ELIYAHU SILLS & QADIM ENSEMBLE

Brookline, MA--Sunday, July 9, 2006
7:30 pm
Temple Beth Zion (TBZ),
1566 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA
Advance tickets: $10
At the door: $12
For more info please contact Noam at nsender@styr.com To purchase tickets in advance please call Eran at 617.216.4879 or email Eran_segev@yahoo.com

Traverse the deserts of the Middle East, the mountains of northern India, and the warm waters of the Mediterranean with Eliyahu Sills and his Qadim Ensemble. The group and their music bring ancient musical traditions to a contemporary audience, allowing for a musical dialogue between the different cultures. The group performs instrumental pieces as well as songs with words in Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Turkish, Farsi and Ladino.

Qadim is a word found both in Hebrew and Arabic meaning "ancient past" and "that which precedes" as well as "forward movement" and "that which will come." The band is aptly named as their ancient and timeless music bridges cultures from throughout the near east, such as Mizrakhi, Sephardic and Ashkenazi, with Arabic, Turkish, Persian and north Indian.

Eliyahu Sills is the founder of Qadim and plays the Nay (reed flute of the Middle East), Bansuri (bamboo flute of India), and vocals. He is joined by Rachel Valfer on vocals and Oud (Middle Eastern lute), and Jason Ranjit Parmer on Indian Tablas and frame drums from Turkey, Pakistan and Persia.

NextBook Podcasts a Lot of Great Jewish Music

If you haven't visited NextBook, you may want to take a look-see, and hear! It has many online podcasts of Jewish music interest. http://www.nextbook.org/index.html There's a very interesting interview with Galeet Darshati, about Mizrachi music. Nextbook Website tells it's purpose: "Nextbook.org is an online gateway to timely discussions of Jewish literature, culture, and ideas. It publishes original content, including interviews with authors, essays, and online galleries and also hosts a weekly podcast on topics of interest in contemporary culture, including conversations with writers, short stories, and discussions of music. Nextbook.org's homepage features a lively, eclectic cultural news digest linking to current articles in the Jewish and mainstream press and to web pages offering historical context. The site links to cultural resources elsewhere on the web and allows visitors to search our annotated reading lists, to create their own lists, and to keep up with Nextbook programs around the country. "

Sue Horowitz of York Maine, releases CD

Sue Horowitz of York, Maine has released a CD of Jewish music called Eleven Doors Open. The site is located at http://www.suehorowitz.com . E-mail at rwhorowitz@hotmail.com .

ANAT FORT TRIO and more

Sat Jun 24
ANAT FORT TRIO
(Anat Fort, piano, composer; Michel Gentile, flute; Roland Schneider, drums) Piano, Flute, Percussion/Drums?! Yes. This is the world premiere for a new project with Michel Gentile and Roland Schneider. Tunes by all three. Lots of free playing in different configurations. Sounds from Israel, Canada, Germany. Anat is very excited about collaborating with Michel, one of the most unique flute players around. And, of course, Roland has been the drummer of choice in her trio for many years. And when the three get together...you have to hear it.
9:00PM & 10:30PM
Cover $10 www.anatfort.com

CORNELIA STREET CAFÉ
29 Cornelia Street, NYC, New York 212-989-9319
www.corneliastreetcafe.com
between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village
1,9 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, F to West 4th St.

Sun Jun 25
NEW YORK WOMAN!
(EVE PACKER, (words); WARREN SMITH, (percussion); MICAH GAUGH, (alto sax)) NEW YORK WOMAN!
poetry & jazz

EVE PACKER; Bronx-born, poet/performer, author of 2 books, skulls head samba & the recently published playland poems 1994-2004 (Fly By Night Press), & 3 CD's w/jazz. From Donald Hall: "I salute her as the Weegee poet", & from Dennis Duggan, Newsday:"...smokey & sexy in a way that makes you think of love."
WARREN SMITH: Chicago-born, dynamic leader of a vibrant musical ensemble, noted composer & master percussionist. A consummate musician, Smith knows when to put the heat to a rhythm section & where to be a sensitive accompanist. Warren has many jazz CD's in his discography, performs internationally, and is an essential element in the development of African-American music.
6:00PM Angelo Verga, host. Cover $6


