Talia Applebaum Flashes in the Darkness Album
Several times in the last year (or so) there have been concerts for women based on the album by Talia Applebaum Flashes in the Darkness. It deserves another look for the humour, fun, a bit of blues, a little jazz, a bit of funk, but mostly American folk. Talia is writing about the stuff of her chosen life with the Breslov Hassidmi, and the way religious devotion permeates her life, blended into ‘the everyday.’ The music gives a window into that world –that Talia obviously relishes– for the rest of us. All music and lyrics are by Talia, including blending English and Hebrew with an all female accompaniment. Occasionally the melody and words don’t quite make it, but most often they do, and music cleverly wraps into the lyric.The best piece, (or maybe better to say, the one more universally related to all Jews’ experience), is “Perservere” with arrangement and piano by Shana Friedman, which could fit into any Jewish denomination’s repertoire.…
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Thanks to Kol Halev Choir, led by Cantor Annie Rose for sending JMWC a copy of their video of their 2004 Eastern European Tour. It’s a delightful 16 minute film showing the joy of Jewish community members hearing the choir sing in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino, and trying out Bulgarian and Romanian. Kol Halev went on a tour of Romania, Bulgaria and Greece singing to very appreciative audiences. The filmmakers share a short chat, also included in the DVD. Kol Halev is also planning to release a DVD of their journey to Argentina. This film shows once again that Jewish music carries in it the seeds of joy, community, memory and bonding. Their website is located at:
An early-bird Chanukah album reached JMWC even before Rosh Hashonah! The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band teamed up with Rabbi Joe Black to create a great Chanukah show for Temple Sholom in Chicago. Now you can join in the fun. It’s more than a children’s album, although there are some great pieces for the kids, especially the new ones composed by Joe Black. He has a great ear for combining lyrics with the American folk and country sound which work well and sound great for kids. There are also some fantastic jazz arrangements with Maxwell Street. Joe Black also has some moving pieces that are for the parents too, such as “Faith is Not A Flag”. Lori Lippitz has such a wonderful voice as everyone knows from over twenty years in previous albums,– and she’s featured in “Chanukah Lights.” Kimber Leigh Nussbaum, a lead singer with the group, is also terrific in “Abi Gezunt”, a song that has been done so many times, it takes a lot of energy to make it fresh.… 
A new album, called simply, Shmoozin’, has been released by our friends from ‘down under’ — Australia– The group is Klezmania and they have produced an album that just hits the spot. Give it to all your girlfriends, honey. Freydi Mrocki is the vocalist. She does a nice job that keeps the album in a even mood. David Breytman, bayan (a Russian type of button chromatic accordian); David Krycer, double bass and guitars; and Lionel Mrocki on clarinet, saxophone, guitar, percussion, didgeridoo, (this is an Australian album after all!) and vocals. There are a lot “standards” on this album, but there are some differences. They start with Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love” but add some Yiddish verse by Doodie Ringelblum.… 
Emil Skobeloff and Or Chadash have released an album of all new tunes to liturgical music called “And Sarah Danced.: The album is thoroughly American in concept, and takes the listener on a walk through fifty-plus years of American popular styles, attached to Jewish liturgical texts. Skobeloff succeeds in creating some good tunes and some are quite catchy. So for those fond of American style music for Jewish worship, check out this album. Several of the successful songs are the “Magen Avot”, “Ma Tovu” and “Ashrei”. Skobeloff has a myspace page at: