Shirei Artzi

Over at VosIzNeias... Women Singers Not Welcome At Charity Concert Promoting Unity Among Israelis

Life in Israel: The Keyboardists (video)

Hat tip, Life in Israel

Xtreme Eitzos And Chaps ft. Dr. Dreizich

He carries all his seforim and never uses a Kovetz.

Rats!!!

The caterer at a recent wedding I played had a pic of Reb Shaya in his office. I didn't eat anything.



APPALLING: Video At Concert in Jerusalem Makes MASSIVE Bizayon Out Of Reb Shayela Keristerer

Rats!!!

The caterer at a recent wedding I played had a pic of Reb Shaya in his office. I didn't eat anything.



APPALLING: Video At Concert in Jerusalem Makes MASSIVE Bizayon Out Of Reb Shayela Keristerer

IP Halakhah

In this piece, "IP Halakha", Rabbis Daniel Z. Feldman presents varied approaches which ought to be applied to unauthotrized music sharing as well. There are several approaches any of which work, but the main point is clear. The fact that so many in the frum world dispute it -- moreso justify it -- represents an astounding educational fail.

Not A Hesped

Mareh Kohen: The High Priest as Shaliach Tzibur on the legacy and life lessons of Chazzan Sherwood Goffin z”l - with transcript

Bossa Shabbat

It speaks for itslef.

יונינה- זיידי | Yonina- Zaidy

Testing One, One and Two, One and Three...

Over at Tzelem-Currents... The Song That Stole Elul

Yitzchak Fuchs Hamavdil | יצחק פוקס המבדיל

ישי ריבו - סדר העבודה | Ishay Ribo - Seder Ha'Avoda

Hungarian Stetl

A Protest Kumzits

FIGHTING BACK: MBD, Motty Steinmetz To Participate In Jerusalem Protest

Velvel Pasternak: A Farewell Symphony

A daughter's tribute: Velvel Pasternak: A farewell symphony

Beatle Zman!

אוקי, פארווערטס

מוזיק־ווידעאָ אויף ייִדיש צילעוועט צו העלפֿן די גײַסטיק קראַנקע 

The Lenny Solomon Show - Webisode #1

More Wedding Rules

Meant to poast this when I first saw it... NEW WEDDING RULES: Rabbonim Sign Letter About “Goyish Music” at Weddings



Should really be titled "Rabbonim let askanim take the lead again".  It's shameful that they seem not to recognize that they need to talk to people in the business before signing on to and/or promulgating these. [See Bechoros 21b]



V'ein kan makom lha'arich. Vedok.

BD'E - Velvel Pasternak Z"L

I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Velvel Pasternak, Z"L. His company, Tara Publications, was a gamechanger in the Jewish music world, publishing all sorts of sheet music collections from Chasidic, Israeli, Klezmer, Sephardic and more. Velvel was a teacher and ethnomusicologist who lectured widely about Jewish music. Here's a clip from one such lecture. Yehei zichro baruch.

Spitting Into the Wind

NEW WEDDING RULES: Rabbonim Sign Letter About “Goyish Music” At Weddings 

It's A Bird, It's A Plane...

Nigun Bobov - A Capella

Well Played, El Al!

Iceland pro-Palestinian band may sue El Al over bad plane seats

Nem Di "Monroe Bus"

My Zaidy - Repost

This cover by Tali Yess of his late father's song should have many more views. Simply a beautiful tribute to his dad ob'm and so appropriate for Yom Hashoah today, so I'm reposting it.

You'd Think They'd Have Learned Something From The Lipa Ban...

... but you'd be wrong, apparently. The Lakewood Scoop - Opinion: Getting Real About The Cancelled Kumzitz And Protests.

Fun Times in Lakewood

Harry Maryles's blog post on Chaos and Lakewood’s Leadership

This is awesome! Yerakrak!

