From the mailbag...

Psachya writes:

One thing I've learned over the years as a bandleader is that, when it comes to band prep, everything is relative. Two examples:

On a recent gig, the prep said that the choson wanted a "long first dance set". The caterer wanted to give me 15 minutes. I negotiated him up to 25 minutes. In the more yeshivish weddings, 25 minutes is "just getting warmed up" - I hoped the choson (who is a friend of mine) wouldn't be annoyed at the short length of the set.

Sure enough, after the set, the choson came up to the bandstand. "The music is great," he said, "but try to keep the next dance set shorter. The dancing went on forever!"

Go know.

The following night (a yeshivish wedding), the prep included requests for (count 'em) 13 hora/disco-type tunes. Followed by the statement, "Please don't overdo the horas." (!!)

What can I say? Everything's relative.

Shloime Kaufman emails about his new release to raise funds for A T.I.M.E. (an organization helping couples with infertility issues.):

Shloime Kaufman's Avodos Tzedakah album is in all Judiaca stores or the CD is available for download on MostlyMusic.com, and features Dovid Gabay, Baruch Levine, Abie Rotenberg, Michoel Pruzansky, A.K.A. Pella, Sholom Jacobs and contains songs composed by Yitzy Waldner and Baruch Levine. The CD is presented by and PROCEEDS WILL GO TO BENEFIT A T.I.M.E., which is the premier, internationally acclaimed organization that offers advocacy, education, guidance, research and support through our many programs to Jewish men, women, and couples struggling with reproductive health and infertility.

You can hear audio clips and buy the album here.

Steven I. Weiss emails:

Jewish Punk Rockers. I thought you might enjoy some of what's said in this week's newscast.
There's a lot more in the broadcast version, though we'll be posting some additional clips on the Web soon.

Zal Schreiber writes:

THAT said….I know the gist of what was said here was perhaps a bit sarcastic in tone (at least, at times), but I think the comment the Xmas Music is Avoda Zarra needs to be mitigated a bit.

My Rov knows music, world philosophy, real Kabbalistic zaachen, and about the waltz….and has his favorite Classical Music composers (Sibelius is his favorite, I believe) , and I asked him about music (I have some relationship with that being a Levi from both my parents, a”h, growing up with Chazzanis and Presley, and classical music, playing in wedding and, ahem, other bands..and then working for a/thee major secular music corporation in the world for 16 years…..)

So I asked my Rov about music, and he said, MAYBE Handel and his Messiah are not to be listened to, otherwise, I don’t think popular Xmas music is really something to be stoned for…for listening to, and is (real) Avoda Zarra. (Church hymns for JC MIGHT be a no-no….)

And he also said that Waltz music has roots in things we shouldn’t really speak about in public, BUT, because we really don’t know about those particulars and because it’s a way bygone issue, that we’ve embraced it in Jewish music (and shouldn’t worry). Otherwise, we would toss out Shlichey Tzibur on a regular basis.

PS. You should take Dovid Kerner’s music, seriously, folks, as he composes and records it l’Shaim Shamayim. He’s a man with a(n important) message, and he puts it to song.
In the dangerous world we live in, it’s his own way of letting other to know to take heed. For the sake of Klal Yisrael.

Greg Wall forwards a link to a J-Post writeup of Pioneers for a Cure.

Peeps!

"The Modzits Fan"
Don't ever make the mistake of playing a Modzitzer melody when this peep is at the gig. We made that mistake recently, playing three such tunes. Sure enough, he was drawn to the bandstand, like a moth to a flame, wanting to talk Modzitzer nigunnim. Since we couldn't talk right then, he waited until the end of the affair, hung around while we packed up, and then held us up after we'd loaded our car, sharing his B.Z. Shenker impersonations (spot on), thoughts on various Modzitzer melodies, digressions into the attributes of various well-known cantors (alive and dead), and more. Oy!

"The Greedy Cheapskate"
A while back we met the "Renegotiator" (here and here.) This peep puts 'em to shame. Or should that be, this peep has no shame. The "Greedy Cheapskate" hires us for a morning Bat Mitzvah. Tells us it'll be for two to two and a half hours.

