Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Jewish Family Performers

GeminiWork on the Detroit JCC's Stephen Gottlieb Jewish Music Festival continues. It looks like we've committed to doing a family performance during next years fest. That's nice. Last year we had Rabbi Joe Black and he put on a great show. I'm not on the committee that's picking this year's performer (I'm working on a "progressive" Jewish music showcase") But, as the resident Jewish music obsessive/compulsive I was asked to put together a list of likely performers. Here's what I came up with. Some have been featured here on Teruah before..others have been shamefully neglected. (I'll fix that) I've only seen a small handful live, so this list is meant as a reference not an endorsement. I'm sure I'm missing some wonderful folk, particularly from the Chassid and Orthodox communities. Please write in and let me know. Also let me know who on the list you've seen and what you thought.

First the local Michigan performers. I've seen both live and both are wonderful.
  1. Gemini http://www.geminichildrensmusic.com/ (Ann Arbor)
  2. Elain Serling http://www.elaineserling.com/ (Detroit)
Now, the not so local....
  1. Rabbi Joe Black - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22130975491
  2. The Mama Doni Band - http://www.mamadoni.com/
  3. Shira Klein (ShirLala) - http://www.shirlala.com/index.php/front/
  4. Dafna (ShirFun) - https://www.shirfun.com/
  5. Stephanie Schneiderman Https://oybaby.com (The discs are great. I'm not sure if she tours)
  6. Uncle Moishe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Moishy_and_the_Mitzvah_Men (BIG following in the Orthodox community)
  7. Craig Taubman http://www.craignco.com/index.php
  8. The Macaroons http://jdubrecords.org/artists.php?id=33 (not sure if they tour)
  9. Barry Polisar http://www.barrylou.com/index.html (mostly secular, w/some Jewish material, wickedly funny, been around a LONG time)
  10. Dahlia Tolopsky http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dahliatopolosky (not sure if she tours)
  11. Peter and Ellen Alard http://www.peterandellen.com/
  12. Fran Avni http://www.franavni.com/
  13. Shir Synergy http://lisa.shirsynergy.com/
  14. Karen Daniel http://www.karendaniel.com/
  15. Judy Farber http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/judyfarber
  16. Andi Joseph http://www.musicalmommy.com/
  17. Cantor Jeff Klepper http://www.jeffklepper.com/ (who, along with Debbie Friedman and Dan Freelander, pretty much invented Reform songleader style)
  18. Carolyn Boyd Leon http://www.carolboydleon.com/
  19. Mark Russio, The Marvelous Toy http://www.themarveloustoy.com/
  20. Mah Tovu http://www.mahtovu.com/Mah_Tovu/Home.html
  21. Cindy Paley http://www.cindypaley.com/
  22. Rick Rect http://www.rickrecht.com/ (more for the teen/camp crowd)
  23. Dan Nichols http://www.jewishrock.com/index2.asp (also more for the teen/camp crowd)
  24. The Shiretts http://www.shirettes.com/
  25. Judy Caplan Ginsburgh http://www.judymusic.com/
  26. Sheldon Low http://sheldonlow.com/
  27. FunkeyMonkeys http://www.funkeymonkeys.com/
  28. Sam Glaser http://www.samglaser.com/

3 comments:

Mama Doni said...

Hi! It's Mama Doni. Thanks for listing us, Jack!

BTW, we will be in your neck of woods rocking our "Chanukah Fever Family Concert" at Temple Israel in Bloomfield, Michigan on December 5th @ 1pm. I'm not sure but I believe it is open the public?... so come get your dreidel on and celebrate the festival of lights with the Mama Doni Band. The show is truly for the whole mishpocha -- everyone from babies to bubbies.

check our site for more info
www.mamadoni.com

;-)
Doni

Jack said...

Hi Doni...sounds great. I'd love to come.

Sheree said...

Love your site! We're trying to put a children's program together here in Buffalo so this list is a helpful starting point!

(totally unrelated, Teruah introduced me to Jewdyssee several years ago. When are they going to put out a cd?!)