AUGUST 29 • 2024 | 59
DETAILS
KlezMitten will take place Sept. 15 at International Institute,
Midtown Detroit, 111 E. Kirby St. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
General admission is $20; kids under 12 are free. Kosher food
will be provided by Small World Kitchen. For more information,
email Alfposner@gmail.com. Link for tickets:
https://klezundheit.ludus.com.
Goltz, the newest member of the
Klezmephonic band; she only joined
in 2022. “I’m excited to perform
music in this community with other
Klezmer musicians and hear what
they’re doing. I’m thrilled to start
to define a Klezmer
Michigan identity and
drum up an enthusi-
astic base of energetic
listeners who love
Klezmer … And, really,
anyone can love this
music, you don’t have to
be Jewish!”
Elena Luchina, who
teaches Yiddish at the
University of Michigan
is one of the organizers
for the event. She had
been one of JN’s 36
under 36 in 2023 and in her blurb
mentioned that her long-held dream
was to organize a Klezmer festival in
Michigan.
“I think there’s an expectation that
to enjoy Klezmer you have to be a
certain age or hold certain beliefs,
but that’s not the case,” explained
Luchina, who is ecstatic this event
is coming to fruition. “We have a
vision of a diverse multi-generation-
al group of Jews, as well as anyone
who is interested in celebrating our
unique culture, actively participating
at KlezMitten and dancing along
with the music.”
Posner also has plans to resur-
rect the Kidz Klez Band at Beth El
this fall and hopes to liven up the
Klezmer scene in Michigan as a
whole.
“
And what better way to start than
to put on a Klezmer concert unify-
ing many of the bigger Yiddish con-
tingencies in our state,” said Posner.
“It’s all about bringing people
together to celebrate Klezmer music
and Judaism, its dance and Yiddish
culture. It’s exciting!”
Elena
Luchina
Jennifer
Goltz
KLEZMER FEST ontinued from page 57
“I’M THRILLED TO START TO DEFINE A
KLEZMER MICHIGAN IDENTITY AND DRUM
UP AN ENTHUSIASTIC BASE OF ENERGETIC
LISTENERS WHO LOVE KLEZMER”
— JENNIFER GOLTZ
ON THE COVER
A
s the Detroit Jazz
Festival fills Downtown
Detroit with variations
of free live music over the
Labor Day holiday weekend,
other events also draw people
to special nearby activities.
Listed below are three of them,
but more can be explored
after checking listings at
oaklandcountymoms.com.
Check for the opening of
cider mills, sports events
and tours in addition to the
following:
• The Michigan State Fair,
held Aug. 29-Sept. 2 at the
Suburban Collection Showplace
in Novi, offers livestock
viewing, carnival rides, baking
contests and the Shrine Circus,
among other attractions that
also include a blood drive.
$11 entry fee with other costs.
michiganstatefairllc.com.
• Romeo Peach Festival offers
many attractions besides
the innovative peach treats
— carnival rides, parades,
concerts and more. $5
entrance fee. For locations
of events happening Aug.
29-Sept. 2 in Romeo, go to
romeopeachfestival.com.
• Arts, Beats and Eats in
Royal Oak is a center to
satisfy diverse interests
whether they be creative fine
art talents, local and national
bands with today’s music or
food specialties featured at
favorite restaurants. The event,
which runs Aug. 30-Sept. 2,
offers programs for those with
autism and asks attendees
to donate canned goods for
those with food needs. $7-$12.
artsbeatseats.com.
Fox can tell many stories about
her work, including joining with
jazz musicians in Japan, jam-
ming with street musicians in the
Dominican Republic, getting to
know a jazz pianist in Australia
and appearing at the Montreal
Jazz Festival.
She has described a great career
high as playing at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, D.C., and
told about a performance that
gave her three standing ovations.
“It’s inspiring and it’s moving,”
said Fox, who can name many
stars among her collaborators,
such as Branford Marsalis and
Charlie Hunter. “Because I’m a
composer, I can take experiences
and funnel them through and
maybe a beautiful composition
will come out of it.”
Fox, who acknowledges her
Judaism, has played at Jewish
centers and with Jewish-themed
musicians.
“There’s a very deep connection
for Jews in jazz,” she said, recall-
ing artists like Benny Goodman.
“Many wrote for the Great
American Songbook. I happen to
be a very proud Jewish musician
who is a jazz artist. I’ve written
some recent pieces that have been
inspired by current events. Being
Jewish informs who I am as a
human being, and that informs
my music as a player and a com-
poser.”
Among her connections to
Michigan are appearing with
Detroit-born composer and pia-
nist Stevie Wonder and playing
with the Michigan Philharmonic
in Plymouth. Among the universi-
ties where she has taught are New
York University and the California
Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley.
“When I tour internationally, I
do master workshops at universi-
ties,” she said. “It has been part of
my touring career, and it’s some-
thing I feel a deep calling for. Jazz
artists feel the passing on of the
tradition of jazz is very important,
and I certainly adhere to that. I
want to reach the largest swath of
people that I can with my music.”
Labor Day Weekend Events