Now you can bring the Festival home. This first volume of Jewlicious Festival recordings was mastered and mixed under the supervision of Adam Weinberg in Miami, FL, pressed and printed by Rainbo Records in LA, and recorded live with ProTools at Jewlicious Festival 5.0 on Feb 27 and 28, 2009.

I have been listening to these tracks for a week and it feels like you are there at the Festival.

So you want a copy? To get your copy of the Jewlicious Festival Live – Volume 1 all you have to do is make a
modest $36 donation to the Festival, and you will get the CD as a free gift!

Featuring music by Moshav, Aharit Hayamim, Y-Love, Diwon, Kosha Dillz, Rav Shmuel, Jewdyssee, Dov Rosenblatt. Enjoy these high-fidelity live recordings that will bring you front and center to the Saturday Night Mainstage Concert. (If you want you can also get one at the Fest – We are giving away copies of the CD at Jewlicious Festival thanks to Repair the World!)

Again this is not available for purchase. The bands have graciously donated their tracks to help us raise funds and spread the music of the Festival around the world. This CD is your gift with a donation of $36 or more which goes to subsidizing student tickets to the Festival.

Donation of $36 / S & H: $3.99

This CD was made possible thanks to Repair The World.

These concerts are by far the most ambitious that we have ever conceived. So if you cannot come for the whole festival – we have put on sale a limited number of tickets for Saturday night and for Sunday.

What are you waiting for? It will be one of those events that people talk about for a long time. Debut bands this year include Jewdysee all the way from Germany, and Israeli grassroots sensation Aharit Hayamim. Aharit blend the many cultural influences of Israel into one jamming sound. Jewdysee is one of the most exciting acts in all of Europe. Last year Moshav brought down the roof – so we brought them back, as well as internationally acclaimed hip-hop rapper Y-Love. Additional stars of this year’s line-up include, Blue Fringe founder, Dov Rosenblatt, Shempseed creator Erez Safar, aka Diwon and Nosson Zand, who recently toured with Matisyahu. We’ll dance into the night with DJ Eric Rosen & The Twelve Tribes.

Also enjoy the amazing and intense music of these fine performers— Adam Weinberg, J. Kleinberg, Inbar Bakal, David Finlay Quartet, Kosha Dilz, and a surprise guest or two. We are thrilled to announce that the Concert Series will be musically MC’d by Jewlicious fan favorite Rav Shmuel, back by popular demand.

Advance Ticket Price: $ 20
Door Ticket Price: $ 25

Click here, select Feb. 28 from the drop-down menu, buy some tickets today!

We asked every performer to prepare a greeting to the participants of Jewlicious Festival. We think they are pretty clever. Some are made just this week – and a few are classic videos they submitted to highlight their work. We think you’ll find them all very entertaining.

Thanks to all the bands that recorded these fantastic videos. we also can’t wait to see you for JF5

JEWLICIOUS GOES VIRAL

Rav Shmuel – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4GHaYFcVRg

Y-Love – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI_tq-9dtVw&feature=channel_page

Diwon – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfZEMdn_iFw&feature=channel_page

Kosha Dillz – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuy66sChLBs&feature=channel_page

Jewdyssee – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii1-NCkF-Y4

Aharit Hayamim – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcZqyAIbOPI&feature=channel

Nosson Zand – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp4L2cE9Tc0

Moshav – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq1s9_Y8H44

J.Kleinberg – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI9ViQxhDy4

Dov Rosenblatt – http://www.youtube.com/v/qpA_7voclYk&hl=en&fs=1

Written by Matthue Roth – MyJewishLearning.com

Just when it seems there’s nothing Shemspeed can’t do, they take another bite of the Jewish music plate and grind it between their teeth. Shemspeed was originally an outgrowth of the hip-hop music label Modular Moods Records, run by Erez Safar, who’s an observant Yemenite Jew. For just over a year, they’ve tried to be the go-to folks for Jewish music, producing hip-hop albums, keeping a bustling Jewish music calendar, and keeping an exhaustive database of Jewish musicians and bands.

