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

In Review: Joey Weisenberg "The Torah of Music" & Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble Nigunim Vol. VI: “By the Waters of Babylon”

I first came to know Joey Weisenberg when I heard him play a CD release event for klezmer clarinetist Michael Winograd. He played a beautiful mandolin improvisation that showed his deep roots in Klezmer and traditional Jewish modalities. So, a few years back, when I heard that Joey was writing and recording his own nigunim, I kind of expected to hear neo-klezmer melodies/arrangements. A YouTube search revealed that I was wrong. And so, I've checked in with Joey's output from time to time and followed along with his prolific output.

I am just home from a remarkable evening with Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble. The event -- performance would be the wrong word -- was beautiful. The room was set up in circles, with the ensemble in the middle and rows of chairs circling around them. And, rather than perform, Joey led the room in singing (and listening) together. I was impressed and moved. Joey has the remarkable ability to get 300 or so people singing together in a way that is inclusive, respectful, and powerful. Rather than the "look at me" approach so many Jewish music presenters have, Joey graciously shares the spotlight with the members of the Hadar Ensemble, and brings everyone in the room along for the ride. Of course, I'm sure it helps that 150 of the people there were participants in Machon Hadar's spiritual singing seminar which took place this week in NYC, and so were familiar with his nigunim. However, the feeling I had was that this would work pretty much the same if no one in the room, apart from the ensemble, knew his songs. It was that powerful.

This event, as well as Joey's book and recordings, all share a purpose. That is, they all seek to bring people in through music, to encourage group singing and listening, and connection with Judaism through music. It'd be a mistake to review one of these things separately, as they are all part of the same organic whole.

I wound up at this event when I received an invite to review Joey's new book "The Torah of Music" and attend this event marking its release. The sweetener was the copy of the latest Hadar Ensemble album "By The Waters of Babylon", which includes "Shochein Ad", a tune that I've been singing/playing since I first heard it. In fact, I wound up singing an acapella Bar Mitzvah in the city, and when the cantor broke into this melody, I was the only one in the "frum" group who knew it. The entire congregation, on the other hand, joined along immediately.

A little about the music. I mentioned that it wasn't klezmer. However, it is deeply Jewish. I'd describe it as American Jewish music, deeply rooted in Jewish and American folk traditions. If Stephen Foster wrote Jewish music, it might have sounded like this. Bits of Americana, Chassidus, and even some slight Carlebach influences blend together in an organic new yet mature sound that sounds much older than it is. The albums -- this is the sixth in the series -- are all recorded live in an old shul in Brooklyn where Joey served as Baal Tefilah for seven years. Buy the album to support the artist, but then watch the album on YouTube to see how involved everyone is as these tracks were laid down. Highlights include the afore-mentioned "Shochein Ad" which begins with a beautiful vocal taksim by Rabbi Yosef Goldman. I'm also partial to "Keil Adon" which features Deborah Saks Mintz, as well as Yigdal, which in Joey's setting is a six-minute-plus Americana-infused melody that really gets at the meaning of the words. In general, Joey's songs do that, and if there weren't words repeated in the song, I'd be using "Shochen Ad" in my shul. The whole album is excellent and well worth getting. It's worth checking out the earlier ones as well. Amazon has the album here:


Which brings me to the book... As with his recordings, Joey seeks to empower the kahal to come along with him on his musical journey. The book is his attempt to do just that, sharing Torah thoughts about song, the power of music, the importance of listening, and more. Especially notable is that Joey includes a large open library of texts with translations -- roughly half the book -- so that the reader can join in the process of exploring what Judaism has to say about music and personally engage with them. The 179 texts range include pesukim from Tanach, quotes from Mishna, Gemara, and Midrash, to writings by Rishonim, Mystical and Halachik Writings, Chassidic Torah, and more.

Before getting to the open library though, Joey discusses the connection between music and prophecy, the power of music, the importance of silence, and perhaps most importantly, the importance of listening and of joining together through song. In a gentle self-effacing way, through use of sources and personal vignettes, Joey shares his understanding of and belief in the power of music. The book is a useful resource for anyone interested in the power of music and Judaism.

Amazon has the book here: Joey's approach serves as a model that anyone interested in creating serious, deep Jewish music should be aware of and be inspired by. He unites intellect and emotion to create warm, deep, and friendly inclusive Jewish music, and that's something we can use a lot more of.

They'll Keep Fighting Until Someone Cries Uncle!

Over at COL... Battle of the Two Uncle Moishys

I'll Bet It Was Minimal Criticism

JQY Throws First Benefit Concert, Draws LGBTQ Community And Allies 

Naor Carmi Is On A Mission From God!

Hannukah Diet - Ari Lesser & Avi Kraus

Protest Singing

אביב גפן הופיע עם סלוטייפ על עיניו כמחאה על מעשה יונתן רזאל

Stop Saying I Can't Sing Because It Distracts Orthodox Men | Lilith Magazine

Over at Lilith, Cantor Deborah Katchko Gray writes on Kol Isha... Stop Saying I Can't Sing Because It Distracts Orthodox Men.

I'm very sympathetic to Cantor Gray and feel that she should be able to sing at an egalitarian event. I also think that if an Orthodox group doesn't want to co-sponsor because of her singing, that's their prerogative.

That said, there's an awful lot of either ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation in this piece. I'd like to assume it's the former.

Forward Thinking on Carlebach

Quite a good nuanced article on Carlebach and #MeToo at the Forward... Shlomo Carlebach And #MeToo: Should We Sing His Music?

New Yonatan Razel Tape Out

Over at VosIzNeias... Popular Orthodox Singer Sticks Tape Over Eyes To Avoid Seeing Women At Concert

Recent Peeps from Da Hood

It's been a while... "The Negotiator" This peep is very wealthy, but can't help lowballing anyway. They'll call for a small gig and when you quote a very fair price, they'll offer your mitzvah gig rate and claiming that that's the budget they can offer and that even that will be split between both families making the simcha. IOW, they're willing to pay half of that total. We just turn them down. Naturally, the negotiator will call back offering more. We turn them down again. In the end, relatively last minute, we take the gig at a small discount that is still within the range we usually get, and well above their offers. Naturally, when we get to the gig, it's quite the affair, with fine cigars, expensive hot catering, etc. After the gig, the negotiator makes sure to ostentatiously pay us, and then adds a tip, bringing it back to $20 less than the initial quote. $20 to create a negative impression. Well negotiated. "I'll Never Use You" This peep is a real charmer. Over the course of the event, he'll respond positively to numerous song selections, coming over to sing loudly along demonstrating his approval, giving us smiles and thumbs up signals and saying nice things about the music when we take a break. At the end of the gig though, he'll come over, introduce himself, and say: "just so you know, I'll never hire you." That's because he's a die-hard Soulfarm fan and there is simply no alternative, as far as he is concerned. He just had to make sure we knew that. Um, ok.

Waters Under The Bridge

German TV Pulls Sponsorship of Roger Waters Concert over BDS

Shatnez!

Check This Slovakia Out!

Nick (Didn't) Cave

Over at the Times of Israel... Aussie rocker Nick Cave says he's in Israel because of BDS

Nice To See These Guys Back Together Again!

Via Life in Israel

Not Ron, Eliran!

Morrissey: "Lo Tachmod!"

Morrissey: Israel haters are just ‘jealous’ of the country

EMT Saves Drummer's Life

Over at Vos Iz Neias... Video Shows EMT Saving Choking Drummers Life At Wedding Hall