Eastern Tradition CD from The Jewish Music Heritage Project

The Jewish Music Heritage Project is the ambitious undertaking of Cantor Sholom Kalib and The Jewish Music Heritage Project Boys' and Men's Choir. The purpose of the Jewish Music Heritage Project is to "document, catalog, and disseminate one of the great sacred musical traditions of the world, namely that of the Eastern European Synagogue, which is now in real danger of being lost forever." So far, 2 vols of a 5 vol. set consisting of 20 books is being published by Syracuse University Press, and a 75 CD set of the music is envisioned. To find out more and order a CD:
http://www.jmhp.org/jmhp_CDs.html

It's Always Closer Than You Think

The deadline for submissions to the Shalshelet liturgical music competition is November 1, 2007, which is closer than you think, if you are preparing to compose a musical composition. The composition can be by a professional, or a student over 18 (or under 18 with parental signature), and can be a musical choral work, a simple melody or melody with instruments. The purpose is for a composition for a sacred Jewish text, must be original, and not previously published. All the rules of the competition are available at their website. For those who may have a curiousity about American-based Jewish liturgical music, or those who have a serious interest in entering, click here: http://www.shalshelet.org/Submission.html.

The 2008 Shalshelet International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music will be held June 15, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can find out more about the organization by viewing the website or contacting:
Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music
P.O. Box 15836
Chevy Chase, MD 20825
301-588-7768
Shalshelet@NewJewishMusic.com

Basel Synagogue Choir Opens Website

The Basel Synagogue Choir, one of the rare synagogue choirs in continuous, uninterrupted existence in Europe from before the Holocaust, has recorded several CDs, and now has a new website at www.synagogenchorbasel.ch. The Basel Jewish community founded in 1805 Einheitsgemeinde (‘United Community’) has also maintained a professional chazzan. Sound clips on the website feature the beautiful voice of Issachar Helman, a native of Israel. He and the all male Choir sing at The Great Synagogue in Basel located at Leimenstrasse 24, every week.

5 If By Sea-- the Dave Grisman Quintet on a Hudson Cruis

NYC ROCKIN' THE RIVER CRUISES
THURSDAY JULY 19
NYC, NY 212-630-8888
42nd St. & the Hudson River at Circle Line Pier 83
7.00PM & 9.30PM
www.rtrcruises.com

David Grisman Quintet featuring guitarist Frank Vignola, will perform his unique variety of bluegrass and gypsy music referred to as "dawg music" as part of the NYC Rockin' the River Cruises (www.rtrcruises.com) and will be the first East Coast performance with the new line-up.

NYC RTR Cruise is a scenic tour and live music event in an intimate and friendly concert setting. Sail past the Statute of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and the world's greatest skyline - with Grisman and VIgnola.

Also, a chance to see them in VT...
SATURDAY JULY 21
THE GREEN AT SHELBURNE MUSEUM
SHELBURNE, VT 802-652-0777
4.30PM
highergroundmusic.com

Elaine Hoffman Watts 2007 winner of a National Heritage Fellowship

Elaine Hoffman Watts wins National Endowment for the Arts, National Heritage Fellowship
The Jewish Music WebCenter already knew how great Elaine is, having conducted an extensive interview with her at KlezKanada a few years ago, not to mention hearing all those concerts with her. Now she's getting a national honor... nice!
http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/NHFIntro.php?year=2007

The NEA writes about Elaine:

"Elaine Hoffman Watts' family came to the United States from a town near Odessa in the former Soviet Union. Her father, Jacob Hoffman, was a prominent member of a klezmer band that was recorded in the 1920s. Elaine received training from her father and uncles in the family's repertoire of polkas, freilachs, mazurkas, shers, and other tunes of Eastern European Jewish musical tradition. She became the first woman graduate in percussion from the Curtis Institute of Music. With many opportunities before her, Watts chose to maintain the three-generation family tradition of playing klezmer music at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other social events. She points out that being a woman and a drummer often was a barrier in her career but as one klezmer scholar observes, "Elaine is an important role-model to young players who otherwise would have no clue that women were indeed a part of traditional Yiddish music. Because those of us who study traditional Yiddish culture have no homeland in Europe to which we can return, we rely heavily on the 78-rpm recordings that were made during the early years of the 20th century. The vast majority of musicians on those recordings were men, and Elaine's presence is critical in redressing this imbalance."

KlezKanada 2007 in Quebec

KlezKanada 2007 will take place from Monday, August 20 through Sunday, August 26, 2007.
Go to www.klezkanada.com for updated information, and to download the KlezKanada brochure and Hands-On Workshop listings and registration.

