Jewess profiles singer/songwriter Beth Schafer. Schafer wrote one of the original anthems for the forthcoming Voices for Israel release featuring female JM artists.
I'm Haaretz, Ph.D. writes about a genre of Jewish music she's calling "Shuckle." The term "Shiny Shoe" doesn't really grab me. Essentially, I use it when I'm quoting someone.
Over at the Yahoo JM board, someone posted a negative review of this past Sunday's Ha'azinu concert and noted that "This event was not sold out, at least 400 empty seats."
Naturally, a new member appears to dispute the claim that it wasn't sold out. He writes: "Maybe some people didn't show, but the place was completely sold out because I couldn't even get more tickets." Anyone want to bet this poster was involved with producing/promoting this event?
This has happened before on the Yahoo JM board. Members post that a certain event was poorly attended. Then, a new member appears and posts a contradictory claim. I'm certain these "new members" are people with an interest, not just fans.
A point I made in an earlier post bears repeating.
The issue isn't even whether the organization nets money. It's whether the expense to income ratio is justifiable. So, for example, if Charity X produces an annual concert that raises one million dollars, but only nets $200,000 after expenses (musicians, featured entertainers, hall rental, sound companies, advertising, staffing, etc.), then to my mind the event is unjustifiable. Especially if most of the money raised is Tzedaka dollars, meaning it eats up money that people would otherwise have given to tzedaka.I'm afraid it'll take a huge scandal to effect some change, but there are too many large concerts held too close together --relative to the size of the community-- for them all to be justified as tzedaka fundraisers.
If a donor is willing to give $100 to a charity and ups their donation to $200 to buy tickets to the charity's concert, then, if the charity nets anywhere less than $100 from that donation, the event was a waste of tzedaka money. Furthermore, even if they just break even or make an inconsequential additional amount, there is a strong argument to be made that the event was not worth holding.
The Forward celebrates the Klezmatics' Grammy win. They fail to mention that the Grammy voters obviously read our "Wonder Wheel" review.
Rokhl writes: "What do the Klezmatics and Milli Vanilli have in common?"
Matisyahu didn't win a Grammy. Naturally, because of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is also the reason these guys weren't even nominated.
LIFE-OF-RUBIN posts a Ta Shma video.
Teruah posts a YouTube clip of Nina Simone singing "Eretz Zavat Chalav."
Over at Jewschool... "An Invitation to Piyut".
Bangitout.com posts a "Blunt Bar Mitzvah Invitation".
It's Adar. Time for some Purim song lyrics!
Finally, here's some Joo-ish music. Here's their YouTube promo. Great stuff!
