The last, precious days of summer are upon us, which means Jewish music maniacs, migrate north - to KlezKanada, and then to the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto. Within a couple weeks, we'll be in Toronto scouting to bring the best back to the Bay Area. In the meantime, here is a "forshpeis" (taste) of JMF events to come, beginning with our opening event of 2010-11. The 26^th Jewish Music Festival season officially begins Sunday afternoon, September 26^th at the JCC of the East Bay with the gorgeous voice of Israeli soprano Ayelet Cohen, in her only Bay Area performance.

Also, a bit of news from the home front: The Festival's former assistant director, Niema Jordan, has gone on to pursue her true love, journalism. However, we are now fortunate to have in her stead Peter Bonos; a recent graduate from Hampshire College and a fresh klezmer trumpeter!

Have a cool rest of the summer!

Ellie Shapiro

Director

Jewish Music Festival

An afternoon recital of Israeli and Jewish classical music with:

Ayelet Cohen,Soprano Vocalist

Sunday, September 26, 2010

4:00 - 6:00PM

JCC of the East Bay

$15 general/

$12 seniors, students, JCC Members

Buy Tickets

Israeli soprano vocalist, Ayelet Cohen, returns to Berkeley for an intimate recital at JCC of the East Bay. Concert program to include selections by Weill, Mahler, Bernstein, and psalms by Jewish and Israeli composers.

A graduate of San Francisco Conservatory, Cohen has sung with the Berkeley Opera, been a soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and garnered awards at several international competitions, including Director's "First Choice" and "Soprano finalist" at the California Opera International Vocal Competition and finalist in the Carmel Music Society Vocal Competition.

"Cohen, a recent graduate from the S.F. Conservatory, impressed with a big voice... exceptional technique... exact rightness"

-San Francisco Classical Voice, April 2009

Gaucho with Tamar Korn

Pearl CD release party

Saturday, October 16, 8 pm

JCC of the East Bay

1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley

$15 general / $10 students, seniors, JCC members

Buy Tickets

Come and celebrate the release of Gaucho's new CD release, Pearl, featuring guest vocalist Tamar Korn. Presented by the Jewish Music Festival.

JMF stretches its tent to embrace this inspired collaboration between local gypsy jazz band, Gaucho, and special guest vocalist, Tamar Korn. This event will mark the release of Gaucho's upcoming CD release, Pearl, on Porto Franco Records,

Gaucho's New Orleans gut bucket and Gypsy jazz-inspired sound is driven by the lead guitarist and founder Dave Ricketts, Guitarist Michael Groh, accordion ace Rob Reich, bassist Ari Munkres, percussionist Pete Devine, (who gained a national following with the ragtime trio Bo Grumpus) reed expert Ralph Carney, (a wildly inventive player whose horn work can be heard on numerous Tom Waits recordings) and special guest (and former Turk Murphy sideman) cornet master Leon Oakley.

The wonderfully expressive and stylish guest vocalist, Tamar Korn, will be visiting from New York to offer JMF audiences a rare pearl of opportunity to see her shine in this one-time-only engagement.

Video Link

Saul Kaye in concert

CD Release Party for Jewish Blues Volume Two

Thursday, September 2nd

$10-$15 sliding scale - 8pm All ages!

Singer, songwriter Saul Kaye in concert. Cd Release Party for "Jewish Blues Volume Two: Kings, Prophets, Brothers" Internationally touring artist, Saul Kaye, returns to La Pe�a to celebrate the release of his 7th CD. Journey back in time as Saul refreshes the characters from the Torah by dipping them in the Delta.

Days of Awe in Song and Dance
Saturday, Sept 11^th, 8pm
Kehilla Community Synagogue
1300 Grand Avenue
Piedmont, CA
Tickets:
$18 gen/ $14 adv.

Experience the depth and power of the high holidays in a moving and heart-felt collaboration from these masters of traditional Eastern song and dance. The evening will evoke the longing and prayer for renewal that are at the heart of the Days of Awe, from a novel expressive and interpretative standpoint that is nonetheless based in Jewish traditions from around the East.

Evocative Piyutim and Selichot from the ancient Yemenite Diwan, Ladino songs from the Balkans, and modern Israeli versions of High Holiday liturgy woven together with story, and interpretative sacred dances. The evening will culminate in participatory song and dance.

Featuring: Rachel Valfer Sills - Oud (Middle Eastern lute), vocals; Eliyahu Sills - Ney (Turkish reed flute); Yinon Darwish - Traditional Yemenite vocals, kemancheh (spike fiddle), guitar; Dror Sinai - Vocals, percussion; and Miriam Peretz - Dance

"Beautifully presented, the players bring superb musicianship and palpable enthusiasm to each performance. Eliyahu's ney flute along with Rachel's succulent vocals are stars . . . creating a sense of human communication with the divine."
-All Things Considered, NPR

Music/Dance demo clips-
Yinon Darwish of Diwan Halev
Miriam Peretz, The Miriam's Well Project
Eliyahu Sills & Rachel Valfer of The Qadim Ensemble