Performers' Index F
Den Flygande Bokrullen
Den Flygande Bokrullen is a five-man group that plays 'Klezmer' music offering background, music samples, photos and links.
http://home7.swipnet.se/~w-75598/e_klez.htm
The Music of Abraham Fried
Presents an interview with Avraham Fried and also online samples of music from his CD's. Quite a bit of online music available. One of the top Orthodox music composers with a rock sound to texts in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English. Blends traditional and popular music.
http://www.thinkjewish.com/fried_music.html
Fialke
A German-based klezmer band infused with the traditions of old violinists like Abe Schwartz, Leibowitz or Solinski. They play Eastern European klezmer and Monika Feil sings in Yiddish. The band consists of clarinet, violin, accordian and bass.
"http://www.fialke.de"
Marian Filar
Marian Filar. Born 1917, Warsaw, Poland. concert pianist, retired professor at Temple University.
Marian Filar escaped the Holocaust and went on to be an accomplished pianist and teacher. His memoir, From Buchenwald to Carnegie Hall, has been published by University of Mississippi Press, 2003.
http://www.upress.state.ms.us/catalog/spring2002/buchenwald_to_carnegie.html
Yossi Fraenkel
Yossi Fraenkel is a London-based Hassidic singer who travels around the world performing widely for Chassidic and Yiddish audiences. In 1998 he performed for British royal family. His recent stage performances include Simchas Beis Hashoevoat at Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Hights, Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately his website doesn't provide any clips of music, but he has contact information for those wishing bookings.
Phone: +44 (0)7946-359-697.
http://www.shirabesimcha.com/index.htm
Debbie Friedman
American. Singer-songwriter, cantorial soloist, music educator and music director, who writes contemporary liturgical and spiritual music, primarily associated with the Reform movement. Deborah Lynn Friedman was born 23 February 1951 in Utica, New York. In 1956, the young family moved to St. Paul where she sang in the choir in high school and was active in youth movements. She graduated Highland Park High School in St. Paul in 1969. She went to Israel for a year and returned to the United States. She recalls 6 April 1971 as the date a melody came to her while sitting on a bus, and she composed V Ahavta, her first complete setting of a liturgical text, which she then taught at a PAFTY meeting at Rodef Shalom Temple. With the Borechu, Debbie mixed Hebrew and English in her prayer settings, possibly being the first to do so in contemporary music. That summer, at Camp Harlen, she tried out her songs on campers, whose response was overwhelmingly positive. From then on she started writing continuously. Over the course of her distinguished year career as recording artist, Debbie Friedman, has released over 20 albums and performed in sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall and in hundreds of cities around the world. Ms. Friedman's discography of 20 recordings spans her career of 30 years. Her work has been lauded by industry critics and she has been honored by numerous national and international organizations with their most prestigious awards. Debbie Friedman's application of and melding of the American folk genre to Jewish liturgical music is credited with creating a whole new contemporary, accessible sound in Jewish worship music. She has appeared throughout the United States in Jewish organizational venues. While Debbie started her career in the Reform movement, the music and prayers she writes reflect her personal philosophy of inclusiveness and, as such, are not reflective of any specific denomination. Many of her melodies cross over into every Jewish denomination. Because of her own powerful commitment, her belief in the expression of the values found in the text, as well as the quality and beauty of her songwriting abilities, Debbie s music is popular among many religious groups. Her songs have universal, intimate and personal popular appeal. One of the most famous, Mi Shebeirach (the prayer for healing), is widely sung in synagogues and churches across the US, and many of her songs are sung in synagogues around the world.
http://www.debbiefriedman.com
The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band
"Upbeat Jewish music from the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, with Brazilian, gypsy and Celtic influences. The 5-piece ensemble from Sacramento, California band performs mainly in Northern California, but is quite willing to travel for special occasions. The band also performs original compositions. Lots of singing (in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew) and fascinating instrumentation (clawhammer banjo, Brazilian classical guitar, clarinet, accordion, mandolin, string bass) - a wonderful ensemble for your planned concert, wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, fundraiser or other simcha.
Contact: andyrubin@comcast.net
www.freilachmakers.com
Frejlachs
A klezmer group in Germany. Young people, many originally from Russia are playing Jewish and Klezmer music. The website contains some contact information, information about various Jewish music, and some samples of music.
http://www.frejlachs.de/index.htm
Freylach Spielers
Based in Leeds, England, the five-member Freylach Spielers perform all over the United Kingdom. They perform at concerts, functions and workshops and have a CD. The band does educational work with schools promoting Jewish music.
http://www.freylach-spielers.com/frame.htm
From Both Ends of the Earth
Hailing from Canada, this new "beyond klezmer" band fuzes folk, jazz and rhythm and blues to klezmer. Their website gives information on the performers, sample music with ra files and cd info.