The Friday before the Sunday gig, he calls and says it probably won't go over, but if it does need to go fifteen minutes over, would that be OK. Figuring we might as well be nice, since we've charged him for the slot, and have three hours between gigs anyway, we tell him we'll do it at no additional charge. A nice gesture, we thought. This character, though, saw it as an opening to renegotiate. After all, if we're willing to play two hours and forty five minutes for that fee, why should he pay the same amount for only two and a half hours. No class! Naturally, this peep tries to short us forty dollars at the end of the gig too.

"Mr. I'll Never Hire You For My Wedding"
This fine fellow (it's always a guy) is a friend of someone at the wedding who can sing. Allegedly. He comes over all night long, demanding that we let his friend sing one more song. Note: He's not just asking to give his friend the mic during a dance set. He wants his friend to be given a showcase, singing a featured song, while all assembled watch and take in his awesomely incredible vocal talents. The friend wouldn't mind said showcase, but would never push for it this aggressively and rudely. Naturally, we refuse. After all, he's sung one song at the family's request. And, much as this peep wants this to happen, there is a wedding going on, we've got dance sets to play, etc, so we decline. Multiple times. Before, after, and during the dance sets. The kicker. At the end of the gig, "Mr. I'll Never Hire You For My Wedding" comes over and says: "I'll never hire you for my wedding." Given his personality, that's not exactly an unwanted outcome. Who says sechar mitzva behai alma leka?

From the mailbag...

Aryeh comments on the Rabbi Wolfson article:

It's very clear that Mr. Donn is not acquainted with music theory at all. When I read the article to one of my music teachers he had many questions on the work.

Fist of all if you have only seven notes, you'll will not get to far. there isn't a single song played with only 7 of the 12 notes the scale has. and even then most music take several range of Octaves.

The color of the Piano keys and it's name (KEYS) has nothing to do with music style at all. Music can not harm you unless it's too LOUD!!!

The Composer  behind the music can harm IF you know who he is and what he stands for. For example you would not want to go to a Chupa with Mendelssohn march, since he was a son of a meshumad and he said jewish music is lack of color.

Xmas Music ins't kosher, it's avodah Zarah.

And if you'r a Squarer Chosid G-d forbid if you sing a Breslever Nigun.

When Midzitz introduced the Walz in the Jewish music world, it was critized since it is a coed dance.

Carlbach was also critisized and his songs where banned, when he was know as a dropout from Yeshivishe derech...

With similar token, the Mishnayos Kahaty was banned in many circles becouse of his views on politics not because his writtings. The same with Shteizaltz.

The bottom line is there is nothin Kosher or non Kosher about music, but reather about message send by 1) the composer 2) the player (or singer) 3) and the lyrics.

Dovid Kerner writes:

While our families were off together spinning the kids around on the local carousel, Steve and I spent some time today recording World Series of Hate. You can listen to it here.

E. comments on the NY Post headline for the Shwekey in Jail performance:

they could have come up with something punnier like locking them up and throwing away the Shwe-key.

Psachya's Peeps

Psachya's having a peep-filled season too.

He writes:

Hey, just got my own bumper crop of June peeps. Here they are:

"The Siblings From Hell"

They come over to you with a predatory smile and say, "Hi, I'm the choson's brother," and proceed to make your life miserable. Occasionally, it's the other way 'round - when they've been making your life miserable for a half hour and you tell them to bug off, they say "Do you know who I AM? I'm the kallah's BROTHER!!" These people need to be ignored at all cost - as opposed to the siblings who are actually trying to help.

"The World Expert On Everything"

That's the teenager who was explaining to the drummer that his (the drummer's) technique stinks, he's not half as good as the drummer he saw last week, and "everybody" thinks the band is awful today. (Everyone else I spoke to thought the band rocked, but go know. And trust me, this particular drummer didn't deserve that.) And what is the source of his breathtaking musical expertise? As he explained to us, he a) really likes music, and b) goes to lots and lots of weddings.

"The Just One More Song Guy (Or Gal)"

This person will come over to you after you've been stowing your gear for at least three minutes and say, "Oh, c'mon! Just one more song!" (This is never the person who is actually responsible for paying your bill.) Don't EVER give in to him. Or her. EVER.

And that brings us to...(drumroll...)

