he did a great job as he captured the performance. You can really feel the wonderful vibe in the room last Saturday night as we transformed the place with our healing feeling. There are two little girls and a little boy who sat in the front row for most of the concert and they are sure feeling the music!!! You can see their heads bobbing in most of the camera shots. What fun.

The Road that Heals the Splintered Soul:

Obatala:

Adon Olam:

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:04 PM | Permalink

Mark Rubin puts it much better than I can:

You checked this out? It's friggin' AWESOME. No foolin'. Best sounding and curated Jewish release I've yet encountered. Belf sounds like he's playing in your front room.

… They've already moved 5000 copies and are headed to a second pressing, which is a pretty big number for a box set especially these days. I think Henry just did the track annotations on it, with Chris King doing the clean ups and Sherry Mayrent writing what could be the best introductory notes I've seen in a good long while. It's her baby as far as I know. And I hear there's already talk of a second volume. Seriously holmes, this is a must have set even if you think you've already heard it before, you ain't heard 'em like this.

Pick up your copy from amazon.com and help support the KlezmerShack.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 4:55 PM | Permalink

When I drove over to Madison last spring to listen to a concert set up for a mini-KlezKamp, it was clear that everyone was having a good time. (I did, too.)

Behind the scenes, more was happening. Here is an excert from the KlezKamp blog:

"The initial funding for the institute is made possible by a generous gift from Sherry Mayrent and Carol Master. The Mayrent Institute for Yiddish Culture will be a unique facility devoted to fostering an understanding of the world of Yiddish through its arts. The institute will be directed by Henry Sapoznik."

Read more details on the KlezKamp blog from last month.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 4:49 PM | Permalink

A nice historical montage, beautifully sung:

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:19 PM | Permalink

If I could figure a way to get to NYC, just to see all of these folks together and in one place, I'd do it. The fact that they are together to raise money for people very much in need is even more compelling.

Jewish Artists for Haiti Benefit Concert Jan. 28, 7 pm
at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
30 West 68th Street in Manhattan

All proceeds from the benefit concert will go directly to The American Jewish World Service Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Admission to the concert is a minimum donation of $18.

Artists include: Frank London and The Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Neshama Carlebach and The Green Pastures Baptist Choir, Soulfarm, Basya Schaechter and Pharaoh's Daughter, Judith Sloan, Alicia Svigals, Gary Lucas, Jeremiah Lockwood and Sway Machinery, Maracatu New York, Cantor Dan Singer, Zalmen Mlotek and others with styles ranging from Klezmer to hip hop.

The Jewish Artists for Haiti Concert is initiated by The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring and the New Yiddish Repertory Theater, with co-sponsors Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, The Forward Association , National Yiddish Theater/Folksbiene, Security USA and Golden Land Concerts and Connections.

For more information, advance tickets or to donate go to www.circle.org or call Workmen’s Circle at (212) 889-6800 x.212.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 1:34 PM | Permalink