Performers' Index J
Rahel Sharon Jaskow
American-born Israeli. Born Manhattan, April 22, 1965. Lived in the Bronx until age seven. Moved with her family to Monroe, N.Y. where there were very few Jews. She learned her first Sabbath songs at Cejwin Camps in Port Jervis, NY. Minny Genny was her first piano teacher and she studied technique and memory with her. In High School she added violin and voice. She studied voice at the University of Rochester majoring in English and graduating 1986. In Dec, 1991 made Aliyah to Israel study Hebrew and working with women singing in Katamon. She met Margalit Jakob and started singing with her, getting involved in the local folk community. She was able to gig as backup vocals on a CD by Ofar Golani in 2000 in memory of his father, and then started getting work. She also sang on some tracks of Hanna Yaffe's Lullabies from Jerusalem. She also demoed and got a job with Shuly Nathan as a backup vocalist on Open Roads and Mostly Carlebach and Ray Scudero s With the Help of Angels. Rahel Jaskow produced a CD of Jewish Sabbath songs in Hebrew and English. Day of Rest was released in November 2000, received excellent reviews, and subsequently won the 2001 Just Plain Folks music award for 'Best Ethnic Album'. "She serves as a prayer leader for the women's prayer groups Shirat Sara and Women of the Wall, and also participates regularly in the Leader Minyan as a Torah reader." Ms. Jaskow's voice quality is rich, enchanting, and appealing as an Israeli-style "traditional folk" artist. She performs a cappella using recorded versions of herself to create a small group effect.
http://www.geocities.com/raheljaskow/
Jack Beilan & Friends
Jack Beilen & Friends, from Los Angeles, opened up a new website to promote the new CD From the Heart of a Jewish Soul which features 21 musicians, all with extensive professional experience in the pop music world (such as members working with various popular artists James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart or Neville Brothers). The group is also available for selected appropriate synagogue and spiritual events and performances. They performed on December 3, 2000, at the Theatre For The Performing Arts at California State University at Northridge. The music is aimed at Reform congregations and those welcoming contemporary-influenced Jewish spiritual music. Jack Beilan has been Musical Director for Valley Outreach Synagogue, a Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles.
http://www.serenitysong.com/
Janet and Jack Esim Ensemble
Turkish musicians performing Judeo-Espagnol songs and Sephardic music. Janet was born in Ankara in 1965 and Jak was born in Ýstanbul in 1958. Together they have made several albums, including Judeo Espanyol Ezgiler (1989) with Erkan Ogur and Antik Bir Hüzün (1992) with Erkan Ogur and Okay Temiz. Also, Nezih Yesilnil, (Bass); Murat Ozbey, Bülent Ortacgil and Erkan Ogur (Fretless Guitar, Oud)join them for their European concert tours.
http://www.oz-ist.com/janetandjak.html
Jeff Janning
The Alta Rocker and His Corned Beef Rangers ride again. Blues, country? rock. CD baby selling as "Basic four piece Fender Guitar Bass Drums rock with funny English lyrics on Jewish themes." JMWC says "Gives new meaning to the word schlock." Some "fake-Yiddish-accent-type-humor". Songs like "Don't Eat the Pork", and "Don't Ogle my Kugel". Some people might like the camp. Soung bites are available at the CD Baby site.
http://www.jeffjanning.com
Rahel Jaskow
Rahel Jaskow produced a CD of Jewish Sabbath songs in Hebrew and English. Day of Rest was released in November 2000 and subsequently won the 2001 Just Plain Folks music award for best CD in the ethnic music category. Her bio states that after majoring in English at the University of Rochester, Jaskow moved to Jerusalem, Israel. "She serves as a prayer leader for the women's prayer groups Shirat Sara and Women of the Wall, and also participates regularly in the Leader Minyan as a Torah reader." Ms. Jaskow's voice quality is rich, enchanting and extremely appealing as an Israeli-style "traditional folk" artist. She performs a cappella using recorded versions of herself to create a small group effect..
http://www.geocities.com/raheljaskow/
The Jerusalem Cantors Choir
The Jerusalem Cantors Choir of Jerusalem, Israel, has a new website giving information about the group and its performances.
http://www.jcc.org.il/
Jerusalem Express Klezmer Orchestra
A 6-member klezmer group in Budapest led by Laszlo Szirtes. Laszlo arranges the klezmer and Yiddish music. The website is in Hungarian. It is kept current with dates and places of gigs and performances, and with photos of the group, and contact information. E-mail: szibill@hotmail.com
http://www.szirtes-jeko.hu/
The Jerusalem Lyric Trio
Amalia Ishak, soprano; Wendy Eisler-Kashy, flute; and
Allan Sternfield, piano are the trio's performers.
The Jerusalem Lyric Trio is an Israeli ensemble that highlights the religious and cultural heritage of the Jewish people in its performances. Since 1995, they have performed our programs throughout Western and Eastern Europe, the United States, South America, Russia, and of course, Israel.
The Trio's repertoire, in addition to familiar classical repertoire, includes works inspired by biblical texts, Jerusalem, the landscape of
Israel, the Holocaust, and familiar songs (in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino). They have represented Israel in international music festivals, including
the Old Testament in the Arts (Prague), Judische Kulturtage (Munich), Musical Spring in St. Petersburg (Russia), The Eighth International New Music Festival (Riga, Latvia), Encuentros (Buenos Aires), Concentus Moravaie (Czech Republic) and the Budapest Spring Festival 2000. The Trio released a CD in 2001 entitled "If I Forget You, O Jerusalem".
