We've already had Jewish music and acting legend Theodore Bikel here in Chicago back in February, and the spring of 2015 brings even more great Jewish music and musicians:
MARCH
Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi will be honored for his 25 years of service to Anshe Emet Synagogue on Sunday, March 8. The evening- titled "Opa! L'Chaim!" in reference to the cantor's Greek and Jewish heritage- will be held at the Ravenswood Event Center.
Andy Statman is coming to City Winery on March 16. This multitalented performer is a premier klezmer clarinetist and a premier bluegrass mandolin player. I asked him about that dichotomy when I interviewed him. As percussionist Larry Eagle explained, "Andy will be playing his clarinet and the Jewish spaces in our music will be touched upon- it won't be just bluegrass-flavored music."
Mama Doni, the best Jewish children's musician out there right now, is transitioning to adult music with her Nefesh Mountain bluegrass album. She is performing at a PJ Library concert called "Passover" Palooza on March 22 at the Highland Park Community House. (Hear my interview with her here.)
APRIL
Israeli clarinet and sax virtuoso Anat Cohen brings her jazzy quartet to City Winery on April 10. She is has mastered the major American standards, but also many songs from around the world.
Neil Diamond, still truckin' at 74, is coming back to the United Center on April 14.
Also, there is an electronic musician coming on April 17 to the Concord Music Hall; no definitive evidence that he's Jewish except for his stage name, Shlohmo.
Baladino is a quintet from Israel. "Baladi" means "from the land" in Arabic and "Ladino" is the language of the Sephardi Jews. Their music likewise combines these elements. They will be coming through Chicago, performing on April 17 at Insitituto Cervantes, on April 20 at Mayne Stage, and for the Israeli Consulate on April 27. (Also, they will be a quartet while in the States.)
MAY
On May 6, the Mizrahi anniversary celebration continues with the Dr. Arnold H. Kaplan Concert 2015 at the synagogue, with "Alberto Mizrahi and Friends: A Global Melange of Music." Special guests will include several visiting cantors, plus Grammy winner Howard Levy on piano and harmonica.
Tina Karol, born Tatyana Grigoryevna Liberman, represented Ukraine in the Eurovision music contest. She brings her multi-lingual, multi-cultural show and her Katy Perry-like pipes to Evanston Auditorium on May 9.
Looking ahead to summer… Idina Menzel will sing that song from Frozen and probably a song or two from Wicked at the Pritzker Pavillion, but not until August 16. Still, tickets will go quickly, so I thought I'd go ahead and (deep breath) let you know… let you knooooow…
