Jazz classic ‘’Round Midnight’ becomes all-night Shavuot meditation By Andrew Gilbert May 23, 2022 Talmudic scholars have nothing on jazz musicians when it comes to disputing the fine points of a canonical text — well, tune. While pianist Thelonious Monk’s sublime ballad “’Round Midnight” has been recorded many hundreds of times, including more than a dozen by the composer himself, the exact contours of its form and harmonic structure… Read More
Theater Broadway’s new Evan Hansen is an Asian-American with mohel parents In a different world, Asian Jewish actor Zachary Noah Piser would’ve become an Olympic swimmer. “Before the age where everyone started growing, I was… By Evelyn Frick, Alma May 19, 2022
Music Unable to film in Ukraine, Eurovision winners made intro video in Israel This year’s Eurovision Song Contest did not go Israel’s way — but even though the country didn’t make it to the final for the first time in six years, it… By Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA May 16, 2022
Music Jewlia Eisenberg channels anti-fascist Italian lovers on posthumous album A year after Jewlia Eisenberg’s death, she’s still on the front lines, mixing it up with the bullies and authoritarians and raising her voice for lovers… By Andrew Gilbert May 6, 2022
Music Lara Downes is on a mission to celebrate Black composers Lara Downes is the queen of classical music in California. Each weeknight from 8 p.m. to midnight, Downes hosts a program that can be heard in the Bay… By Andrew Esensten Apr 29, 2022
Music Krakow Jewish Culture Fest comes to S.F. The annual Jewish Culture Festival held in Krakow, Poland, is the world’s largest presentation of contemporary culture created by Jews from around the… By Andrew Esensten Apr 28, 2022
Sports Why does the Utah Jazz basketball team play ‘Hava Nagila’ after wins? A few years ago, Rachel Picado attended a Utah Jazz game in Salt Lake City with Israeli diplomat Eitan Na’eh, who was visiting from Los Angeles. During… By Andrew Esensten, JTA Apr 25, 2022
Music This soprano wants to 'make Wagner turn over in his grave' Emma McAlister is looking to make the earth move at her graduate recital at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Well, to be more specific, her… By Andrew Gilbert Apr 21, 2022
Music Klezmer and European folk groups team up for Ukraine benefit concert Ever since the first bombs fell, Paul Alexander had been horrified by Russia’s war on Ukraine. The Petaluma resident had desperately wanted to do… By Dan Pine Apr 20, 2022