All posts by JMWC

Halevi Choral Society

The Halevi Choral Society is a professional Jewish choir located in Chicago, IL under the direcction of Judith Karzen. Founded as a community chorus in 1926 by Harry Coopersmith and Hyman Reznick, the choral group, devotes its entire repertoire to Jewish music. Styles include liturgical, Israeli, Yiddish, Ladino and secular Jewish music. The Choral group presents many new works and commissions compositions. The website includes contact information, a history, a mission statement and a concert schedule.
http://www.vjc.org/halevi/

Habrera Hativeet

Formed in 1977, Habrera Hativeet has performed around the world with Shlomo Bar, the founder, and features Sephardic and Eastern music fused with modern Israel. Bar, born in Rabat, Morocco, composes most of the group’s songs. He plays drums and flute and also arranges much of the music. The rest of the band is: Manashe Sasson, on Santur; Nitsan-Ken Razel, violin; Samson Khamkar on violin, the sitar and the flute; Ilan Ben-Ami, guitar; Yael Offenbach, Tabla; and Yaacob Segal, piano, ud, and bass. Habrera hativeet have 9 CDs, some of which were originally released in LP. The group tours extensively world wide. The website features a video clip from The 11th Jewish Music Festival in Cracow – Poland, July 2001. Having attended a concert of this group at Brandeis, I can attest to the excitement experienced in a HH concert.…
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The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band

“Upbeat Jewish music from the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, with Brazilian, gypsy and Celtic influences. The 5-piece ensemble from Sacramento, California band performs mainly in Northern California, but is quite willing to travel for special occasions. The band also performs original compositions. Lots of singing (in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew) and fascinating instrumentation (clawhammer banjo, Brazilian classical guitar, clarinet, accordion, mandolin, string bass) – a wonderful ensemble for your planned concert, wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, fundraiser or other simcha.
Contact: andyrubin@comcast.net
www.freilachmakers.com

Fraenkel, Yossi

Yossi Fraenkel is a London-based Hassidic singer who travels around the world performing widely for Chassidic and Yiddish audiences. In 1998 he performed for British royal family. His recent stage performances include Simchas Beis Hashoevoat at Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Hights, Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately his website doesn’t provide any clips of music, but he has contact information for those wishing bookings.
Phone: +44 (0)7946-359-697.
http://www.shirabesimcha.com/index.htm

Evergreen

If you want to listen to Irish music, but still support a Jewish group in Israel, then this is for you. Michal and Gal Shachar, and Eitan Hoffer along with former Riverdance percussionist, Abe Doron, founded a group that is touring Israel performing traditional Irish music. Based in Ma’ale Zvia, in the Galilee, the group, Evergreen, Yarok Ad in Hebrew, plays a host of various instruments. They have also composed some original songs in the genre. The website gives some information on purchasing a CD and going to their concerts. Maybe the music will make Israel greener, (but a little more rain would help as well). One can always hope– and that’s the brilliance of planting the Irish sound in the rockier soil of Israel. Sweet.…
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Ettinger, Dan

Israeli. Born 1971 in Holon, Israel. Baritone, pianist and conductor, an accomplished pianist, accompanist and coach, and was a faculty member of the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv University. A recent press release revealed: “Dan began his piano studies at the age of six. He graduated from Thelma Yellin High School, and served in the IDF’s special program for excellent musicians. In 1993, he won first prize in the Francois Shapira Competition as a baritone singer (1993) and performed with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. He participated for several years in the summer academy courses of IVAI – Israel Vocal Arts Institute. During 1995-1998 Dan sang in various roles at the New Israeli Opera and was also a faculty member at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University.…
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Esim: Janet and Jack Esim Ensemble

Turkish musicians performing Judeo-Espagnol songs and Sephardic music. Janet was born in Ankara in 1965 and Jak was born in Ýstanbul in 1958. Together they have made several albums, including Judeo Espanyol Ezgiler (1989) with Erkan Ogur and Antik Bir Hüzün (1992) with Erkan Ogur and Okay Temiz. Also, Nezih Yesilnil, (Bass); Murat Ozbey, Bülent Ortacgil and Erkan Ogur (Fretless Guitar, Oud)join them for their European concert tours.
http://www.oz-ist.com/janetandjak.html

