King Django’s Roots and Culture

New York ska legend King Django (of Skinnerbox and Stubborn Allstars) applies Reggae rhythms and arrangements to his heritage, performing soulful Yiddish Riddims, new Jewish rock-steady reggae and even translations of reggae songs into Yiddish (Night Boat to Cairo). Soulful settings of Hebrew classics and English originals are the reason that long before Matisyahu put on a black hat, King Django was the undisputed, most innovative figure in Jewish Reggae. With a new album and fresh material on the way, The Lion of Zion has returned, bearing sweet, reggae filled rugelach.
Shtikeleh

Asefa
As their name implies, Asefa ‘gathers’ traditional melodies from throughout the Jewish musical diaspora and combines them with their own jazz influences to create a splendid mosaic. The ensemble is at its best when applying contemporary improvisational concepts and maqams (their ancient eastern equal) to compositional frameworks traditionally employed by material in the Sephardic and North African musical traditions. One can feel the very connectivity that has helped the Jewish people endure. While an emphasis is on Middle Eastern and Sephardic Jewish musical traditions, a trip into the heart of Klezmer can occur as well.
Ki Eshmerea Shabbat

RebbeSoul
RebbeSoul performs melodies from throughout the Jewish world, from Sephardic romanceros in Ladino to Lubavitch niggunim to tunes from Ashkenazi nusach. Carlebach melodies and Mizrahi piyyutim collide with a World beat rhythms- its the sound of the Jewish Diaspora coming home. And in after a Rebbesoul show, everyone will go home humming something new!
Kol Dodi

Sway Machinery
Blues Guitarist Jeremiah Lockwood fuses the Ashkenaz Chazzanut of his grandfather, Cantor Jacob Konigsberg, to a pulsating rhythm section and the horn section of famed Antibalas AfroBeat Orchestra. Calling upon the sounds of Malian guitars, Saharan beats, Afro-pop horns and the B-L-U-E-S, The Sway Machinery goes knocking at the gates of prayer with muscles swollen and eyes clenched. Ensemble members have also played with Arcade Fire, Tom Waits, Balkan Beatbox and Carolina Slim.
Ahavas Olam

Chassidic Jazz Project
The Chassidic Jazz Project combines traditional Chassidic melodies with contemporary jazz arrangements. The Chassidic Jazz Project’s unusual instrumentation viola, cello, saxophone, guitar, bass, drums and percussion creates a gorgeous chamber music effect that blends elements of classical, jazz, fusion and new world, to create a multi-cultural sound that can be described as liturgical music at its best. Born in Brooklyn in 1959, drummer and bandleader Reuben Hoch was raised as an Orthodox Jew, attended Yeshiva, and prayed in Munkatcher and Satmar Chassidic synagogues. Reuben was by Dizzy Gillespie’s manager, Charles Fishman, and bassist Jeff Andrews to unfold his heritage by applying his jazz abilities to his religious background. Reuben did so, using Chassidic melodies he learned growing up (different from klezmer).
Adon Olam Medley