Nationwide musical series showcases innovative Jewish artists for all to enjoy
The first season of Secret Chord Concerts, a new video series showcasing the latest in Jewish music across genres, kicks off on June 1. This exciting collaboration between the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia and the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at UCLA promises to reflect the diversity and complex cultural landscape of the Jewish community and America.
The series, inspired by the idea of a Jewish 'Tiny Desk' style series by Dan Samuels, Director of Public Programs at The Weitzman, will air the first Wednesday of every month from June until October. Each concert, ranging from 15-25 minutes in length, will be recorded live in Philadelphia and Los Angeles and will be available on-demand after the event on the Facebook pages, The Weitzman's website, and the Lowell Milken Center's YouTube page.
The series opener on June 1 features New Moon Rising, a trio of female voices in Jewish music. Their concert will include original spiritual music with violin, mandolin, and guitar, and the audio from their performance will be released as a debut album this summer.
On August 3, Neta Elkayam will take the stage, playing Moroccan-Jewish fusion music. This concert is a community partnership with Jews in ALL Hues.
On September 7, Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell with the Baymele ensemble will perform Yiddish art and folk songs.
October 6 will see the performance of Andy Statman, a NEA National Heritage Award-winning Klezmer and Bluegrass multi-instrumentalist. Due to the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur on Wednesday, October 5, the concert will be released on Thursday, October 6.
The series also includes an episode on July 6, featuring Mostly Kosher, who will perform Jewish cultural revival music. Unfortunately, specific details about the performing artists in the first four episodes, apart from Mostly Kosher, were not available at the time of this article.
Lorry Black, Associate Director of the Lowell Milken Center, is thrilled about the partnership with The Weitzman to present this new endeavor, which aims to bring the rich and varied world of Jewish music to a wider audience. The concerts will not only entertain but also educate, providing insight into the diversity and history of Jewish music in America.
Stay tuned for more episodes of Secret Chord Concerts, where each week, a new artist will bring their unique sound to the stage, promising a musical journey like no other.
The Secret Chord Concerts series, airing on the first Wednesday of each month from June to October, will not only entertain with diverse Jewish music genres but also educate viewers about the history and diversity of Jewish music in America. Each concert, including performances by New Moon Rising, Neta Elkayam, Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell with the Baymele ensemble, Mostly Kosher, and Andy Statman, will be available on demand after the live event on Facebook, The Weitzman's website, and the Lowell Milken Center's YouTube page.