THE NEW JEWISH AVANT-GARDE: FRANTIC TURTLE & THE SWAY MACHINERY (Jake Marmer, vocals; David Keesey, vocals, guitar; Ely G, drums; Jeremiah Lockwood, vocals, guitar; Tomer Tzur, drums; Antibalas Horn Section) Join the new jewish avant-garde collective for two sets of rock-blues, jazz-poetry, and dostoyevsky on speed. Featuring the Sway Machinery (with Antibalas horn section) and Frantic Turtle.

The Sway Machinery: Hidden Melodies of the Jews of New York City Longtime collaborators Jeremiah Lockwood (Balkan Beat Box, Carolina Slim) and Tomer Tzur (Beat the Donkey, Pharaoh's Daughter) team up with friends from Antibalas to present an audacious descent into the depths of Jewish soul music. Calling upon the sounds of Malian guitars, Saharan beats, Afro-pop horns and the B-L-U-E-S, The Sway Machinery goes knocking at the gates of prayer with muscles swollen and eyes clenched.
"Brechtian-punk swagger." The Village Voice
Frantic Turtle: a spoken-word / punk project a-la Velvet Underground. The midrashic poetics, instantenous interpretations from verbal semantics to music and back, and the raspy russinalising funk.
www.myspace.com/franticturtle 8:30PM Cover $8 www.myspace.com/swaymachinery

A Musical Tour of the East European Jewish World

Zalman Mlotek, director of the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater, and his actors will present a sampler of Yiddish music and theater, during a lecture and performance entitled, A Musical Tour of the East European Jewish World , on Wednesday, June 28, from 7pm to 8:30pm as part of a 3 day program on Eastern European Jewish history and Yiddish culture.

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research will sponsor a unique three-day educational training program in Eastern European Jewish history and Yiddish culture (EPYC), beginning Tuesday, June 27 through Thursday June 29, 2006, at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York City). The EPYC Educators Seminar will introduce lead educators to YIVO's wealth of cultural treasures and educational resources. Thanks to major funding by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc., a broad group of educators from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Lithuania and Israel will participate in a series of lectures and workshops presented by renowned scholars. Lecturers include, among others, Professor Michael Stanislawski of Columbia University, Dr. Samuel Kassow of Trinity College, Professor Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett of New York University.

For more information on EPYC, visit http://epyc.yivo.org. For more information on YIVO programs and events, visit www.yivo.org.

Joshua Nelson at Congregation Kol Ami

Congregation Kol Ami is sponsoring Joshua Nelson, the acclaimed Black Jewish singer of Hebrew Religious Gospel Music. The concert is Sunday, July 30 at 3:00 PM (pre-concert program at 2:30 PM) at Thorne Auditorium, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL. It's $45 for teens and adults and $20 for children 13 and under. Call 312-664-4475 or e-mail sklaff@kol-ami.com for tickets or more information. HIs website explains Joshua's particular background and cultural focus. http://www.joshuanelson.com/index3.htm It states: "His cultural and religious background and extensive travels through Israel influenced him to pioneer a new form of music he has termed KOSHER-GOSPEL MUSIC - Hebrew/Jewish music with a soul feeling. Growing up in a black Jewish synagogue, Joshua decided to take the soul Hebrew sounds prominent in many black synagogues and take them to the outside world, blending Jewish Liturgical and African American musical styles. In Joshua’s own words, “ Since the Jewish nation started in Africa , musically she shall return.” Through his unique talent, Electrifying performances and profound commitment to spiritual music, Joshua is transforming new listeners everywhere. 'I want to let people hear it and realize that it is not just good to listen to - it is good for the soul.' "

Hazzan Israel Alter's Music Now Available on CD

At long last the music of Hazzan Israel Alter is available on CD. Lois Welber recently released her cantorial CD, "Prayers of the High Holy Days: Shomeah Tefillah". (Shomeah Tefillah - "...Who hears prayer" from Hineni) featuring the music of Hazzan Israel Alter. The CD focuses on music from "The High Holy Day Service" and "The Selichot Service" published by the Cantors Assembly. The original musical accompaniment is arranged by organist/composer Ernest Rakhlin and with pianist David Sparr. There is also one song included by Israel Goldfarb, "B'Sefer Chayim" (from Shirei T'shuvah --991900), which score is available through Transcontinental Music Publications.

