Maybe I'm just making this up, but there seem to be a lot of Jewish music festivals coming up in the coming weeks.  The most exciting would have to be the first Boston Music Festival taking place this weekend in Bean Town, begining this Saturday, and running through March 14th. 

A Jewish music fest of this sort, taking over one of our countries most historic cities was inevitable, but long overdue. As the Boston Globe's Joan Anderman points out:

"Jewish youth culture has surged over the last decade with the launch of Heeb and Tablet magazines, JDub Records, and the wildly popular Hasidic rapper Matisyahu, and the BJMF aims to draw provocative connections between new and old with creative programming. The festival's opening night, at Berklee Performance Center, features a 30th-anniversary performance by the Klezmer Conservatory Band (joined by original members Don Byron and Judy Bressler) along with Golem, a young New York band that infuses the form with irrepressible wit and punk-rock vigor."

For those of you on the West Coast who need a fix, have no fear, because at the end of the month the San Francisco-based Jewish Music Festival will be celebrating it's 25th anniversary starting on the 14th, which coincidentally is the day the Boston fest ends.  So if you have a jonesin for some Jewish music, and have an endless supply of money or a bunch of leftover frequent flyer miles, March is your month to shine. 

I re-met Marla Bennett at Pardes in 2001.  We knew each other through friends as teenagers, but developed a relationship and shared a tight social circle during my Junior Year abroad in Jerusalem.  After she and fellow Pardes-nik (and DJ) Ben Blutstein were killed in the Hebrew U bombing in July 2002, we were just getting JDub off the ground.  We shifted gears and our first event was a memorial concert for them called Zachor, which raised $25K for scholarship funds in their memory at Pardes.

Seven and a half years on, we maintain close relationships with Marla's family and that social circle from Jerusalem.  We've grown up, gotten married, some of us have had kids.   Tonight, reading this challenging article about her parents' lawsuit against the government of Iran (which awarded them $13 million), I was particularly struck not just by her picture, but her age: 24. As the youngest of our crew, to see that, on the cusp of my 30th birthday, brought back fully the devastation of her loss.  Visiting with the Bennetts this summer, they said nothing of the lawsuit, of their efforts to put a lien on the Iranian embassy, or of their hopes for the good use the $13 million could be put to.  If and when conversation turned to Marla, it was not about the bombing, blame, or foreign governments.  It was about Marla, the sweet, young, caring friend and daughter.  The final line of the article perfectly sums up how the Bennetts, and Marla's friends, remember her: "‘I always tell people she was the best person I've ever known,' said her father."

 

Read the full article at LATimes.com

In the second installment of his new cooking video series here on Jewcy, JDub's Director of Events Adam Teeter shows you how to make delicious latkes - one batch out of traditional potatoes, and the other out of zucchini and squash. This post includes special cameos from The Macaroons and, of course, Hanukkah Harry.

 

 

Continue reading...

JDub's Director of Events, Adam Teeter and his fiancee Naomi are planning their wedding - and their new life together. Naomi was raised in a kosher home, and so Adam has decided to learn to make some great kosher recipes. He's starting off with a very Thanksgiving-appropriate recipe: parve mashed potatoes. It's perfect to serve with turkey, and delicious to boot:

 

Last week I received a piece of fascinating Muppet news:  Sesame Street and Phish share genes.

Turnsout Trey's dad, Ernie Anastasio, worked at PBS when Sesame Street wasbeing created and he served as the inspiration for Ernie of Ernie &Bert.  So Ernie and Trey basically share a baby daddy!

WhileI have found no substantiation of this online, nor any photos of ErnieA to back up the related claim that the Muppet was inspired by hisfacial features, its still an intriguing revelation for someone who isboth a Muppet and Phish fan.