Ensemble M’chaiya

Don Jacobs, Terran Doehrer, Jutta Distler. According to their press release: “The Ensemble M’chaiya is Chicagoland’s original revival klezmer band, founded in January 1983. Their repertoire includes Sephardic, Yiddish, and Hebrew songs. The band leads folks through line and circle dances… The Ensemble M’chaiya shapes its distinctive sound with mandolin, violin, flute, accordion, guitar, tof, and clarinet. Bouzouki, drum set, and bass, can be added. Band size ranges from duet to sextet. M’chaiya has pleased audiences in concert, at festivals, schools, universities, synagogues, clubs, and parties. Engagements have included two tours of Denmark, Chicago’s P.O.C.E.T. Jewish Festival every time since 1986, a special “Thanks to Scandinavia” commemoration program, National Public Radio, as well as opening a concert for Israel’s famous singer, Yehoram Gaon.” The website includes photos and testimonials.…
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Gerard Edery

Gerard Edery, with a wonderful baritone voice, and a classical guitar master performer, often performs Sephardic and his own original compositions. He has several recordings as well as a songbook of his music. Edery is a member of several groups, including The Sons of Sepharad, The Gerard Edery Ensemble, Flamenco Sepharad, and the Gerard Edery/Laura Wetzler Duo
http://www.gerardedery.com/

Doina Klezmer Quartet

“The repertoire of the Doina Klezmer Quartet consists of the traditional Eastern European klezmer music arranged by the band, but also of new, own Finnish and Northern influences creatively combining klezmer music composed by Sampo Lassila. In the music of Doina Klezmer otherwise distance musical elements are combined in a special and unique way. These musicians regard highly the tradition and also improvisation has a great importance in their music. Doina Klezmer was established in 1996 and after that the old Jewish music has gained quicly a whole lot of new fans in Finland and the concept of the “Finnish Klezmer” has been presented for the first time in public. Doina Klezmer has given concerts in Helsinki with their artist friends and performed at clubs and concert halls all over Finland.…
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Divahn

All woman’s quartet of Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jewish music, using tabla, cello, rabel, and other acoustics, plus vocals in Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Persian and Aramaic. Galeet Dardashti, leader, is the granddaughter of Yona Dardashti, one of the most famous singers of Persian classical music in Iran, and daughter of Hazzan Farid Dardashti. Lauren DeAlbert, percussion; Michal Raizen, cello; Emily Pinkerton, violin, rabel, banjo, and secondary vocals. Group based in Austin, Texas. The group has produced a CD by the same name.
http://www.divahn.com/

The Diaspora Yeshiva Band

This band, formed in the 1970’s at the Diaspora Yeshiva in Jerusalem, combines American bluegrass, rock and country music with the chassidic nigun. They gained fame after garnering prizes at the Chassidic Music Festival in Israel in the late 1970’s. Today the band consists of eight members and has produced six albums including Melave Malke, At the Gate of Return, The Diaspora Yeshiva Band, and Land of Our Fathers. Samples of their style are available in Real Audio on their website. They sing in both Hebrew and English.
http://www.diasporaband.com/bio.php

Kapele, Di Naye

Bob Cohen formed Di Naye Kapelye, a klezmer ensemble, to “present Carpathian klezmer music in its most authentic form. A member of the Jewish Music Research Center at Budapest’s ELTE University, Bob has done extensive field research in klezmer and Yiddish music in Eastern Europe, the United States, and Israel. A founding member of the Budapester Klezmer Band, Bob has also performed and toured with Budowitz.” The website contains information about the group, its members, links and photos, a discography and articles including “Jewish Musicians in Moldavia” a translation of an article by Itzik Schwartz.
http://www.dinayekapelye.com/DNKfront.htm

