Zornography

In the Forward... "John Zorn Talks Music, Mysticism and the Messiah as He Turns 60."

Here's a taste

“There are many gateways into the Jewish experience. As a creative artist, I say that it is about process — the process of creating something that resonates Jewishly. The necessity of being able to recite the Torah forward and backward is not necessary for the work of creative artists. For me it’s about the process and about learning and questioning along the way. To play with Jewish scales and modes in new ways, to compose about Kristallnacht, to ask the question of what is — and what isn’t — Jewish music: These are the resonances that work for me, and for other musicians who are working in the Jewish experience."

Go and read!

Songs In The Keys Of Life

Over at BET... "Israel’s Detractors Must Stop Politicizing Art."

Maccabeats - Brave

קלעזמער־מוזיק בליט אין ישׂראל

Over at the Yiddish Forward... "קלעזמער־מוזיק בליט אין ישׂראל"

Off the Review Stack...

"Hear, O Israel - A Benefit Compilation From the Artists of the 4th Annual Boston Jewish Music Festival."

This disc is a fundraiser for the Boston Jewish Music Festival, and features seventeen tracks contributed by artists who participated in the 2013 BJMF.

The disc includes a nice cross-section of Jewish music, ranging from klezmer to electro-pop, solo guitar to chorus, and Yiddish song to contempo-Reform rock.

The artists on this album are Shura Lipovsky, Lerner & Moguilevsky, Guy Mendilow Ensemble, Noah Lubin, Dan Nichols and Eighteen, Tim Sparks, Ezekiel's Wheels, The Tarras Band, Daniel Kahn & the Painted Bird, The Josh Nelson Project, Peter and Ellen Allard, Stereo Sinai, Mazal, Mika Karni's Kol Dodi, The Epichorus, Zamir Choral of Boston, and Andy Statman.

It includes both previously released tracks and new/unreleased material.

Artists I had not heard before that resonated for me included Shura Lipovsky (Yiddish song), Noah Lubin (Singer/songwriter), and Mika Karni's Kol Dodi (Middle-Eastern).

As in any collection of this sort, there are bound to be artists whose work resonates, and those whom don't appeal. Overall, the collection is a nice snapshot of the recent festival offerings, and the proceeds go towards ensuring that the BJMF can continue to offer diverse programming of Jewish music.

You can order the album here: bostonjewishmusicfestival.org/donate

Say No To Bullying!

At Forbes:  "How Entertainers Are Bullied Into Not Performing In Israel"

Wedding Banned

Dancing with the groom on your shoulders is now verboten. Check out the reasons. 1) Minhag goyim. 2) To prevent a certain injury that would prevent him from "fulfilling the wedding night mitzvah". Lifting him on a table is also a no-no. B'dieved, he may be lifted on a chair, but only by married avreichim.

Dudu Fisher Makes It To 'Terrible Tune Tuesday'

Indeed.

The Title Says It All!

"STING ROCKS AUSCHWITZ—wait, what?"

Yesh Tikveh!

The inevitable Yiddish cover!

And now... The Chumra Song

"Between fish and meat, I drink a bottle of bourbon/I knock down my whole house ''zecher lechurbon'."

Lipa Moves Forward

Over at the Arty Semite, Frimet Goldberger interviewed Lipa Schmeltzer.

Lipa talks about the "Big Event" ban and his perspective on how he dealt with that, and how he'd deal with future condemnation.

Kol hakavod!

Tromboniks Beware

"Think Music Heals? Trombone Player Begs To Differ"

Death Threats!

"Paul McCartney: I Was Threatened Over Israel Show"

Alicia Keys and Idan Raichel

Black Jews

Over at the Forward, Jake Marmer writes "Three Jewish Albums Channel the Black Music Experience."

"Lovable Hasids"

Video at Gothamist.

Dance De Resistance

Over at Life In Israel, a wedding video clip of protest images turned into a wedding dance.

Silent Fourth?

The headline to Menachem Wecker's article, "Orthodox Jews To Observe July Fourth Without Music", doesn't exactly match the content.