Peter Himmelman
Seth Rogovoy
Sarah Aroeste
lveiTity
Frank London
SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffWriter
W
hat do a Ladino-Mediterranean rock band
and a "shtetl"punk” klezmer group have in
common with female a cappella folkers and
Bob Dylan's Orthodox son-in-law?
These eclectic musicians draw themes and sounds
from their Jewish roots and are part of 10 acts featured
at the inaugural MusicFest of the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit.
The weeklong annual music festival, described as "A
Celebration of Our Jewish Heritage," begins Sunday,
June 20, with three concerts at the JCC in West -
Bloomfield. Other venues throughout the week
include the JCC in Oak Park and Temple Israel in
West Bloomfield. In addition to the fest's 10 concerts,
there also will be lectures and workshops (see adjoining
schedule). The fest concludes Sunday, June 27.
Among the performers are Sarah Aroeste, who corn-
intiall at
bines rock and jazz with her Sephardic Ladino heritage;
the Afro-Semitic Experience, featuring David Chevan
and Warren Byrd and their fusion jazz sound; world-
renowned klezmer figures Yale Strom and Seth
Rogovoy; and Vocolot, an award-winning women's a
cappella group.
"Most of acts are quite popular on the East and
West coasts but haven't yet played in Michigan," says
Katie Marcus, MusicFest director. "We're trying to
show the community here how exciting and diverse the
Jewish music world is."
One artist who has made a name in mainstream
music is rock musician and composer Peter
Himmelman. The Orthodox son-in-law of folk-rock
legend Bob Dylan, Himmelman writes movie and tele-
vision scores for shows like CBS's Judging Amy.
Two local acts join the festival, including Elaine
Serling who sings Yiddish favorites and original tunes
for young and old listeners, and the Broadway revue
Side By Side By Sondheim at Temple Israel, with Cantor
e
La*
Lori Corrsin, cantorial soloist Neil Michaels and sopra-
no Stephanie Michaeli.
MusicFest also has arranged a musical Shabbat at
eight different congregations throughout metro Detroit
for Friday and Saturday, June 25-26. They include
Congregation Chaye Olam in Bloomfield Township;
Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Agudas Yisroel
Mogen Abraham and Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park;
Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills; and
Congregation Beth Ahrn, Temple Kol Ami and Temple
Israel in West Bloomfield. Contact the synagogues for
times; see the JNsynagogue listings for phone num-
bers.
Prior to performing with "shtetl punk" band Golem
on the festival's closing night, MusicFest's honorary
chair Frank London, a composer and horn player who
has performed with notables like the Talking Heads'
David Byrne and the late jazz crooner Mel Torme, will
MUSICFEST on page 36
6/18
2004
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