"The Most Important Person At The Wedding"

That would be the kallah, right? Wrong! It's also not the choson. Or their parents. Or the rabbi. Or the rich uncle from Chicago. Or the bandleader, the caterer, the photographer, or the limo driver. Nope, that would be the chazzan who strolled into the ballroom just as you were about to start the second dance set, and demanded to be given a mike IMMEDIATELY so that he could torture the guests for ten or fifteen minutes. Never mind that everyone else in the room wants to dance. Never mind what the choson and kallah want. Never mind if they even know who he is. He needs a mike NOW, because he is the most important person at the wedding! And don't you forget it! (And as with the last peep, never give in. Guard your microphones with your life.)

OK, that's all for now.

I remember one gig where the kallah started to cry when the chazzan sang because he was ruining her wedding. (She wanted light violin instrumental music during dinner.) Turned out he wasn't related to anyone. He was just a Chassidic W'berg local who wanted to have the thrill of singing for a crowd with a six piece backing band, something he could never have afforded to pay for. So he just strolled in to a local wedding hall, told the band the groom wanted him to sing because he's close, and voila!

An Abundance of Peeps

There seems to be a bumper crop of "peeps" this season. Here are some more.

"My Speech Must Start Now!"

This peep absolutely needs to start his/her speech THIS VERY SECOND! No need to cue the band, wait for them to end the song, or even ask permission to use their mic. Such formalities are for plebes. Not for someone with something this important to say.
Invariably, this peep is also a "can't be bothered to say thank you" peep at the end of the affair.

The "I Can't Believe I Have To Wear A Suit" Guy

This peep wears a suit that looks like its from the 1970's. A neat trick, considering that he was born in the late '80's. Always accessorizing his afro and aforementioned suit with a big satin kipah, this peep adds a touch of nostalgia with his inadvertent impersonation of "Saved By the Bell's" Screech.

"Italian Aria Guy"
This chazzan, classically trained in Russia approximately 70 years back, wants to sing Italian opera arias during dinner. Lots of them. He doesn't bring music and won't be denied the mic. "It's easy, you'll just follow me," he says, launching into one obscure aria after another. Guess he can't tell the difference between the Met and a shul social hall.

Tal-Mood Music

C'mon NY Post! Surely you could come up with a better headline than Lockup Crooner's Tal-Mood Music.

Who Needs The Waldorf...

when you can throw a lavish Bar Mitzvah in jail.

6/10/09 Link Dump

Rabbi Dovid Landesman writes about badly behaved bochurim at weddings in "Houston, We’ve Got A Problem!"

Meanwhile, the Times Herald-Record reports on pre-wedding violence in Satmar.

Sara Smith writes about the Haredization of weddings in "My Story: Aliza's Haredi Wedding"

In the Forward... "Why Straight People Go to Gay Synagogues." the end of the article talks about transgender Jewish hip-hop artist Harvey Katz.

Also in the Forward, a review of "The Songs of a Wandering People."

Modern Uberdox posts about "Niggunei Hisorerus Novhardok."

Michael Makovi posts on "Kol B'Ishah: A New Analysis."

Teruah posts about Sruly Meyer's move from Sameach to Mostly Music.

Mottel posts "Reactionary Jewish Music."

Here's an article by Rabbi Murray Singerman: "Dancing in the Footsteps of Reb Shlomo: An Halakhic Analysis of the 'Carlebach Minyan'."

It's Peep Season Again!

"The Micro-Manager"

This peep, usually a school or kiruv org admin, needs to call the tunes at the gigs played at his venue. "No!" he'll shout, running over during a dance set. "The kids don't know this song!" Umm, they did the last four events we played at your place this year. And that's not including the multiple times it was played/sung at this past year's retreat. Or the events we played it at last year.

"Mr. I Need Your Card"

This peep comes over towards the beginning of the event and tells the bandleader "I'll need you card" in a way that makes it clear he has an imminent gig. Then they disappear before they can be handed a card. They will not come over again, and it will turn out to be impossible to find them among the 500 other guests at the affair.

"Need A Peep"

This Chassidic couple stands in close conversation on the other side of the room during a chupa. Then, with quick resolve, the husband, closely followed by his wife, walks past the open exit door and across the room, only to put his car keys down on the keyboard. His wife will immediately pick them up and head out to the parking lot. TMI.


"Everything Carlebach"

This peep needs to use a Carlebach melody for everything. He even sings Akdamus on Shavous using Carlebach's Od Yishoma (San Fransisco) instead of the traditional melody. Now that's just wrong!

From the mailbag...

