KLEZMERQUERQUE 2005

A Southwestern celebration of Klezmer music and dance into the 21st century: a weekend of concerts, dance parties, and classes featuring the music and dance of the Eastern European Jewish People. FEBRUARY 18th through FEBRUARY 20th, 2005 (President's day weekend). Presented by Congregation Nahalat Shalom (Inheritance of Peace congregation) - a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. For details....

This year's featured performers/teachers:

MARGOT LEVERETT, world-renown virtuoso Klezmer clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader is one of the foremost of the new generation of klezmer clarinetists. Studied with the famed klezmer clarinetist Sid Beckerman and classically trained at Indiana University School of Music, Margot was involved in avant-garde music when she first heard klezmer, the dynamic East European music traditionally played at Jewish weddings. Leverett was a founding member of the Klezmatics in 1985 and Mikveh in 1999. She started her own band "Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys" in 2001. Her solo CD, "The Art of Klezmer Clarinet," was released in 2001 on the Traditional Crossroads label to glowing reviews. Margot tours around the world, performing and teaching traditional and original klezmer music at festivals and workshops. Because of her popularity at last year's event, we are excited to have Margot return to Klezmerquerque this year.

SULIM (SHULIM ZALTMAN), choreographer, dancing master, Born in 1938 in Belz, Moldova and now residing in Fulda, Germany. At the age of nine, Sulim Zaltman was a member of the "Folkstantz"- ensemble of Belz. At 17 he became the leader of the folklore dancing chorus "Bukuria," participating in countless festivals all over the former Soviet Union. Under Mr. Zaltman's leadership, the dancing chorus won many national and international competitions in the field of "Folklore Dancing". Specializing in Moldavian, Ukrainian, Russian, Rumanian, Bulgarian and Jewish dances, Sulim's mastery of Eastern-European folk dances is sought after throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union. He has taught at many festivals in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Odessa and Chishinau. His many decorations, diplomas and medals show the quality of his artistic oeuvre; In 1977 Sulim and his ensemble won the first prize at the "Festival of Folk-Art of Nations". Before he emigrated to Germany in 1997 he spent many years as a choreographer and dancer at the Belz Jewish Theatre, directed by the famous writer Michael Felsenbaum. Since 1997, Sulim has been teaching Jewish folk dances in the Jewish community of Fulda, Germany and at various Jewish festivals throughout Germany. This is Sulim's first visit to the U.S., and he speaks Yiddish, Russian and German fluently. Please come to welcome and honor him - and most of all - dance with him.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, February 18th, 6:30 pm:
Freylekhe Shabbes (Joyous Sabbath) featuring a 'danced' Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a potluck vegetarian dinner (7:00) and a short concert (7:30) by our featured guest artist Margot Leverett accompanied by ABQ's favorite Klezmer band: The Rebbe's Orkestra, concert segues into dancing led by Sulim Zaltman & Nahalat Shalom's Yiddish dance troupe: Rikud ($10.00- suggested donation).

Saturday, February 19th Events:
10-11am: Yiddish and Eastern European dance class with Sulim Zaltman ($18).
11:15am-12:15pm: Klezmer music class with Margot Leverett ($18).
12:30-1:30pm: Saturday afternoon lunch 'n lecture - presenter TBA ($5-10 donation).
2:00-3:30pm: Music class - Margot ($18) OR Dance class - Sulim ($18) choose one.
7:00pm: Concert/dance party with Margot Leverett accompanied by the 18-plus piece intergenerational Nahalat Shalom Community Klezmer Band and Saturday students. Dances lead by Sulim Zaltman, Rikud and student dancers ($10 - or free for Saturday students).

Sunday, February 22nd,
12:00-1:30pm: Music class - Margot ($18) OR dance class - Sulim ($18).
Event price: $60 for 2 parties, lunch/presentation, & 4 classes payed BEFORE Friday eve. Feb. 18th.
Individual classes and events can be payed for at time of class/event.
Discounts for students, seniors, and fixed/low income - inquire.

Lodging: Hotels and B&B's within 1/2 to 2miles - call/e-mail coordinator for info. Close to Historic Old Town, museums and Rio Grande Nature Center and trails. World-class ski areas: Santa Fe (1.5 hours); Taos, Angelfire & Red River (2.5-3.5 hours); Sandia Peak (40 mins. ABQ)

All events held at Nahalat Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (between Candelaria & Griegos), ABQ, NM 87107
Phone: (505) 343-8227, E-mail: nahalatshalom@earthlink.net
WEB: www.nahalatshalom.org --- Klick on "Klezmer"
Event coordinator: Beth Cohen, E-mail: cohenedmunds@netzero.net , Ph: (505) 243-6276

Jewish music for Classical Guitar

Fred Fastow has a new book and CD called "Jewish Songs for Classical Guitar" which has 25 Sabbath, holiday and folk songs arranged in it. Various pieces are arranged for beginning, intermediate and advanced guitarists. Fred Fastow is a native of Brooklyn and grew up in New York. The book is available through Transcontinental music at www.etranscon.com.