Bothplay important roles in the creation of JDub.  Other than working inthe music industry, the only other job I ever seriously wanted was towork with the Muppets at the Jim Henson Company.  I don't remember whenthe idea first took hold, but I have a strong memory of hearing ofHenson's death in 1991 and committing myself to mentioning Henson in myBar Mitzvah speech two years later (didn't happen). Sesame Street andThe Muppet Show were great, but my interests in the creative world oftalking furry creatures and the magical realism of their existenceextended to pretty much all Henson projects (Labryinth!!!), perhaps with the exception of Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.Still, when, as a sophomore in high school, I told my parents I wantedto apply to University of Connecticut, home of the only Bachelor of Fine Arts in puppeteering program,they were non-too thrilled.  Not the controlling type, instead ofcrushing my dream flat-out, they arranged a meeting with a full timepuppeteer in New York City while there on a layover en route to the Alexander Muss High School in Israel.It was the most depressing outing ever.  The puppeteer presented smallshows in his tiny apartment near Washington Square, seemed to barelyeek out a living, and, when I told him about my Henson Co dreams, toldme he had once been lucky enough to wag a Muppet tail on Sesame Street."Henson's crew is a small clique," he told me.  "There's almost no wayto break in."  And that was pretty much it.  Dreams crushed, Icontinued on to Israel, discovered The Roots, Sonic Youth, and thePharcyde via borrowed cassettes, and spent the next two years convincedthat the music industry was a much more sound career path.

Inmeetings with funders, I often share a very true anecdote about hearingPhish break into Avinu Malkeinu in '96 at a show at the Ventura CountyFairground.  The pride in hearing a Jewish song (sung well, in Hebrew,by a non-Jew) played to a crowd of thousands, the awakening thatJewishness could be expressed (and lived) beyond synagogue, JCC, andHebrew School walls, and  the awareness that  others around me seemedto be having similar thoughts all played direclty into my motivationsfor co-founding JDub six years later.

TheErnie revelation last week was fun to learn, pulling these two strandstogether for me.  Without either interest, I seriously doubt JDub wouldexist today.  Yesterday, the Muppet connection may have grown a tinybit closer.  I met with a staff member at Sesame Workshop about therelaunch of Shalom Sesame,the 1987 mini-series that introduced American Jews to the Israeliversion of Sesame Street, Rechov Sumsum, and served to empower positiveJewish identity in kids through overdubbed Hebrew songs by Bert &Ernie and new clips with Sarah Jessica Parker and Itzak Perlman.  Keepyour fingers crossed for us, friends. Maybe, just maybe, you'll see aJDub band or two dancing with Grover, Elmo, and Moishe Oofnik a year from now.

Which JDub band would YOU want to see on Shalom Sesame???

 [Editor's note: this piece originally appeared on the JDub Records blog on 10/20/09]

Yesterday on Twitter I asked what you thought of the Jewcy/JDub combination, and we also had a bunch of comments on the announcement, so I just thought I'd share some of the results in one place:

"Congrats on the great news!!!"

"Good shit!"

"I'm a huge fan.  I'd love to write for Jewcy."

"What are you gonna do together?"

"Make beautiful babies together."

"Just wanted to say Mazal Tov from TCJewfolk.com, the new Twin Cities Jewish blog for Jews in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Jewcy is def one of our fav blogs - Jewish or otherwise, and JDub, well, your music rocks. Congrats to both of your organizations. We look forward to seeing what you do together!"

"Yeah, baby!  I'll make sure to stop by more often now.  Was getting worried there for awhile." 

"Hurray! chazak chazak v'nitchazek."

In the next few weeks, we'll be asking for more of your brainwaves, but until then I urge you to join the conversation. Sign-up to blog on the top right of homepage, join the mailing list, email me and tell me what you really think, donate, and spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, email, telephone, or morse code.  Your ideas will make this community grow.  We’re firm believers in the transformative powers of music, culture, and inclusive environments, and via JDub at least, you have  proven us correct in those assumptions and pushed us to new heights within our mission and vision.  The result is an expanded definition of community, and it is our sincere hope that Jewcy, along with our ’round-the-clock investment in artistry will keep that definition malleable.

Talk to you soon...

A while back, my office received a large shipment of books courtesy of The Jewish Book Council, and of the entire batch, I was most excited to get my hands on the gem that is The Genius of Jewish Celebrities: What Their Handwriting Reveals by Dr. Robert Yaronne.

