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KFAR Jewish Arts Center celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Jewish efforts to realize his dream of equal rights for all with a special concert by THE AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE. Jewish bassist David Chevan and African-American pianist Warren Byrd lead an all-star jazz ensemble that uncovers the shared experiences of the Jewish and African American communities with soaring arrangements of traditional Jewish and Black Spiritual songs. Their collaboration has produced 4 recordings, including “Avadim Hayinu/Once We Were Slaves,” “Let Us Break Bread Together” and a self-titled debut. These melodies and improvisations by world class African American and Jewish jazz musicians have a big band sound, a big statement and build big bridges between communities.The Afro-Semitic Experience is dedicated to preserving, promoting and expanding the rich cultural and musical heritage of the Jewish and African diaspora. The band understands and presents interpretations of music from traditions as diverse and rich as Gospel, Klezmer, Nigunnim, Spirituals, and Swing. They are as comfortable playing a freylakh as they are funk, and can swing a blues tune right after a bulgar.

Chicago’s Jewish and African-American communities first found common ground on Maxwell Street, a west side Jewish immigrant ghetto that became a mecca for some of the world’s most beloved blues artists in their formative years. The NAACP was founded and led in Chicago by prominent Jewish activists, and during the civil rights era, Chicago Rabbis and their congregants often accompanied Rev. King on his famous marches. The first act of Chicago’s Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (cosponsoring the concert) was to loan a staff member that campaign, work that 40 years later continues in the struggle for affordable housing.

The Afro-Semitic Experience mirrors these partnerships in their stunning jazz arrangements whose results are equally moving for their collaboration on the spiritual, social and musical planes.

But most importantly, they truly swing.

Click on the link below for schedule and ticket information:

Posted: 12/31/2003

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KFAR Center

evën sh’siyah blends original folk rock melodies with lyrics taken from an array of classic Jewish texts. The band’s musical influences are eclectic, and include rock, folk, reggae, bluegrass, Mid-Eastern, and jazz.evën sh’siyah integrates these genres–creating a cohesive and unique musical soundscape of its own. The band has been playing together since 1993 and has performed at DePaul University, Northwestern University, The Chase Cafe, University of Chicago, Loyola University, the Skokie Festival of Cultures, the Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival, as well as many other venues.

“Apparently the new role model for observant Jewish rockers is the Allman Brothers Band. Both these guys and Soulfarm (see below) are turning into ’70s guitar-driven arena-rock bands with dual lead guitars and extended jams. To their credit, Even Sh’siyah has held onto over some of the punkish elements in their sound and their sense of fun… Rating: 4 stars.” George Robinson, NY Jewish Week

evën sh’siyah is composed of seven musicians from Chicago: Elisha Prero on guitar, David Margulis on bass, Ely Cooper on guitar, Mitch Jacoby on guitar, Matt Kanter on drums, Zev Goldberg on percussion and other miscellaneous musical materials, and Mark Freedman on keyboards.

Mp3 sample: Ana Avda

@ Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston

Tickets: $15 on safe, secure ticketweb.com

Presented as part of KFAR’s concert series