Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Matt Haimovitz: Global yet grounded

By Rick Schultz

Speaking by phone from Montreal, Israeli-born cellist Matt Haimovitz revealed that he’s a great admirer of the American singer Nina Simone. Looking. . .

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

HaZamir Los Angeles members make their voices heard

by Evan Henerson, Contributing Writer

After facing down a formidable Milken Community High School sound system and the best vocal efforts of the knights of “Monty Python’s. . .

Monday, March 11, 2013

Vienna Philharmonic acknowledges honoring Nazi war criminal

by Georgina Prodhan, Reuters

The famed Vienna Philharmonic has acknowledged that many of its musicians were Nazi party members during Hitler's rule and that its director may have. . .

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

‘Hebrew Melodies’ all in the Shaham family

By Rick Schultz

Gil Shaham does his most eloquent speaking with his violin, but as a recent interview by phone from his home in New York revealed, he’s not a bad. . .

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Flexibility is key to Israeli Chamber Project

by Evan Henerson, Contributing Writer

It takes more than a lineup substitution — even a major lineup substitution — to rattle the Israeli Chamber Project (ICP). The circumstances that. . .

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Cellist Weilerstein brings worldly depth to SoCal stages

By Rick Schultz

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein grew up in a thriving Jewish community in Cleveland, where before she became a bat mitzvah, she had already made her debut. . .

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Israeli Philharmonic’s storied history

The storied Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, founded as the Palestine Symphony Orchestra 12 years before the rebirth of the Jewish state, and its. . .

Friday, October 19, 2012

Wallflowers ‘Glad All Over’ to Be Back in L.A.

by Michael Aushenker

“Unless I’m crazy, we played this song the last time we were here,” singer/songwriter Jakob Dylan told a packed audience mid-show at the Henry. . .

Thursday, October 4, 2012

The Red Hot Chili Peppers heat up the Holyland

by Karen Springer and Oren Kessler

The Red Hot Chili Peppers made their first visit to Israel on Sept. 10, but the band member who stole the show wasn’t even onstage. Hillel Slovak. . .

Monday, September 10, 2012

Benjamin Wallfisch has music in his genes

By Rick Schultz

Film composers who venture into the hallowed domain of the concert hall are sometimes greeted with raised eyebrows. Maybe that’s why film-music. . .

Friday, June 22, 2012

Matisyahu: You disappointed me

by Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt

Dear Matisyahu, Tonight you performed at the Windstar World Casino in Oklahoma, seventy miles from my Dallas home. The distance may seem far, but in. . .

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

He’s looked at clouds from both sides now…

By Tom Teicholz

I listen to music all day, in my car, in my office, at the gym, while walking the dog or taking a hike.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Catching up with Matisyahu (and his beard)

By Ryan Torok

Like many artists, Matisyahu resists personal praise. Instead, the 32-year-old singer saves it for others — and his music. He described Youssoupha. . .

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Ozomatli: Band of the people

By Ryan Torok

The Latin band Ozomatli is rocking out on the flatbed of a truck parked on a closed-down Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. It’s a Saturday in. . .

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

On fire

By Dikla Kadosh

The old stereotype of Mizrahi music — an Israeli genre created by immigrant Jews from North African and Arab countries — was of teary, sorrowful. . .

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

With ‘New Soul,’ a new beginning

by Jonathan Maseng, Contributing Writer

Yael Naim might need to have her head checked out. Take her word for it.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Idan Raichel: From the Personal to the Universal

by Lior Haykeen, Contributing Writer

Israeli megastar Idan Raichel launched his music career as a keyboardist for various other Israeli artists, with the hope of one day producing his. . .

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

From Jewish roots, band sprouts afro/new wave wings

By Ryan Torok

Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov of Fool’s Gold are surprised they don’t have a larger Jewish fan base. Most of the songs on the band’s 2009. . .

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Rosh Hashanah ‘in the house tonight’ dances into the new year

Aish brings together rhythem, beats and davening for their 'Rosh Hashanah in the house tonight' dancing spectacle.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The romanticism of Matt Nathanson

By Ryan Torok

Pop-folkie Matt Nathanson had just returned from hanging in Hawaii, but it was a vacation he only enjoyed “50 percent,” he said.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Israeli Philharmonic will play in London despite protest

JTA

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the prestigious BBC Proms in London despite calls for a boycott of its performance.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

French music renegade is re-discovered

by iris mann

Although he is not widely known in the United States, the French-Jewish composer, lyricist, musician and singer Serge Gainsbourg is a legend in his. . .

Monday, July 25, 2011

Israeli orchestra to play Wagner piece in Germany

JTA

The Israel Chamber Orchestra plans to perform a composition by Richard Wagner in Germany, breaking an Israel taboo against playing the anti-Semitic. . .

Saturday, July 23, 2011

British Jewish singer Amy Winehouse found dead

by Reuters via Haaretz