Yonah Lloyd writes "Seeking Hiney Matov by Jewish Blues":

Hi fellow bluesers - I asked permission from Shmuel "Steve" Simenowitz to seek out his legendary "Hiney Matov" song online, as I would like a digital copy.  He said ok.  He doesn't have one himself, nor the tools to make one, so if I do find it, I'll send it to him as well.

Anyway, if any of you have it or are able to find it, please share the wealth this way!

Kathy writes in looking for Adi Ran's first disc, which does not seem to be available on line at the moment. Anyone know who has these in stock here?

E. forwards a link to a Ynet article on Gershon BVeroba's latest, "Is This Pop Hit Kosher?"

A Simple Jew forwards a link to "A Niggun From The Sudilkover Rebbe."

Finally, proof that klezmer is emotionally engaging, even to those who don't want to like it. Estevão Carlos Botelho Egas, who apparently just found out about Paul Pincus's passing writes:

GOT TO HELL MR. PINCUS!, FINALLY WE ARE TOTAL FREE OF YOUR HORRIBLE AND KITCHES SONGS!

GOD HATE US ALL!
Estevão Carlos Botelho Egas
Projetista da Engenharia e Projetos de Instalações Industriais
Mangels Indústria e Comércio Ltda.
Tel.: 55 11 4341-1688 Cel.: 9388-3540 Fax.: 55 11 4341-8975
e-mail: e.botelho@mangels.com.br

Classy.

Guilty Plea In Melzer Case

The Jewish Week is reporting that Adam Melzer has plead guilty.

...according to Kenneth Ralph, assistant prosecutor in Bergen County, Melzer pled guilty to four counts of endangering the welfare of children. He will be evaluated as a sex offender before sentencing, scheduled for Aug. 28.

Depending on the outcome, Melzer could be sentenced to up to three years in prison or placed on supervised parole for life.

Earlier posts on this can be found here and here.

Not Dschingis!

Rokhl Kafrissen writes about Dan Kahn for the Forvitz in "Partisan or Parasite?". Check it out!

From the mailbag... (New Blog edition)

Bert Stratton's got a blog. He'll be posting daily; at least until Yiddish Cup's new CD. "Klezmer Guy" drops on June 28th. He writes:

YIDDISHE CUP’S NEW BLOG,
UPDATED FREAKING DAILY.

You’re not looking at the blog right now.
You’re looking at an announcement,
which is screaming:

PLEASE CHECK OUT
YIDDISHE CUP’S NEW BLOG AT
www.yiddishecup.com/blog

The blog is “Klezmer Guy: Real Music & Real Estate.” It’s similar to Yiddishe Cup’s previous “gossip” emails, but to the 10th power.

Here are some sample post headings:


SHARP SALAMI . . . My clarinet teacher used to eat salami sandwiches during my lessons.

THE THING I DO WITH MY HANDS . . . Play clarinet.

BOUNCED CHECK . . . I've never gotten a bounced check at a gig in 20 years. Why?

SOFT SEATS . . . That's what bookers call college auditoriums. Cushy gigs.

A SLICE FROM THE KLEZ PIE . . . The klez scene is slightly bigger than a 12-inch pizza. Inbred? Rye.

BAGGIES ARE USEFUL . . . To pocket smoked fish.

ACCORDING TO THE TALMUD . . . Pay your musicians after every gig. How to be a bandleader.

THE LOWEST NUMBER STICKS . . . When you say "$6,500-$6,800," the client only hears the "$6,500" part. Negotiating for arts majors.

---
BERT STRATTON, a.k.a. Klezmer Guy, was a Sun Newspapers reporter. His articles have appeared in Rolling Stone, Downbeat and The World. He won two Hopwood Awards.

---
The blog will be updated daily through June 28 –
the day Yiddishe Cup's new CD, KLEZMER GUY, comes out.

Yosef Sukenik writes:

Hello,
After doing my best to help the cause I'd like to ask your readers to take a few minutes to help improve the Wikipedia article on Contemporary Jewish music.  Today Wikipedia is a major info source and it would help us all to have a clear unbiased history and summary.

Please contribute your knowledge: Contemporary Jewish religious music - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Please keep in mind:
Try for a neutral point of view.  We are informing.  We are not promoting specific artists.
Please source as much as you can.  Newspaper articles, album liner notes, anything.
Don't worry if you don't use the correct code formatting.  Someone else will fix it.

Much love and thanks,
Yosef

Adam Andersen writes:

So this isn't jewish music, but it does relate to your email address
quite nicely.

