How many bluegrass musicians does it take to change a light bulb?
Three.
One to change it and the other two to argue about how Bill Monroe would have done it.
On Sunday, March 3, a new kind of Jewish Bluegrass March Madness will begin with the 2013 Adath Jeshurun Music Festival: “Bluegrass with Jewish Sass” at AJ at 7 p.m.
This year’s special guest for the 2013 Van der Walde Rosenbloum Music Festival will be Hazzan Mike Stein, cantor at Temple Aliyah in Los Angeles, who will be joining me to share his particular blend of Jewish Bluegrass music – everything from L’cha Dodi (you’ve heard this one but you won’t believe it) to a rollicking Adon Olam (you haven’t most likely heard this one before but you’ll want to remember it).
Hazzan Stein combines the rich Jewish heritage of his upbringing in New York’s Conservative Movement with a successful career in music and theater. He performed in three Broadway shows, including a starring role in Jesus Christ Superstar. He is a retired member of the Navy where he played violin in The United States Navy Band’s country/bluegrass ensemble, Country Current. He worked for four presidents as part of a White House support unit and traveled the world extensively. One past president has dubbed him his ‘favorite fiddler’!
He was a regular on the Nashville Now Show and the Wheeling Jamboree and played on the Grand Ol’ Opry. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1999, and won a Grammy in 2005 in the Best Children’s Music category. He is the violinist on scores of recordings for major artists including Mary Chapin Carpenter and Eva Cassidy.
The concert will be recorded for future broadcast on WFPK 91.9 FM’s Kentucky Homefront with John Gage and will also feature Bluegrass legend Steve Cooley, bassist phenom Lauren White of Storefront Congregation, Cantor Sharon Hordes from Keneseth Israel and a joint adult and junior Jewish community choir.
The real question is, how many Jewish Bluegrass Musicians does it take to make Louisville jump and shout?
The answer will be here on the third of March – don’t miss it!
Tickets are $12.50, $10 for seniors and students and $15 at the door. Sponsorships are available.
Call 458-5359 for tickets or go to www.adathjeshurun.com.
[by Cantor David Lipp]
Congregation Adath Jeshurun