These renditions are all sung with Welber's strong mezzo-soprano in dedication to the 100th anniversary celebration of Temple B'Nai Israel in Revere, Massachusetts, where she has been cantor since 2000. Prior to that Lois served as High Holiday cantor at Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel for 18 years. She studied hazzanut for many years with Hazzan Gregor Shelkan (z"l) and dedicates this CD to his memory and to Rabbi Ben-Zion Gold of Harvard Hillel.

To obtain a copy or contact Lois, email lois_welber@msn.com.
You can visit Lois Welber's website at: http://www.loiswelber.com
You can also learn more at the Temple B'nai Israel website at: http://www.tbirevere.org/index-1.html<
Sales price $15.00 (add 5% sales tax for Massachusetts residents) and $2.00 shipping.

Lois commented about this project that: "Though Alter published his musical settings for the High Holy Day prayers 35 years ago, to my knowledge, they have never been recorded.... having sung Alter's music for over 20 years and witnessed its effects on a variety of congregations and services, I very much wanted to record it and believe that more people deserve to hear it. Clearly the eloquent beauty of Alter's hazzanut speaks to contemporary sensibilities, enhancing the service where they are sung."

Jim Loeffler Explains

Jim Loeffler, a professor of Jewish history at the University of Virginia, and the director of the Jewish Music Forum, explains the origins of the song "Hava Nagila". You can read about it online at http://hillel.myjewishlearning.com/culture/Music/IsraeliMusicTO/IsraeliFolkMusic/Hava.htm

4th New York International Choral Festival

Jewish People's Philharmonic Chorus <http://www.thejppc.org/>, a Yiddish Chorale, is included in the International Choral Festival
Monday, June 19th
8:00pm
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
W. 65th Street
New York City

PARTICIPANTS:
Abyssinian Baptist Church Combined Choirs
A-Jung Kayaguem Ensemble Chorus
'Han-Yu-Hoe' of Korea Highbridge Voices
Jewish People's Philharmonic Chorus Overseas
Chinese Childrens Chorus Sound of Korea

Ruby Harris at Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Festival

Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Festival
Many greater bands all day, plus art, greater food, activism, crafts and a greater festival. Sunday, June 11
5pm,Ruby Harris Band, Cook County Forest Preserve, (Oakton w. of Lehigh)
And later that nite...Blues fest weekend (later and greater)
9pm, Ruby Harris Electric Violin Blues Band at Dukes, 6920 Glenwood (near Morse L)

Follow your Drummer. Habrera Hativeet in Boston

Habrera Hativeet, featuring Shlomo Bar co-presented by The Boston Jewish Film Festival and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA)
If you've never seen this group, you owe yourself a treat next week. **Highly recommended** by JMWC.
So follow the drummer this summer on Sunday, June 18, 1PM, Remis Auditorium

Habrera Hativeet fuses together artists with authentic Sephardic, African, Indian and Middle Eastern roots, time-honored songs from Andalusian Spain, Yemen, and Morocco, Hasidic chants from Eastern Europe, and contemporary Israeli poetry. Their music bridges time, cultures, and mindsets in Israel and beyond. The group’s website can be found at www.shlomobar.com

Tickets are $20 for MFA and Boston Jewish Film Festival members, students, and seniors; $25 general admission. Front-of-house tickets (guaranteed general admission seating within the first three rows) are $25 discounted and $30 general admission.