Akiva, Daniel

Daniel Akiva, guitarist, appears as soloist, in Classical Trio (oboe, cello and guitar) and in ensembles presenting music inspired by the Judeo-Spanish tradition, with the Ladino language; a synthesis of Spanish and older Hebrew. Daniel Akiva’s repertoire includes works from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Special emphasis is placed in his programs on original music written by him or for him by Israeli composers.
http://www.monica-fallon.com/artists/daniel_akiva.htm

Yisroel Dagan

Singer for Azamra, a movement of the Breslov Chassidim. CD “ASHRENU!” Website has biographical information, photos and sound bites. “The Azamra Institute is dedicated to the dissemination of Torah spirituality, healthcare and healing through educational programs, quality publications and Internet outreach. Founded in 1986 by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum, the Azamra Institute is an independent non-profit organization incorporated in Israel, the U.S. and Canada.”
http://www.azamra.org/HTML/song.htm

The Chassidic Jazz Project

Reuben Hoch, percussionist, active on the New York jazz scene, became a member of the Israeli jazz quartet Zaviot. The Chassidic Jazz Project formed in 1998, combines “traditional Chassidic melodies with contemporary jazz arrangements.” Others in the project are Tom Lippincott, guitar; Marie Randel, violin; Barbara Corcillo, cellist; Felipe Lamoglia, saxophone; Dan Feiszli, bass; Robert Thomas Jr., percussionist. The “Chassidic Jazz Project blends elements of jazz, fusion and new world.”
http://www.chassidicjazz.com

Chashmal

A yeshivish group, formed from several independent musicians with long careers in the music business, has formed a simcha band. Naftali Finkel, composer arranger, keyboardist; Sam Glaser, cowriter, co-composer, engineered and mixed the album; Michael Ian Elias, vocals and guitar; Moshe Schachter, vocals and keyboard. Website high on graphics and low on information, although there are several good clips. Located out of L.A.
http://chashmal.com/

Calliope: Voices That Dance

Women’s a cappella group performing in the Washington, D.C. area. They are available for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Brises/Baby Namings, Weddings and other Simchas.Members include singer-songwriter Rene Boni; lilting soprano harmonist, Sheila Smallberg Cohen; Debbie Fink, Calliope’s violinist and choreographer, sign language interpretator Debbie Glick; Deborah Neipris Hendler, alto; Sandy Lederman, voice and sometime keyboardist.

http://www.harmonyhearth.com/calliope/home.htm

Budowitz Sacred and Secular

Budowitz is an ensemble that plays nineteenth century klezmer music on original instruments. The musicians in this group provide a sound steeped both in musicological and historical knowledge as well as the subtlety and coloration described by the reviewers as “pure emotion.” Budowitz is staffed by leading lights in the klezmer world including Joshua Horowitz and Merlin Shepherd. Of special note is an interview with Budowitz as well as a history of klezmer.
http://members.styria.com/budowitz/

Brass Hebraica

Brass Hebraica is a brass quintet devoted to Jewish Music. Members of the group reside in Connecticut, but the group is available for performances anywhere. Five very accomplished musicians arrange and perform Judaica brass quintet using eclectic styles. Brass Hebraica is not to be confused with Klezmer. The instrumentation includes: 2 trumpets, french horn, tuba and trombone. For further information contact: Gary Knepler, Director at 120 Harvester Road in Monroe, CT 06468 (203-268-6040) or by email.
gadmoshe@aol.com

Mike Boxer

Pianist/singer/songwriter and public school music teacher, Mike Boxer released Erev Chaim as a way to introduce Jewish music to teens not familiar with any. Boxer hopes that results in some Jewish youth who emerge more enthusiastic about the music of their faith. This “independently marketed concept album brings the face of cutting-edge mainstream pop to today’s Jewish music.” The track list contains — heimish, liturgical-oriented classics like Shalom Aleichem, Bilvavi, and Acheinu — but a good portion of the music features sounds typically from the forefront of modern pop, rock and R& B. Seven songs are revamped covers; seven are Boxer’s own original material. Boxer, who grew up in Spring Valley, NY and attended Binghamton University where he served as music director of Kashkeshet, a collegiate Jewish a cappella group,– has perfect pitch and plays a myriad of instruments.…
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Di Bostoner Klezmer

di bostoner klezmer is a trio of talented musicians which plays a full range of klezmer, traditional Jewish, Hasidic and Israeli music – with swing on the side. Public concerts (from Chamber of Commerce to library to theater), simkhes and holiday celebrations, and specialized venues (nursing homes, kids’ camps) round out our resume. For more information, visit www.yiddishmusic.com, contact Dena (dobe) Ressler at 781-643-1957, or email us at: klezmer@yiddishmusic.com. Di Bostoner Klezmer’s CD is expected during the spring of 2004.

