KNISHMAS! It doesn’t have to be a ’silent night’ for us. Once again we groove into the night with the alternative to xmas eve alternatives.

This year we welcome back the jams of Even Sh’siyah, who infuse the southern rock grooves ala Allman Brothers with Jewish flavor for a heady groove. Their third self-release album, Wake Up, dropped this year. Joining us for the first time is Brooklyn’s RavShmuel, a Rosh Yeshiva by day and beer-drinking, Phish-following singer/songwriter by night. His single “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” became a youtube sensation following the release of his debut album, “Protocols,’ on Sony/JMG.

And as a special treat, several local singer/songwriters will perform original Jewy tunes, including Alan Sufrin, Miriam Brosseau, Moshe Averick, Evan Jacover, Rachel Kohl Feingold and Adam Davis.

Even Sh’siyah
Shir Hamaalos
Yemenite Fever
Hallelu
Hisoreri

RavShmuel
I’m in Love
Dumb World

Calling all artsy Jews who like to party for a purpose. The Jewish Caucus of PACT (Public Action for Change Today) and KFAR bring you Wide Angle, 8pm on Sunday October 14th @ Lakeview Broadcasting Co.

This is a social event with social action undertones. We will be showing images captured by 3 indy-photographers who teamed up with a group of homeless youth from around Chicago to provide an artisitic view into the homelessness situation through the eyes of those actually facing such issues on a daily basis.

$12 cover at the door, $10 if you if you RSVP. 21 and up.

The KNISH returns! Join for an xmas alternative so traditional its truly alternative. Shtreimel join us from Montreal on their US tour for jams that are part John Popper and Blues Traveler and part simcha band. Plus rising hip hop star of David Kosha Dillz and classic rock sounds by Moshe Skier Band

Its gonna be hot as… as a knish! Buy advance tix to avoide the sellout. Take public transit (Damen El Stop, Blue Line). Don’t miss the midnight knish drop, hanukah gelt pelting and the airing of grievances!
Map it

Shtreimel
Uncle Tibor’s Spicy Paprikash
Halevai
Galitzianer Tantz
v’Yerushalayim
Asher Bara

Kosha Dillz
Promised Land
One for Israel

Moshe Skier Band
Kol HaOlam Kulo (Gesher Tzar Meod)
Carlebach/Jeff Beck Jam

Official Media Sponsor:

Featuring artwork by Eli Clves, Lev Goldberg, Adam Rhine, Sheri Imbo Schwartz, Carola Klein, Dana Peli, Louie Barak, Rachel Klinghoffer, Alex Bosco, Leeza Meksin, Noah Shulman,

9:00pm, Saturday, April 24, 2004

Schopf Gallery on Lake

942 Lake Street in Chicago‘s West Loop Art District

3 blocks west of Halsted on Lake at Morgan (map it)

Israeli Wine and Appetizers will be served

Kfar presents: The art of Jewish artist Anna Lentsch captures moments of memories into houses, rooms and lives, specifically those of her own family, which escaped intact from the Nazi onslaught on her native Belgium.

Lentsch uses texture is an integral element of the paintings, providing dimension and depth to each piece. The absence of contrasted color, transparent watering finishes and an ethereal finish to convey an intimate poetry- an near sepia-tone quality evocative of old photographs.

The method is not representational though- rather, every moment is painted from her memory, serving as a reminder of meaningful occurrences, places and faces that have passed from this world and cannot be recreated, save through her brush.

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

In response to the RFP from R. Scott Aaron, KFAR has assembled reccomednations for the entertainment component of the 11/29 (orig. 12/6) “Hanukah from Africa” Mazon event at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago. Please note that although other acts may also have been appropriate for this event, the date change impacted the availability for some we had initatially considered.

Budgetary considerations vary by the act, given differences in the production, travel, talent fees and in one case, development and rehearsal of the act. For the sake of artistic consideration, cost estimates will be presented seperately. Each of these acts somehow bridges the Jewish and African diasporic communities musically.

Afriklezmer
A special project commissioned for this event that will combine Senagalese drumming, Klezmer melodies and Nigerian Highlife.  This ensemble would be assembled from talented members of Chicago’s professional musical community and may also feature a short accompanying performance element by members of the Muntu Dance Theatre. Savings on travel expenses will be redirected to the rehearsal and development of this ensemble.  Since this group has yet to be assembled, however, we cannot presently offer music samples.
Y-Love
Son of an Ethiopian father and Puerto Rican mother, Y-Love is a black convert to Bostoner Chassidus and a Hip Hop MC unlike any other. Spitting rhymes in Hebrew, English, Spanish and even Aramaic, Y-Love meld Torah concepts and innovative freestylers on the scene, weaving seamless polyglot rhymes in English, Arabic, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Most unique is Y-Love’s revival of Aramaic, the language used to discuss Jewish Law and Kabbalah. With each word he spits in the tongue of ancient Babylon, Y-Love breathes new life into hip-hop, one beat at a time. He is backed by dj handler, a yemenite jew of the hip hop persuasion who mixes beats with Ashkenazic cantorial music, traditional Sephardi melodies, Brazilian Baile Funk and Afro Beat.
My Garden
Mehadrin Rhymin’

Sway Machinery
Blues Guitarist Jeremiah Lockwood fuses the 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, Yeah yeah yeahs, Tom Waits, Balkan Beatbox and Carolina Slim.
Ahavas Olam
I Shall Chant Praises

Steven Bernstein’s Diaspora Soul
Best known as a seminal member of NYC’s downtown music scene, Steven Bernstein is a world-renownded slide trumpet player also known for his swinging ensembles Lounge Lizards and Sex Mob.   With Diaspora Soul, Bernstein explores Jewish liturgical and Klezmer sources through a the filter of New Orleans rhythm and blues horns and Afro-Cuban rhythms.  It dives traditional source material headlong into Cha Cha, Gulf Sounds and West African riffs, for a radical reinvention of Jewish music and a reunification of long lost musical brethren.

Once you have listened to these samples and reviewed the options, please let me know which musical project best fits your vision for the featured entertainment.