Last month’s Israeli Jazz Festival
in Chicago aimed to “highlight the full spectrum of the diverse jazz music
scene in Israel” through a set of local performances featuring five different
Israeli musicians. The festival was produced by the Israeli Consulate to the
Midwest—with the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
as a sponsor—at venues across Chicago, including the Latin trombone-centric
Rafi Malkiel Quintet at Old Town School of Folk Music, Amir Gwirtzman (Esta) at
the Mayne Stage, the Gilad Hekselman Trio at Green Mill Jazz Club, and singer
Hadar Noiberg’s Trio at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The highlight was a concert by Ester
Rada at City Winery. Born into a deeply religious Ethiopian family and raised
in a rough part of Tel Aviv, Rada’s music reflects her personal struggles and
combines traditional Ethiopian grooves with elements of jazz and funk. Backed
by a rhythm and blues horn section, Rada’s vocals echo earlier greats Nina
Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and more recent soul singers Eryka Badu, Lauryn Hill,
and Jill Scott. Her debut EP “Life
Happens” was produced by acclaimed Israeli producers Kutiman and Ronen Sabbo
(Soulico).
Looking ahead to next month, we go
back in time for KlezKamp. This nearly 30 year-old confab is a central
meeting place for klezmer musicians and fans to meet, socialize and learn from
one another. Seasoned veterans and curious newcomers alike attend, which
happily now has a Midwest branch. Directed by Harry Sapoznik of the Mayrent
Institute, A Biselle KlezKamp features
luminaries of the Klezmer universe teaching and performing for 12 straight
hours. Session topics will include Yiddish music, dance, language, visual art,
and culture and there will also be children's programming available for the
Klez-kids. The event is free and open to everyone culminates in a concert
performance and dance party that’s not to be missed. July 21 at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In the interim, local Sephardic Jazz
fusion act Shakshuka, fronted by
Rachel Rosenberg, sets the mood for food as they take their laid-back approach
to Ladino and Israeli music to the City Winery Stage. 10 a.m. Sunday June 9. $10 for concert only, brunch buffet additional.
Ever wonder where the song Hava Nagila came from? Or how it got so
popular? Filmmaker Roberta Grossman’s new documentary Hava Nagila (The Movie) explores
the subject and debuted last month at the Music Box Theatre. It returns
for a screening at Spertus Institute this month as well. The film features the
song’s fascinating journey around the world over the last century and sports
interviews with Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis, Glen Campbell, Leonard Nimoy,
Regina Spektor and more. Grossman will be on hand to lead a post-film
discussion. 7pm, Thursday, June 6, at Spertus Institute, 610 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago $8 - 18.
The annual Chicago YIVO Summer Festival of Yiddish Culture returns this month
with free performances, lectures and film screenings throughout the Chicago
area. Among them, a concert program entitled “Yiddish Lessons” by Cantor
Stewart Figa (baritone) and pianist Ilya Levinson. Farshteyst? Tuesday, June 18th at the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
of Harold Washington Library, 400 South State Street, Chicago.
The Illinois Holocaust Museum is
presenting the special exhibition, Fire
In My Heart: The Story of Hannah Senesh.
The Hungarian-born poet is an enduring icon of Israel and accomplished
much in her brief, inspiring life, which is detailed in this exhibition and
draws from journal entries and letters contributed by her family. Senesh’is
well known for having composed the words to the song “Eli, Eli” and the poem “Blessed is the Match.”
Her dedication to her people was exemplified in her selfless volunteering to
train and parachute into her native country during the Nazi occupation to
rescue Allied pilots and her fellow Jews. She was captured and executed by
firing squad in 1944 at just 23 years of age.
The exhibit will also include a screening of Roberta Grossman’s
documentary film on Senesh, “Blessed is the Match.” Ongoing, Illinois Holocaust
Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie.
If you happen to be in Jerusalem
this month, be sure to check out the 52nd
annual Israel Festival, which runs through June 22nd. The festival showcases dance, music, and
theater performances by international and Israeli artists at venues throughout
Jerusalem. Highlights include an opening
night concert featuring Shlomi Shaban, Asaf Avidan, Berry Sakharof, and Ninet
Tayeb, the world premiere of choreographer Rami Be'er’s Undivided Void, performed
by the Kibbutz Dance Company, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring performed by the
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and much more.
Adam Davis is the founder and
executive director ofKFAR Jewish Arts Center, a leading presenter and advocate of
contemporary Jewish arts, music, and culture programs in and around Chicago.For future arts suggestions and feedback,
e-mail Adam at adam@kfarcenter.org or call (773) 362-4760.
