Performing Bands
ATZILUT

This
ten-member high-energy Middle Eastern ensemble from
Philadelphia, PA, re-imagines the Hebrew tradition of ecstatic music as a
vehicle for spiritual ascent. Blending virtuoso cantorial vocals with the
lightning percussion and hypnotic melodies of a middle-eastern orchestra. It has
its own unique contemporary sound. Atzilut brings Jewish mystical poetry alive
with ancient rhythms and soaring improvisations. The ensemble plays
"Concerts for Peace", that won standing ovations at the United
Nations. Atzilut has released two CDs, The
Fourth World, and Souls
on Fire (1996), available thru the website. In its "Concerts for
Peace" modality, Atzilut has a cd called concertsforpeace.com. The
resulting musical collaboration is infectious, joyous, deep, sweet and
passionate. www.atzilutmusic.com
ZETZ!

The
Jewish “fusion” group, Zetz, out of Buffalo NY, combines the musical talents
of Marty Kerker (keyboard and vocals), Leah Saada (guitar and vocals), JoAnn Vaccaro (guitar and vocals). and Alex
Gordon (percussion and clarinet). Their
repertoire offers an array of Jewish genres, including Klezmer, Israeli and
Ladino music. All their songs bear their own unique identity, keeping the
music fresh, contemporary and entertaining –in other words, it’s Jewish
music like you’ve never heard before!
SUSAN
GAETA - Nona's Songs

Susan
Gaeta is a vocalist and guitarist. She performed jazz and both American and
Argentine folk music as a soloist in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Under the auspices
of a Folklife Apprenticeship Program of the Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities, Susan completed studies with National Heritage Fellow, Flory Jagoda,
a Bosnian Sephardic composer, singer and musician honored by the National
Endowment for the Arts for her contribution to preserving a traditional art
form. This apprenticeship included studying and performing with Flory in
numerous venues.
Susan performs nationally as a soloist, as well as a guest accompanist of Flory
Jagoda. She has appeared at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, at the
Greater Washington Jewish Folk Arts Festival, the Holocaust Museum and before
numerous Jewish and Inter-faith communities. From Her Nona's Drawer, was
recorded to preserve and continue the music of her mentor. This recording traces
the evolution of the authentic a cappella women's Sephardic vocal tradition and
Ladino language that Flory learned from her grandmother, to Susan's
interpretation of the composer's more contemporary pieces.
WEST OF ODESSA & Friends

The Buffalo-based band, West of Odessa, with Roberta Levine and Alan Sisselman, features clarinet, tsimbl, percussion, and accordion. The group performs klezmer music from regions of the former Soviet Union (Ukraine, Moldavia) and the Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe. Much of their music is taken from the repertoire of the late Moldavian klezmer clarinetist German Goldenshteyn. The group welcomes Syracuse’s own Sam Young on baritone horn.
JONATHAN
DINKIN & KLEZMERCUSE

Jonathan Dinkin and Klezmercuse’s repertoire features soul-stirring
traditional and original Jewish music. The group welcomes Ken Frieden,
new to the group on clarinet, Judy Cohen Stanton on violin, Sam
Young, euphonium and tuba, Judy Schmid, accordion, Art Bronstein,
guitar, Mark Wolfe, drums and percussion, and Aveeya Dinkin vocals.
The group has given concerts at the Morgan Opera House, the Massena
Summer Concert series, The Everson Museum, The Syracuse Jewish Music
and Cultural Festival, and a number of performances at the New York
State Fair.
Dinkin has composed the music for the CD “ Hanukah a Noble
Celebration.” The title song, co-written with his wife Aveeya is part
of the “Complete Chanukah Songbook” published by Transcontinental
Music Publications. Also by Transcontinental Publications,” Nigun
Anthology Volume I” includes three Jonathan Dinkin nigunim, and
Shabbat Anthology Volume 5 includes his Oseh Shalom, co-written with
Aveeya and Eric Gould. Other published compositions include Mi
Chamocha by Boosey and Hawkes, and the children’s musical Born to
Freedom by Shawnee Press.
Jonathan has also written the title song for the docu-drama
“Prisoners of Freedom”. Jonathan Dinkin and Klezmercuse released the
CD Lily’s Hora in 2010. Eagle entertainment editor Russ Tarby called
it the best local CD of the year, and labeled the group Syracuse’s
best kept musical secret. A theater company in Austria used a dozen of
its songs in their performance of a Maxim Gorky play. You may download
the whole CD or individual songs on OYsongs.com, the Jewish music
world’s premiere download source , and on CD Baby.
AVEEYA AND JONATHAN DINKIN
Aveeya and Jonathan Dinkin lovingly perform a participatory mix of
songs from our wonderful Kaleidoscope of Jewish musical heritage.
Ladino, Yiddish Theater, Israeli, Chassidic, and songs penned by
Jonathan in a contemporary vein. Aveeya is the lead vocalist, backed by Jonathan on piano and vocals.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share this music with you.
FARAH!

Farah!
brings the best of Sepharedi (Jews from southern Europe, North Africa, and the
Middle East) and Israeli music to life. Their music reflects the cultures of
Spain, Greece, the Crimea, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Turkey, and Israel.
Band members
Sam Asher (vocals, guitar, violin), Bonnie Abrams (vocals, guitar), Max
Steiner (percussion, vocals), Ben Markowitz (bass, percussion)and Angie Lenzo
(vocals) perform in Ladino, Hebrew and English. Farah! performs both
liturgical and secular music, serious and whimsical, hard-driving and lyrical,
traditional and original - and always entertaining!
KEYNA
HORA KLEZMER BAND

Lively, ethnic klezmer
dances and Yiddish songs of love and joy are the specialty of the KHKB. Their
venues are Jewish and other institutions and private parties for joyous
occasions of all kinds. Players are Sid
Lipton, founder and banjo; Carl Borek,
sax and clarinet; Allen Kosoff on
drums, Megan Mawhinney on clarinet; Neil
Novelli on banjo; Harvey Pearl on
mandolin; Elaine Meltzer on violin; Ernie
Wass on violin, Sue Wass on
keyboard, Mark Watkins on trombone; Mimi
Weiner conductor and violin; Mark
Wolfe on drums and Sam Young on
euphonium. Harry Sommer and Cheryl Wolfe are dance leaders and vocalists. Their CD demo is Manna
and Matzoh.
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