"I DONT WANNA HEAR YOUR BAND!"

Thanks for fighting the good fight & keeping music blogs not-lame!

Letter To The Hamodia Editor (More Rabbi Wolfson Content)

The following letter and response appeared in Hamodia on May 6th.



Yochonon Donn's response demonstrates clearly that he and Rav Wolfson both lack comprehension of some of the music terminology and history used in the original article and that Donn doesn't understand some of the points made in H. Meyer's letter. There are errors of fact and logic in this response. This is simply embarrassing!

A question for Rabbi Wolfson... (one of many that can be asked)...

According to your expressed view, what is the date at which the accepted rules of music were finalized? Since music and music theory has been in a continuous state of evolution, any assertion that certain popular styles of music "are not composed according to the accepted rules of music" implies that the rules must have been finalized at some earlier point, to the exclusion of current practice. So, lishitascha, when did this take place?

Upcoming Jew-Mu Gigs

There are a bunch of creative Jewish music gigs coming up over the next bit.

Here's some info cut/pasted from the promo emails...

Sunday 5/10 at 11 AM: Klook! at City Winery

Details:

Introducing... Klook!

Eleonore Weill (Paris) - Baroque Recorder, Accordion
Madeline Solomon (London) - Flute
Jake Shulman-Ment (New York) - Violin, Accordion
Pete Rushefsky (New York) - Tsimbl

at the City Winery Klezmer Brunch this Sunday, 11AM - 1:30PM! Bring Mamele!

$10 cover

City Winery
155 Varick Street
New York, NY
curated by Michael Dorf
City Winery

Monday 5/11 at 9 PM: Eitan Katz, Nochi Krohn, and Avi Feinberg at Aish Kodeh's Lag BaOmer Hilula

Details:

Eitan Katz and Nochi Krohn will be performing at the annual Aish Kodesh Lag B'Omer Hilula at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11th at the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst (corner of Spruce and Broadway in Lawrence). Rav Moshe Weinberger will be delivering words of hisorerus. Suggested donation, $10. Separate seating.

Tuesday 5/12 at 7 PM: Breslov Bar Band at the Carlebach Shul

Details:

Breslov Bar Band - Lag Baomer Concert @ Carlebach Shul

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
7:00pm
305 West 79th Street
$15 cover

From melancholy midnight meditations to funky/punky affirmations of the One, the Breslov Bar Band explores musical expressions of the Breslov Chassidim from the traditional to the contemporary... Rock, Middle-Eastern, Punk, Jazz... it's all there!

The group's repertoire includes old dveykus melodies and ecstatic nigunim, as well as contemporary Breslov folk and rock music. The band members combine their passion for Jewish music with their strong roots in rock, jazz, and world music.

Website:BreslovBarBand.com

Tuesday 5/12 at 9 PM: Yoshie Fruchter's Pitom and Michael Winograd's Infection at Zebulon.

Details:

I and my erstwhile Pitom collaberators are super psyched to be coming back to our fave joint Zebulon this Tuesday evening to play some music from our new record, some new music that is not on the record, and just have fun and make some glorious noise! Joining us will be Michael Winograd's Infection (and his army of swine flu fighters).. a seriously killer band - you will not be let down. It also happens to be the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer - so come celebrate with us, have a beer, do a dance, shave your beard.

**SHOW INFO
WHERE: Zebulon, 258 Wythe Ave, Williamsburg (L Train to Bedford)
WHEN: Tuesday, May 12th 9pm
NO COVER**

Sunday 5/17 at 11AM, Klezmerfest CD Release Party at City Winery

Details:

I am pleased and proud to announce the release of Klezmerfest's second CD, "Life of the Party," featuring Jordan Hirsch, Greg Wall, Aaron Alexander, Zev ZIons, and Brian Glassman. We will be performing in celebration on May 17th, with sets starting at 11:00, at:

City Winery
155 Varick Street
New York, NY

There is a $10.00 cover charge.

Check out our first release, "Party Music" at CD Baby: KLEZMERFEST!: Party Music. Ari Davidow of Klezmershack had this to say about it: "this album is simply a delight. Many are the medleys as the band puts traditional tunes in a simkha context. Like I said, the sound is smooth as silk and the feet can't stop moving. For a change, here is a band guilty only of absolute truth in advertising: This is perfect "Party Music". Enjoy!"

