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