Gershon Veroba sings Sherwood Goffin Z"L's "Chasal – חֲסַל סִדּוּר פֶּסַח"

BDE - Chazzan Sherwood Goffin Z"L

A reader emailed on Thursday that "No tribute in your blog today. Surprised me." Truthfully, I had started to write a quick post when I realized that I didn't have the time do write a proper appreciation and given multiple gigs between then and now, including two last Tursday, it's taken till now to complete this post. As you've probably heard by now, Chazzan Sherwood Goffin was niftar this past week. I first came to know Chazzan Goffin Z"L through the wedding circuit, where I had the opportunity to accompany him at wedding ceremonies a number of times. He was a wonderful singer, but what stood out most to me was his "mentchlichkeit". The Chaz (as he was affecionately known) was a man of impeccable midos and grace. Our interactions -- whether via phone or email before the event, during, or afterwards when he always came over to thank me -- were always positive. The last wedding I accompanied him at fairly recently was one that my band had been hired to play. My clients told me that Sherwood Z"L had said wonderful things about me and my music when they talked to him before hiring me. I believe that every time a client reached out to tell me that Chazzan Goffin would be singing at an upcoming affair, they'd mention that he'd said nice things about me. It certainly happened often. He was a real mentch. I work with a lot of professional singers. Most are nice. But there are (now were) only two who I can say have always been unfailingly polite to every member of the band every single time. I get it. It's easy to get up, sing your feature, perhaps thank the bandleader, and move on. And there's often a lot going on at these events. The musicians, especially the sidemen often get overlooked. Chazan Goffin always made a point of coming over to greet me beforehand and again afterwards to thank me and each of the musicians in the band after the ceremony. Similarly, every request was made in a respectful manner. He asked. Politely. Never demanded. At one of the last affairs I accompanied him at, he was asked to sing Carlebach's Im Eshkacheich. In his email before the dinner to discuss the details, he asked expressed his preference for the entire band to accompany him, but went out of his way to say that he'd be ok if they couldn't for some reason and it was just keyboard alone for that song. In addition to working with Chazzan Goffin at weddings and dinners over the years, I also attended some classes he gave on Nusach and read his articles on the importance of mesorah in Nusach, the responsibilities of the Shaliach Tzibur and more. The Chazzan had a very strong sense of tradition and reverence for mesorah that underlay his teaching about how to daven. This is something that's often overlooked by musicians and singers who want to be fresh and innovative, but it's super important. Chazzan Goffin was a true gentleman. Unfailingly polite, warm and friendly. A true ahuv el habriyos. It was beautiful to see the love and respect that people had for him at events we were both at. His passing is a real loss for Am Yisrael. Yehei zichro baruch. P.S. There is much to be said about Chazzan Goffin's activism on behalf of Russian Jews, his performing career, and his work at the Belz School of Jewish Music, as well as his work with decades of bnei mitzvah students at LSS. Also, his prioritazation of family over career. I leave it to those with firsthand knowledge to talk about all of those aspects of his life.

Roger Waters, April Fool.

Roger Waters lashes out after April Fool's joke.

יאפצ׳יק כלייזמר - פורים כלייזמר | Yaptzik Klezmer - Purim Klezmer

This is amazingly well-done!

Shabbos Yid(den)

Finally, Sabbath-Observant Musicians Find A Home Off Broadway — In Yiddish ‘Fiddler’

What A Mazal!

in Which Israel Will Lose The Eurovision This Year...

Fantastic singer, but this song won't go anywhere.

Female Drummers Verboten!

Over at Life in Israel... kalla drummer raises the ire of the Eida.

Gemara with Neta

(Gimme Some of That) Ol' Atonal Music!

Update: Shalva's Shabbat Observance Is Accommodated

Shalva special-needs musical group to appear in second half of Eurovision 

Kol Hakavod, Shalva Band!

Shalva Band to pull out of Eurovision contention 



This is a beautiful story and if you haven't seen the band's videos from throughout the competition, they are well worth looking for. The Eurovision people ought to have made an exception/accomodation here.

A Sheyne Valekhel

Joey Newcomb - To Be a Jew - Album Sampler

This looks to be a refreshing album!

Shabbos Hayom Lashem

Pop sensation won't perform at Shabbat-desecrating Eurovision

רק מוזיק

שאלה – האם מותר ורצוי לבעל תשובה לשמוע מוסיקה חילונית?