Luckily for me, the book is exactly what it boasts: an in-depth handwriting analysis of famous Jews. Goldie Hawn's illegible signature means she "feels the need to hide her true identity" and Ben Stiller's backwards 'n' stroke "suggests a capacity for self-deprecation." To his credit, Yaronne manages to move past the superficial and devotes a whole section of the book to philosophers and another to scientists. The Ba'al Shem Tov's Hebrew 'L' indicates he was able to keep thoughts to himself, where Isaac Bashevis Singer's open 'B' reveals that he had a talkative and open personality. Need more examples? Here is the page devoted to Diva-with-a-capital-D Bette Midler:

 

Sure, it might sound silly, but it is delightful. Dr. Yaronne's observations are spot on, nearly to the point of being unbelievable. He is clearly an intuitive and talented analyst. The book itself is vibrant and engaging, and (most importantly) quite fun to read.

After flipping through Genius, I knew exactly what I had to do: get the good doctor to analyze 3 samples, given to him anonymously, that I had gotten from notable Jewish innovators. I sent a request to Yaronne's representative in earnest, and was delighted when he agreed to go along with my little experiment.

So how did the Doctor's analysis measure up to reality? Let's see:

Continue reading...

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, the line stretched down the block and around the corner with hundreds of people eager to enter San Francisco's most famous synagogue, Temple Emanu-El. But this crowd didn't need to purchase high priced tickets and wasn't there for a traditional Rosh Hashanah service, in fact, for most people in line, this would be the only time they stepped foot in a Jewish space during the entire holiday.

 

The crowd was instead waiting to enter Hidden Melodies Revealed, a secret celebration of Rosh Hashanah with JDub Recording artist The Sway Machinery. [Editor's note: This event was promoted on Jewcy, and JDub records is an advertiser on the site.] 641 people entered the Temple for an experience unlike any a San Francisco Temple had ever seen. As soon as Sway Machinery hit the stage, hundreds rose from their seats to dance in the aisles and the foot of the stage, in a truly unique way to bring in the new year.

 

Some in the audience commented on how they hadn't celebrated the holiday in years, for others, it was a different way to reflect on their culture and welcome in a new year. As with their LA show two days prior, The Sway Machinery put on another incredible performance, bringing new life and excitement to liturgy and prayers that have been sung and recited in familiar melodies for decades. This wasn't your grandparent's Rosh Hashanah service, nor was it Rosh Hashanah with a Klezmer twist, it was experimental, avant garde rock that brought a different perspective to one of Judaism's highest profile holidays. As the events producer, I could not have been happier with the turnout and the performance the band gave. It was a transcendent experience and I look forward to helping create more moments like this in the future.

At a glance, there really aren't that many "movements" in Judaism. Orthodox, reform, reconstructionist and conservative. That's pretty much it. Sure, there are some variations on this, but compared to the Christian world, Jews like to keep it simple.

Or do we?

I decided to jump into the proverbial rabbit-hole of Jewish Denominationalism and discovered that there are more ways of being Jewish than there ever have been before.

Secular-As-Balls:

You still don't understand WHY Jews believe in G-d. Frankly, you think the whole "G-d Thing" is irrelevant. There's nothing about being Jewish that requires religion, customs, beliefs, worship, a love for Israel or the Jewish People. But if anyone DARES to slam the Jewish People or pretend that the Holocaust didn't happen, you'll be the first to kick their ass. It's like being an older brother: you can torture your siblings all you want to. But the minute some other kid tries to pick on your kid brother/sister, you're going to pound them into the ground. You express your faith (or lack thereof) by reading Heeb Magazine and going to the opening of the new Jewish Museum in your neighborhood. Just try to avoid the rabbi at all costs!

See: anyone on the Tattoo Jew Facebook Group

Hippiedox:

The product of Orthodox or immigrant parents, you voted for Obama because he's cool like the new iPhone. Your tone of voice moves between stoner and yiddishkeit, and your love for Matisyahu at times rivals the Lubavitcher Rebbe. You're more comfortable at Whole Foods than you are around your conservative in-laws, but you still feel a sense of sadness when a non-kosher restaurant opens near your shul. Kabbalah is your favorite pastime, because it's like being on a permanent acid trip.

See: Shemspeed, FrumSatire and "that guy" on the Birthright Israel trip.