A NAYER YIDISHER FILM!!

"PRIPETSHIK ZINGT!"
A nayer dor zingt af yidish!
S'iz nor vos aroys der DVD/video PRIPETSHIK SINGS YIDDISH!
"Dos iz a film vos dervaremt dos harts, vos me zol hern yidish fun di mayler fun yunge kinder"
- THEODORE BIKEL

"Yidishe kinder redn yidish un zingen yidishe lider:
zoln zey zayn gebentsht!" - ELIE WIESEL

AKADEMYE-PREMYE-nominirter rezhisor JOSHUA WALETZKY, tsum bestn bakant far "Partisans of Vilna" un "Image Before My Eyes", brengt undz a farvaylerishn nayem film vos git op koved der yidisher kultur durkh lider, oysgefirt durkhoys fun di Pripetshik-zingers, untern rezhi fun muzik-direktor BINYUMEN SCHAECHTER.

A lebedike forshtelung hot men durkhgeflokhtn mit intervyuen mit di artistn, vi oykh mit stsenes fun di probes, un tsuzamen molt es undz oys a farvaylerish bild fun di talantirte kinder un zeyer libshaft farn yidishn loshn.

Tsvishn di BALIBTE LIDER in film zenen "Az der rebe lakht", "Mu asapru", "Yome, Yome", "Kh'bin a kleyner tshaynik" un "Lomir geyn tsu dem bolshpil".

Video: Af yidish un english. Dos yidishe mit englishe unterkeplekh.
DVD: Af yidish un english. A breyre: englishe, yidishe unterkeplekh.
Nokh protim vegn PRIPETSHIK SINGS YIDDISH!: http://www.ergomedia.com/
Nokh protim vegn di Pripetshik-zingers:
http://www.yugntruf.org/PRIPETSHIK_SINGERS/IntroE.htm

Seth Nadel orthodox rock

Seth Nadel is a guitar playing "reb" whose music sounds like a cross between Bob Dylan and Shlomo Carlebach with a bit of soft rock band backup. He sings in Hebrew. But see for yourself. His website has video as well as soung tracks in a convenient variety pack of formats. www.sethnadel.com

Lazer Lloyd and The folk spirit blues

Lazer Lloyd, who grew up in Connecticut, (not too far from here) playing blues guitar, now lives in Israel. Well, the distances he's traveled in miles don't compare to distances he's traveled in life, but he hasn't lost his interest in playing guitar, especially blues guitar,... except that now, he applies this music to Jewish themes. His band, The Folk Spirit Blues have released a new CD, Higher Ground. Lloyd writes and sings his own material. His music is basically in the American tradition folk/country/blues...with a twist of rock Yiddishkeit. For info, consult his website: http://www.lazerlloyd.com/index.html.

Gala Evening of Song and Grand Opera

A benefit performance for the Historic Stone Avenue Temple at the Leo Rich Theatre
260 South Church Street, Tucson, AZ 85701
Wednesday Evening, 7pm, December 22, 2004
Cantor Marie Betcher, DCantor avid Montefiore, tenor, and Robert Paul Abelson, baritone formerly of the New York City Opera, with Alexander Tentser at the piano, singing an evening of opera and song of Verdi, Donizetti, Puccini and Mozart, and Bellni. Info at www.davidmontefiore.com. Tickets can be purchased at the Tuscon Convention Center Box Office.

SOLELUNA CD LAUNCH at THE BOITE WORLD MUSIC CAFÉ

December Saturday 11th 8.15pm
Melbourne, Australia
www.boite.asn.au
1 Mark St Hall, Nth Fitzroy, 9417 3550
Light meals from 7.30pm, mulled wine, delicious snacks $15 full, $10 concession, smoke free, no bookings needed.