Theodore Bikel

Theodore Bikel: actor, singer and political activist. Known for his portrayals of Tevye the Milkman in more than 2000 performances of Fiddler on the Roof. Bikel is an advocate of Yiddish folk song. Bikel has been active in organizations dealing with the arts, theatre, and the intersection with government, business and regulation. He has written an autobiography called Theo: The Autobiography of Theodore Bikel. His website includes biographical sketches, lecture topics, speeches, sound clips and a schedule.
http://www.bikel.com

Beyond the Pale

Bios, Reviews, Sound Samples, Pictures, Schedule are all featured on the website. “Since their formation in 1998, Toronto’s Beyond the Pale has emerged as one of the most exciting ensembles in the Canadian klezmer, folk, and world music scenes. Rooted firmly in the spirit and forms of klezmer music, the group flirts with elements of other eastern-European folk styles (Romanian, Roma, Balkan) as well as modern and North American styles (bluegrass, reggae, funk) to forge a unique contemporary sound. Known both for inventive arrangements of traditional material and for compelling original compositions, their music has been described as “post-modern klezmer in all the best senses” (KlezmerShack— www.klezmershack.com) and “an altogether original mix” (Victoria Times-Colonist). The band performs at music festivals, concert theatres, community and private events, and has toured across Canada and parts of the United States.…
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David Berkeley

American singer songerwriter, with a voice compared by The New York Times as “lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake.” Berkeley is a Harvard University graduate. Hillary Meister wrote in the Atlanta Jewish Times on January 2, 2004, that Berkeley reports being influenced by synagogue services, and that in particular,” a cantor with a beautiful voice “kept me going to synagogue” while growing up in New Jersey” He has several CDs, including Live from the Fez (2005), After the Wrecking Ships (2004), The Confluence (2002). The Confluence, was reviewed in Billboard magazine and Rollingstone which called him a “Sixties-esque troubadour with songs to swoon by and a voice sweeter than incense and peppermints.” Berkeley reported to Meister that the music coming out of silent prayer was always the most powerful for him.…
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Bruce Benson

American composer and performer. Creates original melodies for traditional Hebrew texts with some English.Benson specializes in new age Jewish music. Often works with Cantor Richard Silverman. Has composed music for the CD The Jazz Service with Kenny G that has elements of jazz and rock for a Reform Friday night service. Lots of synthesizers and keyboard.
www.brucebenson.com

Yuval Ben-Ozer

Israeli conductor. Graduated the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and the Music School of the Indiana University. Chorus master in operatic productions of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the batons of Zubin Mehta, James Levine, Daniel Barenboim and Kurt Masur. Works with professional choirs such as the Philharmonia Singers Choir and the New Vocal Ensemble. Won first prizes in international choirs’ contests – such as Malta (1998), Spain (2000) and Belgium (2001). With the Ensemble he was also invited to participate in the choir festival in Korea during the 2002 Mondial and to perform in Sardinia in 2003. Ben-Ozer is also the music director of the international choir festival “The Zimria”. Conducts the Kibbutz Artzi Choir.

