This is the Forward’s coverage of Jewish music, including klezmer and other traditions.
Music
The Latest
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Opinion Why I Hate the Christmas Version of ‘Hallelujah’
Have you heard the Christmas version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a recently released YouTube sensation by Kansas-based band Cloverton? Well, I have, and I hate it. But not for the reasons you might think. Am I pissed off — as many Jews appear to be — on Cohen’s behalf, because he’s Jewish and these musicians…
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The Schmooze 9 Jews Who Changed The Sound of Jazz
Willie Smith at his Manhattan apartment. Photo by William P. Gottlieb. Barney Josephson opened Cafe Society in 1938, but the music he featured (and is featured in the play “Cafe Society Swing”) has been around much longer. Jazz originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in African-American communities — most notably in New…
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The Schmooze Ringo Starr, Lou Reed To Enter Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Getty Images Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, the late rocker Lou Reed, punk group Green Day and singer Bill Withers are among the 2015 inductees named on Tuesday to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, rockers Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, rhythm and blues band the “5” Royales and…
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The Schmooze The Best Jewish Music of 2014
Photo: Anna London 1. Zion80, Adramelech: Book of Angels 22 (Tzadik, $13.99) Jon Madof’s 12-piece super-group Zion80, whose debut release last year was hailed enthusiastically in the Forward, The New York Times and elsewhere, has now released its second album, “Adramelech.” It’s a departure from the original concept of bringing together Shlomo Carlebach and Fela…
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The Schmooze ‘Requiem for the 20th Century’ at Carnegie Hall
Any music-lover in the New York area should run, not walk, to Carnegie Hall on December 10. Why? Only the New York premiere of one of the most influential and iconic compositions of the late 20th century: “Requiem” by holocaust survivor György Ligeti, scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano, double chorus and large orchestra. Ligeti was unquestionably…
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The Schmooze Hasidic Musician Lazer Lloyd Sings Black Hat Blues
Photo: Yocheved Seidman (JTA) — If it hadn’t been for Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Lazer Lloyd thinks he would’ve been famous by now. On the other hand, he figures that by now, he’d probably also be dead. Back in 1994, Lloyd was a rising young blues musician with a deal at Atlantic Records when he met…
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The Schmooze Yiddish Pop Star Claire Barry Dies at 94
Claire Barry, with her sister, Merna, on the cover of their 1961 album ‘Side by Side.’ Claire Barry, who crossed over from the world of Yiddish entertainment to global pop stardom as half of The Barry Sisters, died Monday in Aventura, Florida. She was 94. At the height of their popularity in the 1950s and…
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The Schmooze Google Doodle Pays Tribute to Ofra Haza
The Israeli Google homepage pays tribute to Ofra Haza Israelis visiting the Google homepage today got a fun surprise, in the form of a Google Doodle dedicated to the one and only Ofra Haza. Haza, a famous Israeli singer of Yemenite Jewish heritage, died in 2000 of AIDS-related pneumonia. She was 42. Today would have…
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Opinion I know exactly why leftists aren’t celebrating this ceasefire
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Theater Why is everyone laughing at Anne Frank?
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Film & TV How a complete unknown created one of the most iconic music events of the 1970’s
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Opinion Trump drew Arab leaders into a historic peace agreement. Too bad about the one glaring caveat
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Opinion It’s time for the pro-Palestinian movement to make a radical change
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Fast Forward NY State Young Republicans chapter disbanded amid racist, antisemitic chat scandal
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Fast Forward Palestinian man who allegedly participated in Oct. 7 attack on Israel arrested in Louisiana
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Fast Forward Far-right UK activist Tommy Robinson visits Israel on invite of Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli
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