Music of the Jews of Spain, Greece, Turkey & The Balkans performed by leading Australian folk, early music, jazz and Jewish musicians. Members of SpielAzoi, Klezmeritis, Adana, Gong & more. Sarah Mandie - Vocals in Ladino & English.
Harry Williamson - Angel Guitar, 6 string & 12 string acoustic guitars, tiple, piano, hammer dulcimer, percussion, backing vocal.
Ernie Gruner - Violin, mandolin, viola, backing vocal.
Kate Neal - Recorder, backing vocal.
Martin Mackerass - Clarinet, backing vocal.
Percussion for Launch : Karen Berger - darabouka, frame & talking drums.
on CD : Tunji Bayer - Zarb, Tavil.
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Harry at Springstudios, Melbourne 2004 www.springstudio.com.au.

Chanukah Feast CD for Charity

Chanukah Feast. This brand-new CD features 20 different traditional and original Chanukah songs performed by a variety of musical acts from the Washington/Baltimore area and around the nation. The Alexandria Kleztet contributed three brand-new tracks. In addition to Kleztet, this CD features contributions from George Winston, Chuck Brodsky, The Robyn Helzner Trio, Flory Jagoda, Jinny Marsh, Honky-Tonk Confidential, The Hip-Hop Hoodios, Lox and Vodka, Klezcentricity, and more! It's all for a good cause! All proceeds from this album benefit Hungry for Music, a DC-based charity that promotes music and music education for disadvantaged youth. Can you think of a better gift this holiday season than that? To order A Chanukah Feast go to www.hungryformusic.com or call their toll-free order line at 1-888-843-0933.

"Millie and the Mentshn"

"Millie and the Mentshn" is a group that performs music along with stories of jewish immigration to the US. New CD released and available at: http://holdthatthought.ws/ The group is based in Washington State.

Yossele Rosenblatt rerelease

The Cantors Assembly, the Conservative Movement's cantorial professional organization, has recently released a 6-CD set of digitally remastered recordings of Yossele Rosenblatt (including his Yiddish recordings). The set comes with Hebrew and English texts, and indications of original recording dates. In addition, the out-of-print Rosenblatt biography by his son Samuel Rosenblatt has been reprinted. The six CDs are being sold for $89.95 or the set of CDs and Book for $109.95. http://www.cantors.org/sys-tmpl/door

Golem and Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad

A Hannukah Celebration of Comedy, Music and Burlesque in Boston featuring NYC's Klezmer and Variety Extravaganza, Golem and Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad?

UPCOMING SHOW DETAILS
Saturday, December 11
doors @ 8pm (show at 9pm)
Paradise Lounge - 969 Commonwealth Avenue
Tickets: $15 - 617-562-8814

Two of NYC favorites are coming together for one fabulous show in Beantown. The curse is reversed and time for us New Yawkers get over it and what better place to do it but in the heart of it all. Come get your dreidal on with the sexiest yids around.

"Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad? is a refreshing mix of comedy, music, spoken-word and show-stopping burlesque, told by the gals who learned to smoke at Hebrew School, got drunk at their Bat-Mitzvahs...These chosen chicks boldldare to deconstruct years of tradition, expectations and guilt in a fast-paced vaudeville extravaganza, complete with kick lines, pasties and a rendition of "L'chaim" with a fist in the mouth. This ain't yo' mama's "Fiddler".

The Wholesale Klezmer Band

The Wholesale Klezmer Band will celebrate the fifth night of Khanuke at Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs on Saturday evening, December 11th at 7 pm. Performing lively Yiddish dance music and Yiddish songs with themes ranging from making peace in the world and how money corrupts politics, to joy and tradition, Wholesale makes it all accessible to non-Yiddish speakers with subtitles, stories and translation.

Dee Sarno, Saratoga County Arts Council called their performance "An unforgettable evening of comedy and drama and joy and sorrow." For information and reservations call: 518-583-0022. (Please reserve soon. If early reservations indicate an overflow crowd by Thursday, a second show will be added to the schedule at 9:30 pm.)... and more...

RADIO: On Thursday morning after the 10 am news, Wholesale Klezmer Band's lead singer, fiddller and Yiddish songwriter Yosl Kurland will be interviewed by Susan Arbetter on WAMC's Roundtable. In the Hudson Valley and Western New England, you can tune in at the following stations or on-line at http://www.wamc.org:
WAMC, 90.3 FM Albany NY
WAMC, 1400AM Albany NY
WAMK, 90.9 FM Kingston NY
WOSR, 91.7 FM Middletown NY
WCEL, 91.9 FM Plattsburgh NY
WCAN, 93.3 FM Canajoharie NY
WANC, 103.9 FM Ticonderoga NY
WAMQ, 105.1 FM Great Barrington MA
W205AJ, 88.9 FM Oneonta NY
W226AC, 93.1 FM Rensselaer-Troy NY
W299AG, 107.7 FM Newburgh NY
W220CE 91.9 Southington CT


