the KlezmerShack

Like me, did you find 2012's debut Alpen Klezmer CD the most fun you'd heard in European klezmer in ages? A sort of marriage between Bavarian dance music and klezmer featuring vocalist Andrea Pancur and accordionist Ilya Shneyveys, it rocked (and still does). A host of klezmer veterans joined that effort (and are lined up for the new one) ranging from Lorin Sklamberg to Alan Bern, Joel Rubin, etc., etc., etc. If so, you're going to want to join me in helping the band record their new CD:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/recording-alpen-klezmer-zum-meer--2#/

You have nothing to lose but ennui, boredom, and anomie. This is klezmer that rocks!

Here's what Andrea sent me:

Liebe Freunde und Freundinnen der handgemachten Musik,

es ist wieder so weit: ich bringe eine neue CD heraus. Und weil das alles immer so unsagbar viel kostet, nutze ich die Möglichkeit des Crowdfunding, was auf deutsch auch sehr hübsch klingt, nämlich „Schwarmfinanzierung".

Was passiert da genau? Ihr könnt diesem Link folgen, und dann vorab eine CD und viele andere ganz tolle Dinge bestellen, u.a. ein von Grammy-Gewinner und begnadetem Koch Lorin Sklamberg zusammengestelltes und gekochtes Abendessen oder eine Unterrichtsstunde bei musikalischem Mastermind Alan Bern höchstpersönlich. Schaut einfach auf die Seite, sucht euch das Passende aus und sehr gerne könnt ihr auch vielen, vielen anderen Menschen von ALPEN KLEZMER: ZUM MEER! erzählen.

Ich kann euch versprechen, ihr werdet es nicht bereuen, denn auf der CD versammeln sich wieder die musikalischen Meister der Klezmerwelt mit den Meistern der bayrischen Musikwelt und spielen Musik, die unter die Haut geht und die Füße zucken läßt: Alpen Klezmer vom Feinsten!

Hier nochmal der Link: igg.me/at/ZumMeer

Herzlichen Dank für eure Unterstützung! Andrea

Posted by Ari Davidow at 5:16 PM | Permalink

The Yiddish Book Center's annual program has gradually become a sort of "Eastern European Jewish Music AllStars" program, with lectures, workshops on dance and playing music and singing, as well as a host of great concerts. You won't actually hear much "new Yiddish music," but you will hear an awful lot of the best, performed by the best veterans around. This year, the UK's Polina and Merlin Shepherd are brought into the mix, which means even more great music. Paul Shapiro will bring back his delightful "Brisket 'n' Ribs Revue," one of my favorite excursions into the delightful world of Jewish/Black lyrics and music from the earlier part of the last century. Essen! It will all end in a mammoth AllStars concert honoring Shalom Aleichem's 100th yahrzeit.

Yidstock 2016: The Festival of New Yiddish Music, Thu July 14, 2016 - Sun July 17, 2016

YIDSTOCK 2016 will bring the best in klezmer and new Yiddish music to the stage at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. Don't miss out on what promises to be a great festival of music and related events.

Festival info from the Yiddish Book Center website

Posted by Ari Davidow at 4:55 PM | Permalink

Send by the Boston Jewish Arts Collaborative during Passover, I am just catching up. This features the BatSheva Dance Troupe and Tractor's Revenge, and is a very neat visual take on the familiar Passover melody

Echad Mi Yodea from Batsheva DC on Vimeo.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:24 PM | Permalink

Posted by Ari Davidow at 5:38 PM | Permalink

Posted by Eva Broman to the Jewish Music mailing list:

t's been a long time since I posted the last time, but I really enjoyed these clips with Iraqi-Jewish singer Koko from Eilat, performing Iraqi classics at an Israeli haflah:

These "ethnic" Israeli singers remind me of Pontic singers in Greece, who often adapt original Turkish and Balkan songs in the Pontiac dialect, just like Israeli singers of Iraqi etc. descent adapt Arabic tunes in Hebrew:

Posted by Ari Davidow at 7:07 AM | Permalink

From Michael Winograd, best known for the Yiddish Art Trio and other klezmer/yiddish masterworks. His other band is also receiving recognition. After watching Southeast Asians and others dancing in the aisles at the Vilna Shul, I can heartily recommend them. Some bits will sound more familiar than you expect:

Sandaraa is pleased to release the first single from our upcoming album, "Jegi Jegi Lailajan". US CD launch tour dates: /bit.ly/sandaraatour

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:59 AM | Permalink

Wish I'd spotted this yesterday—thanks to Sarah Gordon for sharing from the Yiddishkayt folks in LA:

It's the First of May! Come celebrate International Workers Day with our top 10 musical hits of the Jewish working masses from Morris Rosenfeld's Resting Place to classic Anarchist anthems. Share with all of your comrades for the arbeter-yontef! Zol lebn der ershter may! Long Live the First of May!

‪#‎WorkersDay‬ ‪#‎MayDay‬ ‪#‎ArbeterFunAleLender‬

yiddishkayt.org/songs-work-struggle/

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:55 AM | Permalink

Yosl Kurland writes:

A few of weeks ago I wrote to tell you about the Mak'hela concert at Keene, NH where my choral work, "Vezokharto&emdash;Remember that You Were Slaves in Egypt" was performed. The piece is now on youtube at this link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4umBqpPZFM

Vezokharto is based on a prophetic call in the Torah for social justice. It carries a message that needs to be heard and I would appreciate your help in spreading it. Please share this link with people you know by email and by social media. If you know of any chorus that would like to perform it, please have them contact me and I will arrange for them to get the score.

Posted by Ari Davidow at 6:59 PM | Permalink