 

Chabad-Could-It-Be: Thanks to Chabad's supply chain of eager rabbis, your small town of approximately ten Jews just got an Orthodox shul. Too bad for you that you have a shaved head, love bacon and still don't know what a mezzuzah is. But because you feel a cultural connection to Judaism, you decide to start attending services. You really hate the religio-political attitude of Chabadniks, but because this movement offers you the "real" Judaism that you cannot muster for yourself, you keep going back as an atonement for all the Friday nights you spent playing X-Box instead of reading the Good Book.

See: any Jew living west of the Mississippi river and east of Phoenix, Arizona.

 

Trans(gender) Denominational: You're an activist within Judaism. You want to reform (no pun intended) every corner of the Jewish World. Your obsession with Tikkun Olam really has nothing to do repairing the world as a whole, but instead concentrating on key issues within Judaism. Such examples include gay/lesbian rights, trans-inclusion, gender feminism, environmentalism and animal rights. You can't settle on one shul because they just don't address your "issues". Like a serial monogamist, you fall in love with one synagogue/rabbi and work the hell out of it until there is nothing left, then move onto another hot affair.

See: Union For Progressive Judaism, Barney Frank, and Kosherveg.com.

 

PolitiKosher: You love Israel. In fact, you're IN LOVE with Israel. There's something about the desert, the ruins, the graffiti and the bombs that just gives you this tingling feeling in your stomach. You think the Palestinians are secretly plotting your death and that if Netanyahu could just get his act together, the Messiah will surely come. Hopefully that person is you. Just in case, you've got your passport and a duffle bag filled with tallit ready to go.

See: Friends of the IDF, the Libi Fund and anyone wearing an "I Love The IDF" T-shirt.

 

Deconstructionist Judaism: Innovation is the tradition of the Jewish faith, and you are its greatest champion. You believe that G-d has a great sense of humor and personally marvels at your creative thinking skills. You pioneered such moments in Judaism as the chocolate seder, dog and cat bar mitzvahs, and menorahs hacked together from leftover Ikea stuff. You express your Judaism by taking Jewish ideas and making them better.

See: Moderntribe.com, Rabbi Laura Baum, Mel Brooks.

Many religions approach their movements like a ladder: the higher up you climb, the more "authentic" your faith. And generally speaking, the more conservative practice is usually what you're striving for. Judaism has a motto of horizontally-intergrated faith. A belief that Judaism is not a climb to the top, but rather a continuum that you place yourself on. More liberal? Slide to the left! More Orthodox, then move to the right.

Judaism, for me, is more like a spider web. A spider web starts by having a few pillars to hold it together. From these platforms, the spider is able to weave its web to the center. The purpose: to catch what the spider needs in order to survive. If one of the pillars that the web is connected to simply cannot hold the web, then the creative little spider finds a new anchor. If someone breaks the web from the inside, then the spider repairs it, differently than it was originally created. Still, the web stays intact. And every spider web is different, just like everyone's Judaism.

 

I rarely have religious experiences.

But yesterday I attended a truly remarkable strategy meeting including a briefing and discussion at the White House. The program was co-facilitated by Jumpstart and JStreet (check em out) and attended by a couple dozen other participants from around the country who are engaged in social entrepreneurship. Roughly speaking, the entire sampling (myself on behalf of JDub included) represented Jewish initiatives that reach over 500,000 participants via about $500 million dollars worth of non-profit investment. Cooler stat: almost none of our organizations existed 10 years ago.

We met with Obama's newly created/rebranded/reshaped Office of Public Engagement and Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships all within the Executive Office of the President. (P.S. They have a new first cousin too - the Office of Social Innovation. Read that again.)

But here's why my eyes are still teary: after we listened to the core issues Obama has asked these Offices to focus on, they not only took our questions, but also listened intently. They brainstormed with us, took notes, talked about next steps and where the White House fits in, and then encouraged us to communicate with them.
I have never felt so immediately empowered - not even the time I told the then Chairman and CEO of Sony Music that Matisyahu was not " the rapping rabbi" and to please stop calling him that. Sure, there's a bit of campaign hangover in my bloodstream (as an individual of course and NOT on behalf of JDub), but this is follow-through I can believe in.