Yosl (Joe) Kurland
The Wholesale Klezmer Band
Colrain, MA 01340
voice/fax: 413-624-3204
http://www.WholesaleKlezmer.com

"Shir Delight! A Journey Through the Song of Songs"

Rabbi Shefa Gold has just released a new CD: "Shir Delight! A Journey Through the Song of Songs" which can be ordered through her website: www.rabbishefagold.com

From the liner notes: "To our brother and sister Journeyers: We have felt so incredibly blessed to bring Shir Delight! into being. This journey of Love is a moment-to-moment passionate, sensuous, Nature-revealing, wondrous, awe-filled, ecstatic encounter with the Divine. Shir HaShirim is a jewel at the heart of Jewish wisdom. We offer it to all peoples of all religions or no religion, of all spiritual traditions that call us to the path of Love and Presence. This path is about the cultivation, strengthening and deepening of our own personal relationship with the Great Love, the Divine Mystery. May every relationship in our lives be a reflection of that Great Love."

Kiss the Beloved: Kabbalistic Kirtan

KABBALISTIC KIRTAN is a new Jewish musical experience, a fusion of East andWest inspired by chant from India (kirtan) and music of the Middle East. Musicians on the recording include:
Yofiyah (vocals)
Lenny Seidman (tabla, frame drum)
Roger Mgrdichian (oud)
Joe Tayoun (doumbek, riq)
Amira Dvorah (bansuri flute)
Andrew Bleckner (harmonium)

Blending inspiring melodies, driving drum beats, and call and response chanting of short Hebrew prayers and names of God, Kabbalistic kirtan inspires a sense of Oneness and unity with all, marked by deep joy and even ecstasy.
for information, contact:
Yofiyah at: 215-242-6677
cd@hebrewkirtan.com
www.hebrewkirtan.com

The Sound and Light Cinematic Duo

The Sound and Light Cinematic Duo film program
5th December, Sallis Benny Theatre, Brighton UK
23th December, Makor Centre, New York, USA
26-31th December, KlezKamp, Kerhonkson, NY USA

2005
2th January, The Yiddish Book Centre, Amherst, MA USA
16th January, The FACT Centre, Liverpool UK
23th January, Arts Picture House, Cambridge UK
31st January, Forum Cinema, Northampton UK
For more info http://www.ashkenazim.ru

FREDERICK JACOBI CD released

A new CD from Naxos, (Naxos ID 8.559434), has the music of Frederick Jacobi.
Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra (1932)
Sabbath Evening Service (excerpts) (1931)
Hagiographa (1938)
Ahavat olam (1945)
Two Pieces in Sabbath Mood (1946)

Artists include Alban Gerhardt, cello; Barcelona Symphony/National Orchestra of Catalonia, Karl Anton Rickenbacher, conductor; Patrick Mason, baritone; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chorus, Joseph Cullen, conductor; Brian Krinke and Perrin Yang, violins; George Taylor, viola; Stefan Reuss, cello; Joseph Werner, piano; Cantor Robert Bloch; New York Cantorial Choir; Aaron Miller, organ; Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Samuel Adler, conductor

more...

This Milken Archive disc presents five works by Frederick Jacobi (1891-1952), one of the first 20th-century American composers to successfully unite authentic Jewish melodic and harmonic materials with the European classical-romantic tradition. Championed by such conductors as Koussevitzky, Stokowski, and Monteux, his compositions reflect two principal ethnic-historical musical sources: the motifs, rhythms and sonorities of American Indian culture and the biblical, liturgical and rabbinical wellsprings of his Judaic heritage, which would eventually dominate his creative life.

Included on this CD are three instrumental works of Jewish inspiration: the Cello Concerto, an introspective work inspired by the Book of Psalms; Hagiographa: Three Biblical Narratives for Piano and String Quartet, a rhapsodic evocation of three major biblical personalities; and Two Pieces in Sabbath Mood, an orchestral tone poem that depicts the spiritual qualities of the Sabbath in Jewish life and tradition. Also heard are two liturgical pieces: excerpts from the Sabbath Evening Service, a restrained setting for baritone and a cappella chorus that was commissioned by New York's Temple Emanu-El; and Ahavat Olam, an independent setting of the Sabbath evening prayer for cantor and choir that is infused with echoes of traditional cantorial chant.

For details about this CD, go to http://www.milkenarchive.org/cds/cds.taf?cdid=30