Who by fire and Who by loud, riotous, religiously inspired music
Like I do every year, I’ll be spending Rosh Hashanah with my extended family (my family is small, but the inlaws form a large extension) at my father’s shul in Arizona. How many of you will similarly give up spiritual, cultural, and/or community enlightenment to spend time with family and food (also important, but not necessarily first choice)?
If you’re in NYC, you have a FREE, alcohol-dousing alternative (or a late night escape): The world premier of Hidden Melodies Revealed: A Secret Celebration of Rosh HaShana in song. The evening is presented by Jeremiah Lockwood and his band, Sway Machinery, which features both special guest drummer, Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), and founding percusionist, Tomer Tzur, as well as Colin Stetson (Tom Waits, Arcade Fire) on bass saxophone, and the tenor sax and trumpet combo of Stuart Bogie and Jordan McLean (Antibalas). A theatrical concert event, that will also feature an animated film of the Akeidah. Whew.
In jeremiah’s words: “More than a concert, this event will walk the balance beam between storytelling, theater, music and mass hysteria. Taking place on Rosh HaShana and employing the musical traditions of the Jewish New Year as its jumping off point, Hidden Melodies Revealed will unleash an all-out party that is both joyful and transformative.”
All this, plus an open bar from 9.45 until 11pm, courtesy of Moet Hennesy, offering Ardbeg “The Ultimate Single Islay Malt Scotch Whiskey,” Greenpoint Chardonnay and Cabernet Shiraz from Australia.
To be fair, i must mention my vested interest here. Jeremiah is a member of the founding cohort of the Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists, which is a partnership of Avoda Arts, JDub Records, and the Foundation for Jewish Culture, and is made possible with major funding from UJA-Federation of New York. But even were this not the case, i’d still post this, because it’s going to be one hell of a night.
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 10PM
Angel Orensanz Foundation – 172 Norfolk Street (bet. Houston and Stanton)
FREE–OPEN BAR 9:45-11PM
Planning to attend? Please RSVP!
it was an amazing piece of the work, one that i’m not sure the crowd quite got, because they were sitting and listening, rather than dancing. alas.