Maccabeats Jr.

Tanz Baby, Tanz!

Klezmer Revivalists Breathe New Life Into ‘Tanz!’

Tanz Baby, Tanz!

Klezmer Revivalists Breathe New Life Into ‘Tanz!’

Get Off My Lawn...

...says Jonathan Mark's article... When Did Weddings Get So Loud?

A Freilichen...

Moyshe Oysher Meets The Panorama Jazz Band

Spin the Dreidel with Mark Rubin the "Jew os Oklahoma".

Shame, Facebook!

Anglo-Israeli singers' Airbnb song spreads like wildfire

From the mailbag...

Here's a fun email we received this morning...

Hey there, My name's Emmanuel and I run an adult website guide blog – I was hoping we'd be able to do some business together.

What we'd like to do is provide you with a niche-specific article for your blog provided by an expert third-party copywriter and in exchange, we'd ask for it to include just one backlink to our platform. Basically, you get free content for your surfers and we get a link in return.

Rest assured the text will be 100% unique and fit in with the overall theme of your website. For more established places with decent traffic and a history, we'll also offer you a competitive payment – just let us know what you're working with and our team will get back to you with a price (or, if you're already brokering blog posts, tell us your rates!).

We're kinda curious what niche-specific adult website goes with Jewish music, but we'll pass on the opportunity nonetheless.  You'll have to get your chssidish klezmer porn elsewhere. We're a family site.

Es Hashiro Hazoys...

Over at Life in Israel... new musician [supported] kollel to open in Bnei Braq

ChanuKountry Music

Azamer - Yitzhak Attias feat. Blas Cordoba Martin

Just beautiful!

Sruli & Mendi - Yigdal

Urei Vanim...

Jewish men get engaged at Troye Sivan concert 

Former SAR Student Sings for the Pope

Israeli singer performs in Hebrew for the Pope

Lma'an Yishmi'ewww!

Children’s Singer/Songwriter from Hillsborough, Eric Komar, Sent to Jail on Child Pornography Charge

Heavy Water!

Mikveh - The Musical

At the J-Post... When women tell the truth about mikveh



Only a matter of time 'till someone writes one about the men's mikveh...

BD'E - Dr. Mordechai Sobol Z"L

Dr. Mordechai Sobol, who popularized cantorial music in Israel, dies in NY.



A huge loss to the world of Jewish music, especially the chazzonus world. Yehei zichro baruch.

6:18, that's all.

Melech Elyon - Unesaneh Tokef - Ein Kitzvah

This is basically the transition from Melech Elyon - Unesaneh Tokef - Ein Kitzvah as I often experience it.

The Sound Of Silence in Yiddish

Feeling Nostalgic

Time for Some Guns N' Roses 

Avo El Hamelech - Shlomo Katz - אבוא אל המלך - שלמה כ״ץ

Nice tune!

Shmueli Ungar - Mach A Bracha!

I like this guy. His album reminds me of Lipa Schmeltzer, back when Lipa was good.

Bragging About The Jooos!

Billy Bragg Blames the Jews.

From the mailbag... Leor David - Gratitude (ליאור דוד - הכרת הטוב)

Leor David shares a link to his song... Leor David - Gratitude (ליאור דוד - הכרת הטוב)

Death Metal Bubbe!

Over at the NY Times... Death Metal Grandma.

Fabulous Halacha Debate

A debate at Tzelem Currents...

I am prepared to consider — not under religious freedom grounds but freedom of expression grounds — that if a customer wants an Orthodox Jew to make a unique artistic contribution that is crafted especially for that event, one cannot be forced to do so if one does not agree with the event.� So, if one sings at weddings for a living, one cannot be made to sing at weddings one does not morally or religiously approve of. But, if one sell CD’s of wedding songs, one has to sell them to everyone and they can use them for whatever they wish.

Shulem!!!

HISTORIC: Chassidic Singer Lands MAJOR Record Deal With Universal Music Group

A Tale of Vishnitz!

Reclaiming Koyln

Oh, the irony!