I have now seen with my own teary eyes that there are A LOT of actual people working incredibly hard and efficiently to make sure that the next generation will not have to deal with the same set of issues we currently face. Bluntly put, the White House has a conscience.

We were of course only there for a couple hours, but I walked away with the genuine feeling that the administration understands the complexities of Jewish social issues, the need to broaden the discussion about Israel to actually achieve peace during this Presidency (like I said - rarely have optimistic experiences - I mean religious), and how deeply leadership dynamics play a part in our communities and beyond. Moreover, they are thinking past the band-aids. They are seeking out resources to resolutions on a well-written laundry list of issues and they want our help. As I often say around the Office of JDub: "Let's do it!"

What does it mean to be PunkTorah? In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck If..."

-You've seriously considered taking speed in order to stay awake on Shavuot

-You only have one-night stands with girls/guys you've met at JCC

-Your rabbi is on your Top 8 on Myspace

-You hosted a bar mitzvah for your black, lesbian neighbor's dog

-You think Whole Foods should sell organic gelt

-You got your "Never Forget" tattoo on Friday night after watching Schindler's List

-You try to match up the rhythm of the Shema with your favorite Sex Pistols song

-You love the High Holidays because you get to wear your Converse high tops to Shul

-You despise bureaucracy but will join every Jewish group on Facebook

-You feel a sense of indie street cred for knowing that Brian Chase from Yeah Yeah Yeahs is also in a band on JDub Records

-You secretly admire Chabadniks because they out-drink everyone on Purim

-You're on a never-ending-quest for a hemp yarmulke with an anarchy symbol

-Your car has "gefilte fish", Obama, and Apple stickers on the bumper

-You like going to Hillel meetings to see "how the other half lives"

-You beat the shit out of everyone at No Limit Texas Dreidel

-For the guys... if you've considered becoming a frum because their beards are "metal as balls"

-For the ladies...if you wish the local sheitel store had wigs in blue, green or fire engine red

And finally, you might be PunkTorah if you consider it a mitzvot to get rabbinical students stoned after they pass final exams, because those kids worked their asses off and deserve a nice vacation with Mary Jane.

Calling all Jewcers! We are having a party! And it is TONIGHT!

Starting at 7:00, Author Adam Mansbach will be joining us for an exclusive chat about The End of The Jews, his new book about ethnic identity, music, and cross-generational ties.

He will be joined in discussion by Keith Gessen, editor in cheif of n+1 and contributor to the Atlantic, New York Magazine, Slate, and New York Review of Books.

Gessen says of the book, "When I hear the words multigenerational Jewish epic I usually reach for my yarmulke. But Mansbach creates something else here, and his novel makes for more tough-minded reading than we are used to on this subject...This is a heartfelt, truthful book."

Oh, and did we forget to mention that JDub will be providing the music for the evening? And that they're bringing some special guests (you didn't hear it from us.)

And if that wasn't enough enticement, our friends at Schmaltz Brewing are going to make sure the He'Brew is a-flowing.

So, do it! And before you head out the door, send a quick " "Hell yes, I will be there!" to RSVP@Jewcy.com.

The party goes down at the Jewcy Bat cave, 45 Main Street, suite 613 in Brooklyn, NY.

 

Welcome to a semi-regular column by JDub Records founder Aaron Bisman. Since he spends his days immersed in new Jewish music, we asked him what he listens to on his time off.

She's so unusual: Kaki King"Pull Me Out Alive" – Kaki King
Kaki King was good friends with one of my roommates senior year of college, so she hung around our place sometimes. With the exception of a baal tshuva and a former frummie from Monsey, my other Alphabet City roommates were all musicians, and being surrounded by artists was by turns inspiring, maddening, and fun as hell. Kaki had a very unique air about her—quiet but obviously passionate. Mellow in conversation but aggressive on her guitar. We went to a few of her early shows, where she stood alone onstage using her guitar as a drum when she wasn’t fingerpicking the hell out it. It wasn't what I expected to see (or like) in a New York club, but she was totally captivating.

In the past year, Kaki's career has taken off. Sean Penn asked her to do music for Into the Wild and she worked with the Foo Fighters on their last album. She’s no longer a mute instrumentalist—last week, she put out Dreaming Of Revenge. You MUST watch this video. Yes, the light effect is similar to those annoying Sprint commercials. But this video was made from 5,000 still photographs. And the song has that perfect poppy edge while staying rooted in Kaki’s alternative/indie base. Love it.