Kill the Drive Israeli Band on US Tour

Speaking of Jewish rockers,.... there's this rock band...they're from Israel. They're on a tour... Their space tells all the details, but they're going to be all over the West Coast and beyond...you can figure out if this is for you... by going to their webpage and listening to the music.
www.myspace.com/killthedrive See website for August routes, but here's some of July:
Jul 12 2007 9:00P THE FUNHOUSE seattle, Washington

Jul 13 2007 9:00P Red Room w:/ Seditionists, Go motion, Quintesentials Portland, Oregon

Jul 14 2007 8:00P Billy O's Bar W:/ Craigs brother Ventura, California

Jul 15 2007 6:30P Blakes w:/ The Sweet Nothings, Go Lay Down, 0 Lucky man Berkeley, California

Jul 16 2007 8:00P Elbo room w:/ Zodiac Death Valley, Seeing Blind San Francisco, California

Jul 19 2007 6:00P Cobalt Cafe w:/ Ten seconds to go, Planes crash, Panima, Go betty Go, the Fixture gitch Canoga park, California

Jul 20 2007 9:00P on the Y Sacramento, California

Jul 21 2007 8:00P Surf city saloon w:/ Elvis westly and the pistol whispers Huntington Beach, California

Jul 26 2007 8:00P PALADINOS -punk rock thursdays- tarzana, California

Jul 27 2007 8:00P The Zombie Lounge w:/ Permanent Black San Diego, California

Jul 28 2007 8:00P beckers birthday party w/ teenage fuck you fresno, Californi

Laura Wetzler – "A World of Jewish Music plus Great Classics of American Song"

Sunday, July 22nd - Concert
Laura Wetzler – "A World of Jewish Music plus Great Classics of American Song"

Singer, songwriter and folklorist Laura Wetzler performs with Robin Burdulis on percussion and Wes Brown on bass. Take a musical journey to Jewish communities in Uganda, Morocco, Tunisia, Poland, Ethiopia, Spain, Yemen, Greece, and Italy in a high-energy celebration of Jewish culture. “Laura is one of the very best,” says Pete Seeger.

at the National Yiddish Book Center
on the campus of Hampshire College, Route 116, Amherst, Massachusetts.
Reservations suggested.
2 P.M. Cost: $10
For additional information, an application or reservations, please phone us at 413-256-4900.

Veretski Pass in the Paper Bridge Arts Festival

Monday, July 16: Veretski Pass: Traditional klezmer trio featuring Cookie Segelstein, Joshua Horowitz & Stuart Brotman: Hampshire College, Amherst, Mass. at the National Yiddish Book Center. http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/
Part of the Paper Bridge Arts Festival.
For more about Veretski Pass: http://www.veretskipass.com/

JewsRock

The JewsRock.org website has a lot of interesting bits, including all sorts of biographical information on rockers who are Jewish,.. or at least had a Jewish parent. At any rate, coolness is part of the ambience. Too bad the gig doesn't seem too updated since they've had their flame of fame in the sun -- mainly due to a lawsuit over the name "Jewish Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" . However, you can still learn a lot. Take the who's a Jew quiz,... and read some good bio blurbs on the, (now dubbed) "Challah Flame" (the pun obviously by guys dealing with way too many soundex files and a major lawsuit to boot ).

Ensemble Me la Amargates Tú

Check out the music from the website of Ensemble Me la Amargates Tú. It's quite well done with the combination of well known Ladino songs and period instruments.

"Ensemble Me la Amargates Tú was founded in the year 2006 as result of the musicians' eagerness to gather and play songs from the distant past. Ladino songs, a tradition that was carried forth from generation to generation has today become a symbol of the Jews who lived in Spain until the 15th century, and has spread into different places of the world. At present Sephardic music is quite common, and always differs depending upon the country. Me la Amargates Tu has decided to combine principles of the folk Ladino tradition as well as musical elements of the period."
The ensemble believes that the use of instruments of the Renaissance and Baroque periods are in accordance with period performance practice."
http://www.tuliorondon.com/English/melaamargatestu.htm

Rahel at Lincoln, MA Public LIbrary

A native of Massachusetts, Rahel is known for her spirituality and restful music.
Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Lincoln Public Library
Rock 'n Roll with Rootes - 11:00am
3 Bedford St.
Lincoln MA 01773
(781) 259-8465
Interactive Performance for children.
http://www.rahelmusic.com/ From her website about Rahel: "Singer/songwriter, guitarist, sound healing and sleep facilitator, Rahel, writes from the heart using her life's experiences as the source and her spirituality as a guide. Rahel brilliantly fuses folk, jazz, Middle East rhythms, and further East mantras to produce award-winning songs that are very moving in their energy and emotion. Her multicultural approach integrates ancient language, wisdom, and tradition with appropriate contemporary stylings. She weaves musical magic with beautiful and compelling melodies sung in a 'free verse' style; her strong and expressive vocals supported by her masterful guitar performance. Rahel's music will calm and relax you, rock you to the depth of your soul and raise you to a higher consciousness. Rahel's music has been widely accepted with numerous concert appearances earning rave reviews."

Rahel will be in New Hampshire on:
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
Jaffrey Town Gazebo
with Mashke - 7:00pm
Gazebo
Jaffrey NH
Price: Free
Rahel joins the MASHKE band for an evening of Jewish music.