Wednesday 5/20 at & PM: Joey Weisenberg's Niggunim Unplugged at the Eldridge Street Synagogue

Details:

Please join me for a special concert of Jewish music at the Eldridge Street Synagogue in New York City on Wednesday, May 20th, 7:00 pm.  I'll be performing with a wonderful ensemble, including:

Benjy Fox Rosen -- Bass
Llova Zhurbin -- Viola
Jake Shulman-Ment -- Violin, accordion
Joey Weisenberg -- vocals, mandolin, clarinet, percussion

Please reserve a seat at:

New York Events at The Museum at Eldridge Street

If you know people who would enjoy this show, please let them know about it.

I'll look forward to seeing you there!

From the mailbag...

Rabbi Moshe Yeres writes:

you link to
Here's a video of an attempt to revive old Jewish wedding traditions. I'm not convinced the soundtrack music is authentic period music. [/sarcasm]
 
It seems to me that this post is of messianic judaism
there are alot of signs for that in teh video including but not limited to how they phonetically pronounce teh name of G-D , plus shofar usage, plus new moon.
i am sure if you will research teh group you will find them not to be a jewsih grouop but messianic judism toye who believe in jesus
Moshe Yeres

I don't think these are messianic Jews (aka Christians). There's no mention of Jesus/Yeshua in the entire ceremony. They're historical revivalists who attempted to recreate old Jewish wedding traditions. Obviously, they are not Orthodox, but it doesn't appear from this that they are Christian.

Mindy writes;

I do not know who translated the lyrics, but this was performed in Satmar camp in 1993, it was beautiful. The chorus goes:

און דער רבי האט מיך צו זיין הארץ צוגעדריקט
זיינע ווערטער האט יעדן דערקוויקט
געזאגט "קיין חילוק צו מען איז זייער יונג אדער עלטער מען איז
די רייד פון די תורה אפהיטן מען מוז"

I don't remember all the lyrics by heart, it's ages ago, and I also don't know the source, but it was performed in camp, I wonder if it was translated by the camp heads or something.

If anyone knows who translated it, or of a recording, please let me know.

Sruly shares a link: "Auto-Tune the News: Obama Flashback."

Joel Shares another: "In Praise of Auto-Tune." It's an Auto-tune link-fest!

"Rotzeh B'ilum Shemo" writes:

On Vocalist Shea Rubinstein's offer to perform for free: "Music Star Offers Free Performances to Charities and Nonprofit Organizations: “I Want to Give Back to Those Who Give to Many.”

Here is my personal opinion. For this one, you can leave my name out of it.


Why Should other singers follow in his footsteps?

If he wants to perform for free - then let him, but don't tell people in the music business where to give their Tzedaka to.
Maybe the Hall, Caterer, Photographer, Printer, and all the other vendors should be donating their ENTIRE services as well?

Many singers rely on these events to support their families. I'm not against giving a good deal, but to donate all your services and hope that everyone else will do that is simply crazy.

I personally believe that this is just a well disguised ploy to get publicity.  If it is, congratulations - you got a gig, Shea!

I'd be interested to hear what others think too. I think this offer deserves a post of its own, as time permits.

5/7/09 Link Dump

The Cool Jew asked a bunch of boys' choir leaders about whether they use pre-recorded tracks in concert.

Do you think that it's ok to use a pre-recorded song during a concert performance? If yes how often are you doing it and why do you feel it necessary?

The answers are revealing and in some cases, one might say, deliberately misleading.

The Life-Of-Rubin Blog had two posts on the topic that I was going to link, but he has apparently deleted them.

Klez clarinetist Michael Winograd makes the Forward 36 under 36. So did Girls' Night On! founder Leslie Ginsparg, Anat Cohen, Y-LOVE (Yitz Jordan), Gilad Hekselman, and Michelle Citrin.

Avraham Fried has released an a-capella album to benefed Yad L'shliach.

The Klezmer Shack posts"Yid Vicious: Car-less Klezmer in Madison."

Teruah posts "Death of a JDub Saleman."

Here's a great clip - "Breslov Books vs. Mendy Pellin."

Here's a video of an attempt to revive old Jewish wedding traditions. I'm not convinced the soundtrack music is authentic period music. [/sarcasm]

Finally, it's time for wedding photos.

