February 14, 2010 | 11:27 am

LIVE From LimmudLA: Jammin’ JEWS

Posted by Susan Freudenheim

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It was already close to midnight Saturday night when I pushed myself to go downstairs—with the draw that Dov Rosenblatt, singer, songwriter of the band Blue Fringe, which I love, was going to be playing with whoever dropped by. I got there and the musicians were playing the most beautiful jazzy jam, to an audience of one. Two when I came in. Dov was joined by a Milken High School student of enormous talent named Asher Levy, on keyboards and guitar alternately, and by Lior Kaminetsky, a well-traveled trained classical musician who plays the jazz violin with the most soulful improvisations imaginable. There were others, too, but honestly, and with humble apologies, it was late and I didn’t have a notebook to write their names down. A small crowd wandered in and stayed, as I did, because it was so beautiful. The music varied, from song to improvisational jazz, and one mom, who was an incredible singer (don’t know her name either) joined to sing a song she’d written with her two-year-old son, so it goes at Limmud—it was great.
At one point Matt Barr, a rapper from Jerusalem joined the band, and I am not equipped to describe the magic that followed, that would take someone more musical and knowledgeable about rap than me, but I would just say Watch for this Guy.
Informal and often a bit jumbled, the session was far more musically professional and funny and emotional than I’d expected. Partly due, in fact, to Dov Rosenblatt’s generous spirit and soulful hosting of all concerned. He has been a favorite of mine for years, for his music and mix of spirituality and pop.
There is a very new Jewish music happening, and I felt that I was witnessing it. Live from Limmud.

Update: I’ve learned that the mom’s name is Linda Korn…Glad to give her the recognition!