BD'E Stacy Phillips Z"L

A Star Ascends To Bluegrass Heaven



I hadn't known he went to MTA for High School.



His Klemzer book he wrote for Mel Bay is great.



Amazon has it here:

Fix This!

Fender, Roland, Yamaha, Korg and Casio among firms raided in UK price-fix probe

All Around The Bimah...

In the Jewish Week... Pop Goes The Synagogue

"It's Like Adam Sandler and Lipa Schmeltzer Riding in A Pickup Truck"

Over at Kickstarter... Yidneck Records presents "ChanuKountry: the album" by Avi Frier 



Made me laugh... and so here's the link.

After Making Aliyah Today...

Bruce (OK, Lenny) is singing about Jericho.

Ruth Rubin Archive Goes Online

YIVO launches the Ruth Rubin Legacy: an online sound archive of Yiddish Folksongs

Well Done, Y-Studs! The Greatest Passover!

Black-Eyed Peas Disagree

Cuomo says Jews are bad dancers in offensive joke at Harlem church.

It's Peep Season

Drama Mama

This peep will come to a Motzei Shabbos Melave Malka at a hotel where the extended family has been celebrating a simcha all weekend. She'll be upset. The reason? At this specific meal, her son -- (the ba'al simcha) has not yet talked to her in the first 20 minutes or so. When the woman she's venting to in front of us says "he probably didn't see you yet, should I get him?" she responds: "No. I want to see how long it'll take him this time."

Who Are You
This peep is someone we've grown up with on our block or else have been in yeshiva with for a time. We'll recognize them on sight, but they won't recognize us at all. Eventually, they'll come over to offer a compliment on the music, at which point it becomes perfectly clear that they don't know who we are, despite watching us play for a while.

Moshe Emes

Beit din proclaims two Uncle Moishys!

Yo-Ya: English Version

Not Iron Butterfly, But A Nice Hard Rock Shwekey Cover

A 3D video (you can click and drag on it to view 360 degrees of the recording studio) of a rocking cover of Shwekey's Im Eshkachech.

Hang In There, Shabbos Is Coming!

Lin-Manuel Miranda's - Jew(ish) Acapella Singer

Over at the Jerusalem Post... Lin-Manuel Miranda's Jewish a capella roots

Not Kosher!

Over at Lide in Israel... Mashgiach Rikudim coming to a wedding near you!

Interesting Court Decision

Over at the Volokh Conspiracy...  Taylor Swift Decision: Copiers Gonna Copy, Copy, Copy

From the mailbag...

Kenneth Lyonswright writes:

I'm a Chicago based cantorial soloist, and I also compose music of my own.

Here's my soundcloud--these are songs that I recorded for the congregation I work at. https://soundcloud.com/user-401304917

Here's my YouTube channel--I'm recording a new song every single week in 2018! They all revolve around Jewish ideas and themes. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwpwX1EiRv6BnQ7BtMuVEXQ?view_as=subscriber

Thanks for taking the time to listen--and of course, for doing what you do!

A Psychologist and A Breslover Walk into A Studio....

Mordechai Roth & Adi Ran - Close Your Eyes 

Avremi Gimel

האיש מאחורי התווים של המוזיקה החסידית

More Peeps

"The Break Music Guy" This peep is the one who will come over while the band is on break and some music is playing through the PA and remark "oh, so the keyboard plays itself!" or "so you guys just play along to recordings!" or another similar comment. It's always a guy, for some reason. "The Back of the Room Dancer" This peep can be spotted singing and dancing along to the music at the back of the room. She (it's always a she) can often be found attempting to lure her boyfriend/significant other, or even sometimes girlfriends onto the dance floor. Although she is often unsuccessful, we appreciate the positive feedback about song choice.

The Politics of Music

Israeli singer's visa request for UN performance denied

Brigand, Talmud Scholar, Jewish Rock Singer

Dodi Yarad Leganno - Rish Lakish

B'sheim Hashem Na'aseh Venatzliach

Thoughts on the “Carlebach Controversy”: Blog by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

Neshama Carlebach Addresses #MeToo

My sisters, I hear you - Neshama Carlebach