Yiddish Lyrics Question

Asya writes:

In my fieldwork, I came across a lyric sheet with an unattributed Yiddish translation of Abie Rotenberg's "The Place Where I Belong" from the Journeys, Volume 1 album. It begins thus:

Toyre hakdoyshe, azoy ikh heys
Ikh bin geshribn gevorn in yor tov resh hey
Durkh yankele der soyfer an oyved hashem
Dos gantse khiyus nor geleygt in dem.

Does anybody know where this translation comes from? Is it on a recording anywhere? Wikipedia says that Rotenberg has collaborated with Mordechai ben David, Avraham Fried, Yehuda Schechter, and Yaakov Shwekey, but I could not find the song on any of their albums.

It is possible that the translation was done by a Hasidic woman and has never been recorded, but I want to make sure I can't find it somewhere before assuming this.

Anyone have any info about this?

Mic Check This... Orthodox Female Rapper Rinat Guttman

This is too cool...

Who says tznius women can't bring it?

Hat tip: The Curious Jew, who posted a link to a YU Observer interview with Breslov-influenced Ortho-rapper Rinat Guttman.

From the mailbag... (More Rabbi Wolfson Content)

S. writes:

I really appreciated your post on R. Wolfson's article.

I see in your explanation you explained the novelty of black and white keys, but didn't really mention that the equally tempered scale of twelve notes itself is recent (late 16th century)! Possibly R. Wolfson simply meant to speak of major and minor, which are not recent, but he used an idiom that would be comprehensible to readers (everyone knows what black and white keys on a keyboard look like), however he did not mean to suggest that the keyboard goes back to Yuval. However, he is still embarassingly wrong about the antiquity of the various modes current in Western music!

I thought you might be interested in seeing an example of a rabbi who understood music, back when rabbis were not Charedim or modern, just the most learned segments of the nation, who therefore were most likely to know things and therefore wrote treatises on numerous subjects outside of the yeshivishe massechtos.

Rav Saadyah Gaon:

http://onthemainline.blogspot.com/2006/02/guess-who-said-it.html

Chazak ve-ametz!

S.

http://onthemainline.blogspot.com

E. forwards a link to vocalist Shea Rubinstein's offer to perform for free: "Music Star Offers Free Performances to Charities and Nonprofit Organizations: “I Want to Give Back to Those Who Give to Many.” I'd be interested to hear what people think of this.

Yerachmiel Altizio writes:

Please promote our upcoming show on your site/blog:

Merkavah - The Hasidic Funky Jam Band w/ Shalom Pasternak's Kabbalah Dream Orchestra

Sunday, May 31 7pm, at Puppets Jazz Bar - 481 5th Avenue, Park Slope, NY 11215

$10 per set, $15 for both bands!

KDO - 7pm, and Merkavah - 8:30pm.

I'm getting to this late, but Greg Wall emails a link to a free download of Am Yisrael Chai at the Pioneers for a Cure website.

Aaron Alexander writes:

I humbly announce that May 17th shall be the day of the CD Release Concert for the new recording by the great New York klezmer band, Klezmerfest! 
The new CD will be entitled "Life of the Party!" and features great traditional klezmer standards and a couple originals by band members.
It's our sophomore release. The first one was called "Party Music", here's a little of what Ari Davidov of Klezmershack had to say about it: 
"It's solid, delightful, entirely danceable klezmer music as it has been played for generations, by musicians who are very, very good at playing it."-Ari Davidow, Klezmershack
This one features the same working band, all a little bit older and wiser (except me - I'm just a little loopier and more tired from lack of sleep!) 
Liner notes were written by the legendary Pete Sokolow!

The band is:
Aaron Alexander - drums,
Brian Glassman - bass,
Zev Zions - accordion,
Jordan Hirsch - trumpet, 
Greg Wall -  clarinet

The festivities will begin at 11am at City Winery and we'll play 'til around 2:30 or so.
KIDS are welcome! Please bring them!

City Winery 155 Varick Street (between Spring and Vandam Streets)New York, New York 10013
By Subway: 1 / 9 to Houston Street or Canal Street; C / E to Spring Street
By Bus: M20 downtown or uptown, M6 uptown, M21 crosstown
Customer Service: 212.608.0555

We hope you can make it out!

I've heard this disc and it's well-worth checking out.

There are a lot of Jewish music events upcoming in the area. Time permitting, I'll try to post a roundup. If you have a local show in the next two weeks or so, please let me know.