To order tickets, contact the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Remis Auditorium Box Office at 617-369-3306 or visit www.mfa.org/concerts

You Get Another Chance in Boston to See It

Boston, you will be delighted because there's another chance to catchA Cantor’s Tale
I've seen it, and it's wonderful. You'll be humming cantorial music when you leave. No, really, you will. It's screening as part of The Boston Jewish Film Festival: Encores (series runs through July 6 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)
A Cantor’s Tale
Sun, Jun 18, 4 pm
Thu, Jun 22, 6 pm
A Cantor’s Tale by Erik Greenberg Anjou (2005, 95 min.). A joyous, crowd-pleasing documentary, A Cantor’s Tale pays loving tribute to the “golden age” of chazzanut, the celebrated art of cantorial music. Brooklyn-born Cantor Jacob "Jackie” Mendelson traces the American origins of Jewish liturgical music back to the vibrant culture of 1950’s Brooklyn, when the great cantors of New York had chart-topping records and were idolized almost like rock stars. This nostalgic journey also includes appearances by renowned cantors and notables such as Harvard Law School’s Alan Dershowitz. A rich cultural heirloom, the film charts the rise, fall, and future of a great Jewish tradition and a unique and beautiful art form.

Tickets
Tickets are $8 for MFA and BJFF members, seniors, and students; $9 for general admission. * $6 discounted, $7 general admission for matinee screenings (beginning before 5pm on weekdays and 12:30pm on weekends). Please call the Box Office at 617 369 3306 or visit www.mfa.org/film for ticket orders.

Songs of Social Consciousness

Helene Williams, soprano with Leonard Lehrman, piano and Charles Osborne, vocalist present Songs of Social Consciousness featuring the music of Lehrer, Lehrman, Blitzstein, the Berrymans and Mozart on Sunday, June 11, 2006 at 11am at the Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Info 617-266-6710.

Live Music at Museum Mile Festival at the Jewish Museum

Metropolitan Klezmer Octet
Tuesday, June 13th
Museum Mile Festival at the Jewish Museum
6pm-9pm FREE!! & outdoors (if weather permits, or in museum auditorium).
The Jewish Museum
Fifth Ave @ 92nd St, NYC
Info: 212-423-3200 or museummilefestival.org
Rain or shine... full eight-piece band
Latest photos at EPK: http://metropolitanklezmer.com
Contact Eve Sicular at sicular@gmail.com
This is Metropolitan Klezmer's eleventh consecutive year playing for The Jewish Museum at this annual event which transforms Fifth Avenue into a car-free cultural promenade for the evening, each second Tuesday in June -- with admission to all museums FREE! We will perform various very new pieces and original arrangements of traditional and farflung music, from Yiddish sources and beyond.
Featuring:
~Ismail Butera, accordion
~Brian Drye, trombone
~Pamela Fleming, trumpet & fluegelhorn
~Michael Hess, violin & ney flutes
~David Hofstra, bass & tuba
~Deborah Karpel, vocals
~Debra Kreisberg, clarinet & alto saxophone
~Eve Sicular, drums & bandleader

ASEFA in Park Slope

Asefa is playing in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Thursday, June 8, 9pm
The Tea Lounge, NYC
837 Union St. (btw 6/7 aves)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Subway: Q/B to 7ave or 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza.
http://www.jatm.org/ASEFA
Asefa includes Samuel Thomas on woodwinds and percussion, Noah Jarrett on upright bass, Eric Platz on drums and David Buchbut on percussion.
**New Asefa CD available at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/samuelthomas and now on iTunes at: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/ wa/viewAlbum?playListId=128906488

Here's a recent review by Gili Houpt on NYC Jewish Music: Jewish Music Album of the Week: "Asefa," the eponymous debut by Samuel Thomas' band, gathers the sounds of klezmer and jazz together with African and Middle-Eastern music for a great mix of traditional tunes and original compositions. In addition to clarinet and sax, Samuel plays instruments unfamiliar to most listeners of Western music: bendir (Moroccan percussion) and ghaita, (a type of African flute) for a mesmerizing effect. There are 2 vocal tracks, including Ki Eshmera Shabbat, a popular Sephardic song for the Shabbat meal. The rest of the album is instrumental, but even without words the universal language of music conveys the Spirit. Asefa is the outcome of JATM, Jewish Awareness through Music, a project Thomas founded to teach Jewish culture all over the world.