This is the Forward’s coverage of Jewish music, including klezmer and other traditions.
Music
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The Schmooze Israeli Punk Band That Didn’t Forget Its Roots
Crossposted from Haaretz Useless ID is undoubtedly the most successful Israeli punk rock band in the world. Formed in 1994, it set out to try its luck abroad and became a respected member of the international scene, establishing itself within just a few years. The band signed with an American record company and gathered a…
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The Schmooze When It Comes to Gay Rights and Klezmer, the Musical Is Also Political
Photo by Angela Jimenez. At a July 26 concert at 92YTribeca in celebration of New York’s first legal same-sex marriages, the singer-guitarist Nedra Johnson struggled to find the words to describe the relationships between love, politics and the blues. In an age in which sex and marriage are subjects of legislative debate, she reasoned, performing…
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The Schmooze Monday Music: Awesome Tapes From Africa? Yes, Please!
Where do you go if you want to find Tanzanian bongo music? What about Tsongi disco? South African synth-pop? Unless you happen to be an ethnomusicologist or visiting Africa, the answer is likely the website Awesome Tapes from Africa. Brian Shimkovitz, aka DJ Awesome Tapes from Africa, an ethnomusicology scholar and avid music collector, started…
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The Schmooze Gilberto Gil’s Party in the Park
Crossposted from Haaretz One of Gilberto Gil’s first hits is called “Domingo no Parque” — Sunday in the park. Gil sang it in 1967 during a televised music festival with the fabulous Os Mutantes, and although another song won first place, “Domingo no Parque” launched the Brazilian’s career and became the signature tune of Tropicalia,…
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The Schmooze Monday Music: Traveling the ‘Czechgrass’ Trail
Courtesy of Druha Trava I’ve just spent two days in a Prague studio helping record the vocal tracks for a new CD by the Czech country/bluegrass/fusion group Druha Trava. Founded 20 years ago, DT has brought out more than a dozen albums, including several in English. The new CD is the first that will primarily…
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The Schmooze Mourning Amy Winehouse’s Lost Jewish Future
On July 23, London police were called to Amy Winehouse’s Camden apartment where they found the bluesy singer-songwriter dead. In addition to the sadness of losing such a talented musician early in her career, there’s a more prosaic tragedy as well. Talking to a Perth newspaper in 2007, the troubled Winehouse said that she dreamed…
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The Schmooze Paul Simon Wows Crowd in Tel Aviv
Crossposted from Haaretz It didn’t matter where you sat, stood or danced at Thursday night’s Paul Simon concert in Tel Aviv, the music swirled around you and swept you up. For such a large venue, there was an intimacy normally associated with club gigs, which emanated directly from the artist and extended right to the…
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The Schmooze Amy Winehouse, a Jewish Addition to the ‘Forever 27 Club’?
Amy Winehouse, the British, Jewish, hard-living soul singer was found dead today in her North London apartment. She was 27. Given her age, Winehouse is already being compared to other singers and musicians who died at 27, otherwise known as the “Forever 27 Club.” These include Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones (found dead at the…
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