"Cocaine" – Sly & the Revolutionaries & Jah Thomas Dreux
Dub is essentially reggae with the delay effects turned up and the vocals turned down—chill instrumental music. Adam Mansbach, the author of The End of the Jews, turned me onto this track. Adam’s book is about a multigenerational family of Jewish artists, including stoned bar mitzvah DJs and graffiti-bombing grandfathers When he made a “playlist” for the book, he included this and described it as solid music to write to. So I took his advice, bought it on iTunes, and put it on as I started to write this. I think it's a new essential in my collection.

"Big Mistake" – Tim Fite
Mark my words, Tim Fite is the new Beck. He's steeped in blues, country, and the hip hop art of sampling, but has a personality (and stage show) all his own. I bummed a ride with Tim to Bonnaroo last year in a van where we were only allowed to listen to books on tape and ‘80s hip also on tape—and we had to stop in the mountains of Tennessee to check out a gourd stand (where we convinced his brother, Greg Fite, to buy a hand-made raccoon-skin hat). Tim plays acoustic guitar onstage, and Greg runs sampler and projections, which often show Tim backing himself up on other instruments, and other times feature Tim’s illustrations and animations. Have I made the “personality all his own” point well enough yet?

This song is from his upcoming album, “Fair Ain’t Fair.” It’s a great leap forward in Tim's songwriting and style, but also a perfect introduction to his music: Catchy, melodic, easy to sing along with, but still with the bleeps and blips and weird moments I love him for. You can hear it here.

Rays of sunshine: DeVotchKa"Transliterator" – DeVotchKa
Heard this on Woxy.com, a great online radio station I recently got into. DeVotchKa waves the flag of “Gypsy rock” (the camp inhabited by Gogol Bordello, Balkan Beat Box, Slavic Soul Party, Golem, etc), which I've never fully understood. Using an accordion is great, but it doesn’t make the music Gypsy (or Roma). I hear more David Byrne that Eugene Hutz.

This track is from DeVotchKa’s album, which came out this week. It's also the second song in today's list from Anti Records, which I guess makes me an Anti fan. I love the keyboard riff, the delicate sound of the music, the strings – I can almost imagine this being used in an extended cut of a van-chasing scene in Little Miss Sunshine (which they scored).

"Purim crunk"(from the Emory Hillel)
Thursday night is Purim, so we can’t miss the only opportunity I’ll have to showcase my favorite and only Purim Crunk song, called, appropriately, “Purim Crunk.” It was commissioned by Emory University's Hillel last year. I’m pretty sure the artists weren’t Jews, which makes their accurate retelling of the Purim story all the more impressive. Please download this song and play it loud and proud at your Masquerade balls this weekend.

Don’t have a Purim plan? JDub has five, in NY, Boston, Cleveland, SF, & LA and we’d love to see you at one of them.

Previously: Yeasayer and more

Welcome to a new semi-regular column by JDub Records founder Aaron Bisman. Since he spends his days immersed in new Jewish music,we asked him what he listens to on his time off. The answer: More Jewish music, plus some funk and indie rock.

What I’m listening to:

Bonnaroo, here we come: The hippie hipsters of Yeasayer"Wait for the Summer" – Yeasayer
I’m not as up on music as I’d like to be—probably not up enough to qualify as a true hipster. So maybe I’m late to jump on this bandwagon, but after spotting Yeasayer on many a “Best of 2007” list, I caught the young Brooklyn ensemble live at Bowery Ballroom and became an instant fan. They remind me of many things—Talking Heads, Toubab Krewe, 70s classic rock—without sounding like any of them. They do make me think “indie” and “alternative” might be turning into new euphemisms for “jam band,” but hey, I like the 2 AM set at Bonnaroo.

