JewsNews March 2007
Hi there fans!
In this newsletter you' find out about up-coming gigs for the Jews Brothers Band, and we'll also tell you where Linn Lorkin's Kiwiana Tour can be seen around the country.
But first ...
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J E W S B R O S I S R A E L I N A T I O N A L R A D I O I N T E R V I E W_____
We recently sent all our CDs to one of the hosts on Israeli National Radio, a chap called Walter Bingham who already had the Mordechai track from somewhere and had requested some more of our music to play on his "Walter's World" show. His comment on receiving and hearing the CDs was that we are "very different, and very exciting ... You are a crazy lot," and he organised a recorded interview by phone from Jerusalem to our HQ here in Grey Lynn.
We had a lot of fun passing the phones around and talking about the songs that were featured: Hobos, Shadrak, Alabama, Too Much Talent, Dunkin' Bagels -- and of course the fabulous Mordechai, one of our fans' all-time favourites. The interview will be broadcast on http://www.israelnationalradio.com at 5pm this Sunday their time, so if you want you can set your alarms for 4am Monday 19 March......! Insomniacs of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your sleep!! Or you can listen to it at any time for up to one week by clicking the archive spot on the site.
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U P C O M I N G G I G S_____
Sat 24 March Kell Reserve Albany 2:15 to 4pm
the Jews Brothers Band play as part of the Shore Sounds series
Sun 15 April Red Square Auckland just behind the Britomart 4pm to 5pm
FREE CONCERT with the Jews Brothers Band as part of the AKO7 FESTIVAL
THE WAIHEKE JAZZ FESTIVAL
We are excited to be featuring in our line-up a young guest soloist -- Urs Signer from Switzerland by way of Wellington -- who swung up a storm on clarinet when he played with us recently on our Wellington tour.
The JBB features three days running as part of the All Day Jazz Party
Friday 6 April 4-6pm
Saturday 7 April 4-6pm
Sunday 8 April 4-6pm
all these will be at the Festival Site at Matiatia
On the Saturday night there will be a concert called "Piano Heaven" and Linn and Hersh (that's me) will be doing some of the playing when at times two pianos will be played simultaneously! Also on the bill are such great players as Will Sargisson, David Paquette and Stephen Grant.
Bookings and more information: http://www.waihekejazz.co.nz
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T H E L I N N L O R K I N K I W I A N A T O U R_____
The people have voted -- Linn Lorkin's 'Family at the Beach' is New Zealanders' favourite kiwi summer song. Following four weeks and hundreds of nominations in National Radio's January Beach Ballad and Crib Chorale Contest, listeners placed 'Family at the Beach' number one. This beat out Slice of Heaven by miles -- no not Miles Davis, Dave Dobbyn!
The original 1985 recording of the song with the NZSO has been taken from its vinyl and included as the last track on Linn's new Kiwiana album which was released late last year and has immediately become a classic New Zealand album. It appeals to all ages from babies to the elderly and the reviewers like it too: "her new album shimmers with all things quaint and Kiwi" says one, "it's fantastic to hear someone singing about kauri, kereru, kawakawa and tui" writes another. "Told with the intimacy and joy of the natural songwriter who is on a perpetual journey and taking us all with her ... as fresh as the sea-breeze through the pohutukawa" is yet another comment, and "a wonderful summer party feel", "a delicious album" we've also read.
Now comes the opportunity to hear the fun, upbeat songs on the album delivered in person by the artiste at the piano 'CAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD! Yes ... a 22 date national tour through the auspices of Arts on Tour NZ which begins in Matamata on Tuesday 10 April, moves south as far as Riverton, returning to Rawene on Sat 5 May.
"She's also a startling mix of Kiwi reticence, New York chutzpah, Gallic sophistication and barefaced, indigenous kitsch." -- Diana Wichtel in The Listener
On tour, Linn will be accompanied by fellow Jews Brothers Band performer Herschel on accordion and vocals and back-up vocalist, along with Anna Rugis, who has an impeccable pedigree as back-up vocalist to George Harrison, Van Morrison, Cliff Richard, Cat Stevens and Cilla Black. Come to the show and hear Lorkin, Rugis and Hersch, the kiwi Gladys Knight and the Pips!
One of the main themes of the show is a nostalgia trip through New Zealand in the '50s, '60s AND '70s. We will be travelling around the country in a van with a custom built kitchen from which Herschel [that's me] will dispense perfectly formed lamingtons, ginger crunches and stuffed eggs. Hershal writes that he is particularly fond of lamingtons so there might not be any left by the time of each night's performance so better make sure you bring some with you. But if any of the ladies forget to bring their plate, he can make up the shortfall.