Jack Beilan & Friends

Jack Beilen & Friends, from Los Angeles, opened up a new website to promote the new CD From the Heart of a Jewish Soul which features 21 musicians, all with extensive professional experience in the pop music world (such as members working with various popular artists James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart or Neville Brothers). The group is also available for selected appropriate synagogue and spiritual events and performances. They performed on December 3, 2000, at the Theatre For The Performing Arts at California State University at Northridge. The music is aimed at Reform congregations and those welcoming contemporary-influenced Jewish spiritual music. Jack Beilan has been Musical Director for Valley Outreach Synagogue, a Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles.
http://www.serenitysong.com/

Rami Bar-Niv

An Israeli concert pianist now living in NY and specializing in classical music and conducting, Rami Bar-Niv has also produced an album of Jewish/Israeli standard songs. The album, called “Rami’s Jewish/Israeli Songs,” features elaborate, lush older-styled arrangements. Mr. Bar-Niv has recorded 17 albums. Clips can be heard in various formats on the website.He can be reached directly at: bar-niv@zahav.net.il for more information about his published music. http://artists.mp3s.com/info/14/rami_barniv_concert_pianist.html

Atzilut

This group is known in Europe as the “Middle East Peace Orchestra”. The ten-member ensemble features Arab and Jewish musicians in concert making a powerful statement for peace thru working together. Atzilut has three CDs: Fourth World, Souls on Fire: Music for the Kabbalah, andConcertsforpeace.com. The latter is a balanced program of Arabic and Jewish music. Available on CDbaby. Music director: Hazzan Jack Kessler.
www.concertsforpeace.com

Sarah Aroeste

American born. Sings in Ladino, music orginally from Spain, and her family later settling in Salonika, Greece. The Aroeste sound combines and updates aspects from her ‘unique family background with influx of Latin-based music in America over the past few years.’ Sarah wrote: “I have a Ladino fusion band–you can check it out at www.saraharoeste.com I began this project because there are so few young people working in Ladino. I grew up on the traditional music (my family is from Salonika, Greece), but I am also influenced by other musicial styles. Not only am I a proud Sephardic Jew, but I am also a young, modern American woman! I wanted to find a musical style that could really incorporate my various identities. So I started a band a few years ago taking traditional sephardic songs from across the Mediterranean and combining them with American rock, blues and jazz.…
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Amsterdams Synagogaal Koor (ASK)

Amsterdam Synagogue Choir in Rav Aron Schuster synagogue of Amsterdam, Netherlands, under the direction of Ilia Belianko. Ilia Belianko joined the ASK as chief conductor in September 2004. The choir was founded in 1985, and today consists of sixteen voices. The website includes a history of the organization and selected excerpts of music with information about obtaining sound recordings. Formerly under the direction of Barry Mehler in the Portuguese Esnoga (Synagogue) in Amsterdam.
http://www.ask-choir.org/

The Alexandria Kleztet

The website of this klezmer group contains bios, concert calendar, photos and links to related sites. The group’s leader Seth Kibel (clarinet) and Scott Harlan (bass) both provide original compositions for the group in jazz-fusion and surf music (among other influences) to create an “alternate klezmer” sound. the others rounding out the quartet are Claire Cardon (violin) and Tim Jarvis (percussion)
http://www.kleztet.com/

Aaron Alexander & Midrash Mish Mosh

Drummer and Composer Aaron Alexander is a New York City based since 1993 klezmer and jazz drummer, composer, bandleader and teacher. His band is “Midrash Mish Mosh.” Hailing originally from Seattle, Alexander is one of the “premier drummers in New York City, a first-call musician on the feverishly creative downtown scene.” He has performances and/or recordings with Hasidic New Wave, Babkas, The Klezmatics, Greg Wall’s Later Prophets, Alicia Svigals, Satoko Fujii Orchestra, Tronzo Trio, Jay Clayton, Margot Leverett, The Flying Karamazov Brothers, Boban Markovich Orchestra and Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars.
www.aaronalexander.com

Adama

Music group based in the Bay area, California, with Achi Ben Shalom – Group’s leader. Singer, guitarist, arranger, and the leader of the band; Jan Padover – World class middle eastern multi-percussionist; Michael Gill – Keyboard player doubling on clarinet; Jeremy Cohen – Bass guitarist; Daniel Hoffman – Popular bay area violinist and recording artist. Styles include Klezmer, Ladino, Israeli, Yiddish, Hassidic, and contemporary American-Jewish songs.
www.achibenshalom.com