I was so very saddened to learn about the passing of Judy Frankel, the luminous musician/singer of traditional Sephardic folk melodies, after a long illness.
I first encountered Judy’s music fifteen years ago or so and was immediately transfixed. There are many new interpreters of Sephardic music on the Jewish music scene today, but Judy always [...]
Archive for the ‘Jewish Music’ Category
In Memory of Judy Frankel
Posted in Jewish Music, Judaism, People You Should Know About, Sephardic Judaism on June 11, 2008 | 4 Comments »
My Israeli Music Pix
Posted in Israel, Jewish Music, Rock and Roll, Spirituality on August 21, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Some of the Israeli tunes I’ve been listening to since I’ve returned…
When I was in Tel Aviv, I made a beeline for Tower Records and picked up the first two Israeli releases by The Idan Raichel Project. Raichel is a musical phenom who has been extremely popular in Israel for some [...]
The Cantor from Poughkeepsie
Posted in American Judaism, Comedy, Jewish Music, Movies, People You Should Know About, Religion on July 15, 2007 | 5 Comments »
Thanks to my good friend (and clergy partner-in-crime) Cantor Howard Friedland for steering me toward this amazing piece of footage: cantor-comedian Shepsil Kanarek doing one of his routines.
This particular bit involves Shepsil’s outrage at being forced to audition for a High Holiday position at a synagogue (”Me?! Shepsil Kanarek from [...]
Everybody Jump!
Posted in Israel, Jewish Music, Palestine, Peace, Rock and Roll on June 12, 2007 | 4 Comments »
Woo hoo!!! I had the very good fortune to catch the Balkan Beat Box concert last night at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. I don’t get out to the clubs an awful lot, but boy am I glad I caught this particular gig - they did not disappoint!
For the uninitiated, here is a description of [...]
New Jewish Music: From the Sublime…
Posted in Jewish Music, Judaism, Religion, Rock and Roll, Spirituality on May 13, 2007 | 4 Comments »
From neo-klezmer to world music to Israeli hip-hop (not to mention hasidic reggae beat-box) there’s a pretty amazing renaissance going on in the world of post-modern Jewish music. That doesn’t mean, however, that all the music being generated is worthwhile - like all wide-ranging movements, this new scene certainly contains [...]
Pushing the Button
Posted in GLBT Issues, Iran, Israel, Jewish Music, Politics/Middle East, Rock and Roll on March 6, 2007 | 2 Comments »
The world press is abuzz about the Israeli entry in this year’s Eurovision song contest: “Push the Button” by the Israeli rap group Teapacks. Contest organizers say they may ban the song because of its “inappropriate message.” Seems “Push the Button” is a semi-satirical song that expresses fear about nuclear war [...]
People You Should Know About: Andy Statman
Posted in American Judaism, Jewish Music, People You Should Know About, Religion on February 24, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Forget about the Jewish nouveau/pseudo-cool music acts that drive the 20-something Jewish hipsters gaga these days (sorry “Kosha Dillz…”) For my money, the greatest Jewish musician alive is virtuoso bluegrass/klezmer/folk mandolin/clarinet player Andy Statman.
In a recent article in the Jerusalem Post, Samuel Freedman called Statman “one of the most important Jewish [...]