Here's the itinerary. You can find out more details by contacting Steve Thomas at Arts On Tour, Christchurch -- aotnz@xtra.co.nz
April
Tue 10 Matamata, Little Theatre
Wed 11 Pukeatua, Out In The Styx
Thu 12 New Plymouth, TSB Showplace
Fri 13 Wanganui, Stellar Cafe
Sat 14 Picton, Le Cafe
Sun 15 Onekaka, Mussel Inn
Mon 16 Karamea, venue tbc
Tue 17 Hanmer Springs, Anglican Church
Wed 18 Music Centre of Christchurch
Thu 19 Rolleston Community Centre
Fri 20 Ashburton, Balmoral Hall
Sat 21 Oamaru, Penguin Club
Sun 22 Dunedin, Lochinvar's, Railway Station
Tue 24 Balclutha, Rosebank Motor Lodge
Wed 25 Riverton, Arts Centre
Thu 26 Te Anau, Black Dog Cafe
Fri 27 Arrowtown, Village Hall
Sun 29 Christchurch, Folk Club, Cokers
May
Wed 2 Port Waikato, Community Hall
Fri 4 Rawene
Sat 5 Kerikeri
Sun 6 Leigh, Sawmill Cafe
Fri 11 Raumati South, Lembas Cafe
Sat 12 Petone, Bluegrass Society
Sun 13 Wellington,Happy
Sun 20 Auckland, Shanghai Lil's, Franklin Rd, Freemans Bay
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M U S I C B U Y E R B E W A R E !_____
This is the Serious Department...
Apropos of the Waiheke Island of Jazz Weekend, it has come to our attention that there is a performance at another venue on the island that is NOT part of the Festival by a band calling themselves "The Stars of Buena Vista".
Please note that these musicians are NOT the Buena Vista Social Club, most of whom are now deceased, nor have any of these musicians ever been part of the Buena Vista Social Club. In fact they are not even from Cuba -- though there might be some Cuban ex-pats who are playing with them.
The point is that this is an exploitation of the name and therefore deliberately misleading. Beware! They should be called Mala Vista!
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C D s F O R S A L E_____
Don't forget that as well as CDs by the Jews Brothers Band and Linn Lorkin all the other Rouge Records CDs -- such as French Toast and Nigel's Thrum -- can be ordered through the Rouge website: visit http://www.rouge.co.nz. If you've bookmarked the Jews Brothers Band's site, http://www.jewsbrothers.com, this will link to the Rouge site.
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L I N N I N T H E L I S T E N E R_____
And just before we get the serious part of Jews News (now ain't that a joke!) -- check out Diana Wichtel's article on Linn Lorkin in this week's Listener. But hurry ... only two days left for you to buy this 17 March issue. Titled "Linn of Paua", this it starts of like this:
Linn Lorkin -– pianist, actress, songbird, once, briefly, a jailbird -- is quite subdued in person. "I'm actually very shy. I'm one of those artists if someone rejects me over the phone I'll go, 'Oh, okay, that's all right, sorry to have bothered you'."
But when she opens her mouth to sing, she accelerates from diffident to diva in a beat. We're barely in the door of the creative, rented Grey Lynn chaos Lorkin calls home before she's giving us the reflex razzle dazzle:
"This is the Kiwiana Linn Lorkin Show
Two happy hours from go to whoa
With Auntie Betty, Cousin Bill, Marmite sandwiches and cordial …
It's a singing, dancing redhead blast
White hot piano, all-star cast …"
If there are none in the shops, the full text will be available online on 17 March at www.listener.co.nz
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J E W I S H J O K E T I M E_____
Now, for your favourite part of the newsletter, so have a laugh on us:
Moses died and went to heaven. God greets him at the Pearly Gates.
"Are you hungry, Moses?" says God. "I could eat," Moses replies.
So God opens a can of tuna and reaches for a chunk of rye bread and they share it.
While eating this humble meal, Moses looks down into Hell and sees the inhabitants devouring huge steaks, briskets, pheasants, pastries and wines.
Curious, but deeply trusting, he remains quiet.
The next day God again invites him to join Him for a meal.
Again, it is tuna and rye bread. Once again, Moses can see the denizens of Hell enjoying salmon, champagne, lamb, truffles and chocolates. Still he says nothing.
The following day, meal time arrives and another can of tuna is opened. He can't contain himself any longer.
Meekly, he says: "God, I am grateful to be in heaven with you as a reward for the pious, obedient life I led. But here in heaven all I get to eat is tuna and a piece of rye bread, and in the Other Place they eat like emperors and kings! I just don't understand."
God sighs. "Let's be honest," He says. "For just two people, does it pay to cook?"
Oy! And ...
A man walks into shul with a dog. The shammas comes up to him and says,
"Pardon me, this is a house of worship, you can't bring your dog in here."
"What do you mean," says the man, "this is a Jewish dog. Look!"
And the shammas looks carefully and sees that in the same way that a St. Bernard carries a brandy barrel round its neck this dog has a tallis bag round its neck.
"Rover," says the man, "Kipa!".
"Woof!" says the dog, stands on his hind legs, opens the tallis bag, takes out a kipa and puts it on his head.
"Rover," says the man, "tallis!".
"Woof!" says the dog, stands on his hind legs, opens the tallis bag, takes out a tallis and puts it round his neck.
"Rover," says the man, "daven!".
"Woof!" says the dog, stands on his hind legs, opens the tallis bag, takes out a siddur and starts to daven.
"That's fantastic," says the shammas, "absolutely amazing, incredible! You should take him to Hollywood, get him on television, get him in the movies, he could make millions of dollars!!
"You speak to him," says the man, "he wants to be a doctor."
Oy!
Hope you enjoyed this -- we value your feedback. Brickbats and bouquets to jewsnews@jewsbrothers.com
Shalom already,
Hershal