"P’sach Lanu Sha’ar (Open the Gates for Us)" – The Sway Machinery
Jeremiah Lockwood is a member of Balkan Beat Box and a recipient of the Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists. This unreleased recording is part of his fellowship project, Hidden Melodies Revealed. Cantorial solos, Afro-pop horn lines, and Jeremiah’s obsession with the blues meld into a sound that’s genuinely unlike any other on the scene today—Jewish or otherwise. Jeremiah performs like a man possessed. His shows, which feature members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Antibalas, and the Arcade Fire, are exciting and frightening all at once. How else would you want your Rosh Hashanah liturgy? I can’t wait for the full record.

"House by the Sea" – Iron & Wine
I thought Iron & Wine was a singer-songwriter, but after playing his new album, The Shepherd’s Dog, on repeat, I’m not so sure. He transcends the narrow boundaries of such genre classifications with songs like “House by the Sea," which begins with a swell of sounds that is mostly (entirely?) acoustic but could just as easily be an electronica intro to a Thievery Corporation song. A minute in, it turns into a beautifully melodic masterpiece. He doesn’t lose any of the textures but continues to build them up, keeping me interested in the story and the sound, and leaving me feeling like I want to live in this lush aesthetic.

No cough syrup necessary: Kid Cudi"Day 'N’ Nite" – Kid Cudi
This is my new jam, but I don’t know how to pronounce his name. (Cutie? Cuddy like what a cow chews?) Regardless, the newest signing to Fool’s Gold (the label from A-Trak, the turntable wiz who also happens to be Kanye’s DJ and a Polish-Canadian-Jew), turns out a slick electro backpacker banger. The half-time beat reminds me of a chopped and screwed remix, except this song is dance-floor–worthy without the two bottles of cough syrup.

"Kartzioy (Leeches)" – Sagol 59
I’ve known Sagol, the Godfather of Israeli hip hop, since 2000, when I met him performing at the now defunct Syndrome in Jerusalem. It was one of the first hip-hop shows in Israel, a low-key affair with Sha’anan Street of Hadag Nachash, a few hooting hippies, and a sax player who claimed to have been in one of Miles Davis’ bands. He’s come a long way since those days of covering NWA in Hebrew.

Sagol’s newest album, Make Room, which will be coming out on JDub later this spring, was produced by a 17-year-old prodigy named Johnny HaKattan (little Johnny). It brings his lyrical assault into a brighter, poppier palette of sounds that has challenged Sagol to update his flow and his lyrics. The first five times I heard the chorus to this song, I thought it was some African dialect; the distorted, high-pitched vocals blend together into an almost indistinguishable sound, and my Hebrew’s not that great. In reality, he’s telling the story of the constantly downtrodden—what Israelis call “a fryer.” (Basically, a sucker. If you’re Israeli, you probably live in fear of being classified as one because everyone’s trying to screw you.)

Blow Your Head – Fred Wesley & The JBs
Fred Wesley has played trombone with Parliament, with Bootsy Collins, and, most famously, in the JB’s (that would be James Brown’s band, both with and without the Godfather of Soul). I got this track on a cheesy-looking compilation from 1988 called “James Brown’s Funky People pt. 2.” Whenever I need a little pick-me-up in the office, I turn this on. It opens with a wicked synth line, and then the drums come in and you can see the Funky People getting down. I either want to dance with them or sample this in a hip hop beat (which I’m sure has already been done to death).

Guess what Fred’s newest project is? Playing with JDub’s own Socalled – you can hear him on a track from Ghettoblaster called “(These are the) Good Old Days.”

• Soulico: Israeli DJ CrewJDub Records presents Soulico: Recovered from jet lag and ready to spin, Israeli DJ crew Soulico drops Hebrew-inflected beats at New York's Canal Room. If we're lucky they'll get girly and scratch up "Milkshake" and a Hebrew "Crazy in Love" (yes, you read that right). Arrive early for the "Drink and Think," which includes an extra hour of open bar and a discussion with JDub head Aaron Bisman, Soulico and special guests. We say drink more, think less.

• Passover 'How To': So, what's up with Passover and all this talk of 'seders'? Learn tonight at the JCC's "Passover Multiculturalism: How and Why This Night is Different." Jennifer Abadi, author of A Fistful of Lentils: Syrian-Jewish Recipes from Grandma Fritzie’s Kitchen, explains the different traditions and sends you home with a goodie bag of recipes.

Want to see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar, and send the link to info@jewcy.com.