Jewish music is undergoing a real renaissance. It wasn’t that long ago that, if you wanted to listen to Jewish music, you were limited to scratchy recordings of chazzans, Mickey Katz parodies, Israeli folk songs  or The Barry Sisters. But in the last few decades, the world of Jewish music has opened to encompass new vistas of sound and style. You can hear hip-hop, electronic chazzanut, Jewish jazz, pop, klezmer, classical and everything in between.

Jewish artists are creating new music and revisiting classics, exploring new sounds and dusting off old ones. Not all of it, of course, is overtly Jewish, or even remotely Jewish. (What IS Jewish music, anyway? We’ll leave that for another day).

But, given the diversity of “Jewishness” these days, it’s probably not surprising to learn that one of the hottest rap stars today, Drake, a black Canadian former child actor (Aubrey “Drake” Graham, who  was in the popular high school drama follow-up to Degrassi High) is Jewish and had a bar mitzvah? That he wears a diamond studded chai necklace? My eyes certainly widened to hear the line “everything is kosher” in his latest single, Over (has the word kosher ever been used in popular rap before?).

In a world where John Stewart flaunts his being “Jewy” almost nightly, and Matisyahu becomes one of the biggest reggae stars around, blending reggae and Judaism (performing with a kippah, I might add), you know that times have changed.  And at the same time, Theo Bikel can sell out Carnegie Hall and Itzhak Perlman play klezmer in Russia and at Tanglewood.

So, it’s an interesting time to be presenting Jewish music. At the BJMF, we’re trying to ride these many streams of Jewish music and musicians and bring them to Boston wrapped up in a package that proudly wears the label “Jewish Music Festival.” We’re celebrating a culture that seems to grow by leaps and bounds each year.  We hope you listen, and come and support our efforts.

We are. Tickets selling, programs printed. Some of the musicians are already in town--others on their way. We're so grateful to those who have believed and supported, volunteered and helped us make this all happen.

Great two-page spread in today's Boston Globe G section (see the online version here:

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/03/05/jewish_artists_see_boston_music_festival_as_a_different_way_to_explore_their_culture/

 Also, last week's Boston Phoenix: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/97500-jew-note/ 

 And in this week's Jewish Advocate.

 And don't miss Sunday's family concerts: Peter & Ellen Allard at the MetroWest Jewish Day School in Framingham (2 PM); Yehuda Katz at Berger Hall Temple Israel in Sharon (3 PM); and Shira Kline and ShirLaLa at the JCC in Newton (1 PM). What a weekend.

 The excitement is palpable, we're revved up, still gotta' iron a shirt. See you there!

Jim

 

 

 

 

The Boston Phoenix has published a terrific article on the Music Festival. A big shout out to Jon Garelick for his fine work that captured so much of the spirit. Nice picture of Ruth Dolores Weiss, too! Hope you have your tickets--they are going fast!

You can read the article here: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/97500-jew-note/

Jim 

 

What a concert! Last night (Sunday), nearly 400 folks of all ages heard the fabulous Israeli trio HABANOT NECHAMA, one of Israel's most popular groups. It was the pre-concert of the BJMF, co-sponsored by Temple Aliyah  and Temple Beth Shalom of Needham and the Israeli Consulate.

 An outstanding show! These three women have amazing voices with terrific range and harmonies, singing erverything from gentle love songs to reggae to silly, fun show stoppers. A strong contingent of Israelis were in the audience (including Consul General Nadav Tamir, who was grooving in the back of the room) who were obviously loyal fans (the person behind me sang many of the lyrics). But those who didn't know their music were enthralled. The audience rose to its feet as one at the end--and, of course, the women did an encore.

 It was a memorable kick-off for the Festival, but also a signature evening of great Jewish music by three outstanding Jewish artists. Thank you Yael, Dana and Karolina!!

If you missed this, you missed something special. But don't worry--more is coming. Tickets will go on sale shortly and our mailer, with the whoile schedule and ticket information, is at the printers now. Watch your mailbox--and be sure to sign up for our email newsletter which will have all the details. You can sign up right here on our web site. Don't be left out, 'cause this was just the beginning.

Jim

“The power of art is that it can connect us to one another, and to larger truths about what it means to be alive and what it means to be human.”

             - Daniel J. Levitin, This Is Your Brain On Music

 I’ve been hearing, feeling, playing and loving music all my life. A trumpet player and singer, I majored in music in college for 3 and 1/2 years, until I realized I didn’t want to teach high school and switched to English. But, though I left the conservatory, music never left me. The incredible power of creating melody, harmony and rhythm, of joining with others to make music, remains. Then, ten years ago, my life in music reached a new height when I attended my first North American Jewish Music Festival. Through singing Jewish choral music, I learned the power of voice and breath—our God given instruments—and the unique way that singing in harmony with others brings spirit, meaning and unity in profound ways.

There is so much more to Jewish music than the often stereotyped klezmer or chant. There is an incredible breadth and depth of music from Bernstein to Bikel to Balkan Beat Box, from David Broza to Dudu Fisher to DJ So Called. And my dream has been to share that music with my others. That’s why I’m working to make that dream come true: The Boston Jewish Music Festival. Frankly, I don’t know why we haven’t had one yet—everyone else seems to do it. So, we’re off on an adventure to start an annual festival in Boston that will help our community join, celebrate, and share the deep spirit and joy of Jewish music in all its forms. I believe it can be an important new and dynamic piece of the fabric of Jewish life here. Joey Baron and I are working hard to make it happen. We hope you’ll join with us!

 

Last year in March, it was my great luck to sing in Carnegie Hall (and yes, and I practiced, practiced, practiced). I was part of a celebration of Israel’s 60th Anniversary which featured more than 200 choral singers and stars such as Theodore Bikel, Debbie Friedman, Cantors Abe Mizrahi and Jack Mendelsohn and others. It was organized by my friend Matthew Lazar, who founded and directs the Zamir Choral Foundation in New York.

It was an incredible gala and an unforgettable event—and certainly a highlight of my life! The finale included everyone on stage, and a capacity crowd of over 2,000 standing and singing Hatikvah together—as one. There were chills up many a spine and tears throughout the hall as we shared such a magnificent moment—an outpouring of power and unity, a sense of community that touched everyone present.

And I thought—wouldn’t it be important to do something like that here in Boston! Well, we’re working on it. The Boston Jewish Music Festival can be another beacon in the Boston Jewish community, bringing together young and old, hip and square, religious and secular, round and thin (and in between). But it’ll take your help. So c’mon—help us out in any way you can. I promise you’ll be glad you did.