For information contact:JERUSALEM LYRIC TRIO
kashy@internet-zahav.net
tel/fax 972 9 7669415
www.jerusalemlyrictrio.com
Jerusalem Musical Trio
The Jerusalem Musical Trio, with Director, Bella Kresin, pianist, consists of soloists from "LAMA LO!" klezmer band. The ensemble consists of Roman Kekhman(Clarinets - B, C, Eb, Bass Clarinet; Saxophone - Tenor, Saxophone - Alto ), Yakov Entin (Violin, Guitar); and Bella Kresin, who accompanies them on the Piano or Electric Piano (Keyboards). The Ensemble presents a new view of traditional Jewish folklore by blending traditional klezmer music with elements of classical, jazz and Middle Eastern ethnic music, thus forming the bright individual and creative manner of the group. The repertoire includes free interpretations of well-known popular melodies (niguns and freilaches),popular songs (in Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian).
Jerusalem Musical Trio are UNESCO Prize Winners "For Interactive Dialog Between the different Culture Through Music" 2003, Samarkand). They are the Gold Chanukiya Prize Winners (2003, Berlin). Roman Kekhman is a Laureate(1 Prize) at the Competition of Ethic Music in Israel (2002). He is a "divinely inspired clarinet performer, whose performance is tinged with genuine musical
feeling supported with versatile rich timbre." JMT have extensive experience from participation in various concerts, international festivals and events, as a listing of their performances abroad shows: Minsk (2001), Baku (2001), Tokio (2002), Bangkok (2002), Shanghai (2002), Hong-Kong (2002), New York (2003), Washington(2003), Charlston(2003), Samarkand (2003), Moscow,(2004), St. Petersburg (2004), Belgrade (2005), Zagreb (2005), Split (2005).
http://www.musictrio.com
The Jewish Learning Group
Founded and is headed by Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, this website is intended as an outreach vehicle. There are many recordings and musical events reported on the website, with reviews and clips of music.
http://www.jewishlearninggroup.com/
Jewish-Music: An Overview by Moshe Denburg
Part of the Tzimmes group from Canada. This page attempts to put some historical context to Jewish music. There is a graphic representation that attempts to show musical influences. A brief bibliography of recommended sources is at the end. Not updated frequently.
http://www2.portal.ca/~jsiegel/about_jm.html
JewishRock.com
A website devoted to several bands and performers doing rock music with Jewish themes. Stemming from Nashville, Tennessee, this website attempts to present various groups and promote their CDs and concert tours, such as Dan Nichols and the music of E18HTEEN.
http://www.jewishrock.com/
Jews Brothers Band
A band doing some cafes and Jewish improv in Aukland, New Zealand. Website has some real audio of cuts from their CD.
http://www.jewsbrothers.com
Joel Rubin Jewish Music Ensemble
A 6-member klezmer group organized in 1994 and performing widely throughout Europe.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/simontov/
Jonathan Cahr: La Yeladim
Jonathan Cahar has a new CD of children songs. In Hebrew and English. Some holiday songs.
http://www.cdfreedom.com/jonathancahr/
Jon Madof
Jon Madof is a musician exploring Jewish and Middle Eastern music through Rashanim, a group he founded in 2000. His website includes a biography, schedule of concerts for several groups Jon is involved with, a discography, and contact information.
http://www.jonmadof.com/
Joy Katzen Guthrie
A cantorial soloist and performer in Florida for over 18 years, Ms. Guthrie concertizes widely and has seven recordings. She writes many original works which are included in her CD's. "Her concerts include liturgical music of the Jewish Kabbalists, Israeli and Yiddish folk tunes, musical stage and film works, and original songs, all of which she uniquely weaves together with history, storytelling, and song." Her website is up-to-date and inclusive of booking and travel information, as well as a bio and CD's, including some lyrics to her albums.
http://www.joyfulnoise.net/Joy.html
Judith R. Cohen
Contains information about Dr. Judith R. Cohen of Canada and samples of Sephardic music. She performs and lectures and is a founding member of "Gerineldo, the internationally acclaimed Moroccan Judeo-Spanish ensemble, and is the founder-director of Nova Tradicija, an a capella ensemble specializing in Balkan singing."
http://www.yorku.ca/faculty/academic/judithc/judith_cohen.htm
Judy Frankel
Judy Frankel's page includes a brief biography, discography, reviews and a catalog of her recordings. Real Audio samples are available.
http://www.rahul.net/hrmusic/artists/jfart.html
Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
Professional Singer/Recording Artist/Educator.She majored in Vocal Performance from the Indiana University School of Music. Ginsburgh "presents over 100 concerts a year in schools, libraries, community centers, museums and festivals throughout North America." She has been a Louisiana State Roster Artist since 1988 and was named the Louisiana Professional Artist of the Year in 1999. "Judy is a three time Parents Choice Foundation Award winner and she has received a Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center. Judy is a three time Parents Choice Foundation Award winner and she has received a Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center."
http://www.judymusic.com/