Jewish Music Festival to be at Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam

From May 9-12, 2008, Amsterdam’s new concert hall, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, will host the premiere of the International Jewish Music Festival in its new format. The main event of the festival will be a 3-day Competition for Jewish music ensembles.

For the first time ever, a jury of international Jewish music experts will judge a competition for musicians and ensembles with a goal of an international career focusing on Jewish music. This includes folk, pop, klezmer, classical, and liturgical music, and music by Jewish composers with clearly discernible Jewish elements.

Contestants are welcome from all countries and do not need to be Jewish, but must be 16 years or older. Registration forms & more information are now available online: www.ijmf.org

The jury will include leading figures from the music and recording industry including Peter van der Heyden (Universal Music) and Frank London (The Klezmatics). Besides prize money, the musicians will be competing for the possibility of a professional recording contract. That prize alone is already drawing a high level of contestants, including professional bands and ensembles.

The Muziekgebouw's 100-seat BAM Hall will house the competition’s first rounds, and the 725-seat Main Hall will be the scene of the Finale.

March 1, 2008 - Registration closes Please take a minute to look at the IJMF website, www.ijmf.org.

Latino-Hasidic website

Originally from Buenos Aires, Yehuda Glantz is a musician with a Latino-Hassidic style. He studied at the prestigious Conservatory of Classical Music in Argentina, immigrating to Israel in 1979. To listen to his music or watch his videos see :
http://www.yehudaglantz.com/ or
www.youtube.com/yehudaglantz "Yehuda fuses hot Latino rhythms, pop grooves and jazz harmony together presenting a rich and colorful music tapestry as a backdrop to traditional and innovative melodies. He plays fourteen instruments including the fantastic sounds of the Charango, Siku and Pincuyo as well as keyboard, guitar, accordion and percussion all coming together in a sizzling groove of rock, Latin and Hassidic ritmos."

Triple Bill at Jewish Cafe

Merkavah, Simha Kanter and Yehudah Kaplan. Saturday, December 29, 8:15, $12 THE JEWISH MUSIC CAFE 401 9TH STREET PARK SLOPE BROOKLYN NEW YORK F TRAIN TO 7TH AVENUE. MORE INFO ATWWW.JEWISHMUSICCAFE.COM

Merkavah (mystical kabalistic chariot)...presents their debut CD from the Hasidic New Orleans Funky Jam Band. Led by Yerachmiel Altizio, electric guitar virtuoso. For more info on Yerachmiel: http://myspace.com/merkavah

Yehudah Kaplan played piano, guitar and organ on "Judy Collins Sings Bob Dylan" for Geffen Records. He's considered one of the best singer-songwriters by JM in the AM. For more info on Yehudah: http://www.myspace.com/yehudakaplan

Simha Kanter writes infectious dance melodies. Find out more at www.simhakanter.com

Miriam Ahuvat-El(Ohevet-El) Iron CDs

Miriam Ahuvat-El(Ohevet-El) Iron
Miriam is Jerusalemite singer and song-writer, the descendant of a Hassidic family from Karlin who arrived from White Russia to Israel as early as 1846. She has published a CD, Hassidic Shabbath Songs and Nigunim of Karlin.Many of these Chasidic tunes were, according to tradition, "passed down through the generations, from the time of the great Hassidic Rebe, Reb Araleh Hagadol of Karlin, who was part of the circle of the Baal Shem Tov." Miriam has also published a CD of her songs "Miriam Ahuvatel sings Psalms", which appeared at the Shalshelet competition. "Ways of Peace" is another CD. Miriam has put her CDs for sale on CD-baby http://cdbaby.com/cd/miriamae. Miriam's CDs dress the melodies in some modern garb, including jazz and modern American musical elements. Miriam has a very pleasant voice, and the songs are all well done.