Congregation Shaarey Zedek Pro udlyjignnounces MONTREUX ,571 Special Musical Variety Show from page 87 Selichot Night Saturday, September 4 at 9:30 pm flit " " AZZ JA ZZ in Adler Hall Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield oicard NANO& In "Future Jazz," award-winning music journalist Howard Mandel introduces us to jazz musicians with the joy and elegance of a perfect host. By examining the world of modern jazz through detailed portraits and in-depth interviews, he invites us to leave our reverence at the door, and enter in — or at least listen closely — to the conversation. Mandel, who has been writing about jazz for more than 25 years, brings the reader into contact with the musicians, composers, experi- menters, industry professionals and club owners who have inhabited the contemporary jazz scene from the 1970s to the present. He writes about jazz as an insider; aiming to demystify jazz music and jazz musicians. Marcus Belgrave," the renowned Detroit horn player. In an interview with Mandel, Allen explains Detroit's early influence on 'her music: "I came up learning under an organization called the Jazz Development Workshop. At that time I was just crawling and trying to learn. ... It was community-based and work- shop-oriented." Allen explains the continued importance of Detroit to her playing: "I learned a lot being around the peo- ple who were supportive of me, including their concepts on composi- tion. ... I'm trying to bring together all of that with my background from Detroit, a very strong bebop city." Not only is Detroit important to many musicians, the musicians are important to Detroit. This year's festival will offer an unprecedented gathering of ome of Detroit's greatest "jazz alumni" — homegrown performers who have become significant international jazz stars. Additionally, the festival's pro- gramming includes top local showcases and provides the most definitive taste of Detroit jazz available. In part, it was the desire to get close to the musicians that forged author Mandel's career as a jazz journalist. When I started working professionally I could have been more of a rock writer. But I wasn't really touched by rock. I didn't find that I had that much to say about it," Mandel explains. Personal taste wasn't the only deciding factor. "It was also damn hard to connect with rock people for inter- views." Mandel noticed an important con- trast: "If you went to jazz [people], you could reach them very directly. And if you were at the level to engage them, they would often be interested in engaging. That's what they do on stage. Mandel, who is Jewish, grew up on the south side of Chicago in a time and place reminiscent of Detroit. It was a period marked by significant racial ten- sion between blacks and whites. "Jazz was a way of learning about these racial questions and bridging the gap," he says. "I did not understand what the gap was exactly. I was very interested in the other culture. I felt like my culture was not giving me everything I needed, I guess." Becoming a jazz writer also was dri- ven by Mandel's longstanding love of cultural events. "I was 13 years old in 1963 — the Beatles, John Kennedy being assassinated, the Cuban missile crisis, Marilyn Monroe dying — I was very aware of what was going on. And I was very precociously snotty and snobby about my culture. I wanted to be really up on everything and jazz was part of that." Raised by liberal parents, he attend- ed religious school and even had a bar mitzva, but he describes his Jewish edu- cation as "Reform," and recalls going bowling with his family on the High Holidays. Still, Mandel credits his Jewish her- itage for sparking his wide-ranging love of culture that continues today. "It sounds sort of vain, I suppose, but Come and meet our new Cantor and hear him perform a unique blend of Hebrew, English and humorous musical selections on this evening preceding the Selichot Service SELICHOT SERVICE will begin at 11 p.m. in the main sanctuary. It will be conducted by Rabbi lrvvin Groner, Rabbi Stephen Weiss, Rabbi Leonardo Bitran and Rabbi Joseph Kralcoff and chanted by Cantor Chaim Najman and the Synagogue Choir. Directed by Eugene Zweig Light refreshments will be served • Unique gifts, accessories and 340 East Maple Road furniture. Extensive selection of Birmingham, Michigan 48009 books on design, architecture, p: 248.593.9085 art glass and studio pottery. f: 248.593.9087 We also offer bridal & gift registry. w: http://www.unicahome.com 8/27 1999 Detroit Jewish News 91