Their latest effort, 40 Days and 40 Nights, is an ambitious undertaking — a massive national tour in (you guessed it) 40 days that brings together musicians, rappers, and learning sessions visiting local Hillels and taking over for the day, and then putting on a show that night. We spoke to the seemingly never-sleeping Safar about putting together the tour, what he plans to do with it, and some guest stars who you might recognize from late-night TV…

The Tour will climax at Jewlicious Festival 5.0

So, tell me about 40 Days and 40 Nights.

I was talking to Daniel Seliger from 12 Tribe Sound about doing a tour with Y-Love, who I was producing and his group Riddimtion which was the group who did the first Matisyahu record–a sort of rap and reggae tour of Jewish artists and values, calling it 40 Days and 40 Nights. Fast forward 3 years, I was riding my bike and it hit me–Shemspeed should produce a massive 40 Days 40 Nights taking the performance idea with artists to the next level: a more diverse line up, and include education and such into the mix, playing on the DAYS part. I hit up Dov of Blue Fringe about it and jumped on board right away, and we started meeting with people who were equally stoked.

Reposted from MyJewishLearning.com click here to read the whole interview

It’s true. Hip Hop Performer Y-Love, part of last year’s Jewlicious Festival, has collaborated with Erran Baron Cohen (Sasha Cohen’s) brother to produce a classic Hanukkah album that takes ancient holiday music and brings it to the 21st century incorporating Klezmer, hip hop, reggae and other genres. The album is sung in English, Hebrew, Yidding (where Y-Love comes in) and Ladino.

Don’t believe me? Read more about Erran’s album (who is also the musical composer for the Ali G show and Borat) here.

Tahlia Miller: Tahlia Miller, a first time independent filmmaker, launched her career as an educator in 2006 at Jewlicious Festival 2.0. Tahlia received a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of Film and Television and spent a year in Israel doing Advanced Jewish Studies at Neve Yerushalayim. She is the recipient of a grant from the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life to research Jewish intimacy in Israel. Tahli teaches classes on Jewish dating and intimacy that tackle the underlying philosophy, practical applications, and deeper mystical insights relevant to Jews from all backgrounds. Tahli has traveled extensively with her husband, Matisyahu, often leading discussion groups at Shabbaton programs and colleges across North America. Tahlia’s constant learning and travels with her husband to Jewish communities throughout North and South America, Europe and Israel continue to inform and enhance her world-view while inspiring her classes and lectures.

Lisa Alcalay Klug: An award-winning freelance journalist, Lisa works as a stringer for the New York Times and contributes to the San Francisco Chronicle, Forward, Jerusalem Post, and many other publications. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe (Summer ’08), a celebration of Jewish pride with love, enthusiasm and irreverence.

Eliabeth Eve Alpern: Elizabeth Eve Alpern is publisher of New Voices and director of the Jewish Student Press Service. A New York native, she spent four years in Montreal where she earned a B.A. from McGill University in Jewish Studies in 2006. Elizabeth has also spent extended amounts of time in France and Israel studying French and Hebrew and interning in museums and NGOs. She is very interested in Jewish-American Identity, LGBT issues, Hip Hop and Cooking.

Josh Nathan-Kazis : Josh Nathan-Kazis is the editor of New Voices, the national magazine for Jewish college students. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007.

Yocheved Sidof:Yocheved Sidof is a filmmaker and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY, who has created promotional videos for Jewish organizations around the country. Yocheved is currently co-directing her first feature length documentary, “Can’t Touch This,” which follows the story of a young girl falling in love and struggling to uphold the Jewish laws of modesty.

Adam Weinberg : Adam Weinberg is a concert promoter, producer, and musician. Currently Adam works on building both large arena tours throughout North and South America, as well as smaller cultural events geared towards the Jewish community. Before moving to Miami Beach in 2005, Adam was the director for the St. Louis, MO based concert group Music for Culture. Adam has accompanied many accomplished musicians including Brazilian percussion icon Cyro Baptista, and famed reggae singer Matisyahu. Adam composed the original music for several award winning documentaries including Twisted and Unsettled.

Niles Elliot Goldstien: Niles Elliot Goldstein is the founding rabbi of The New Shul, an innovative and independent congregation in Greenwich Village, New York. He is the award-winning author of 9 books, including “Gonzo Judaism: A Bold Path for Renewing an Ancient Faith” and “God at the Edge: Searching for the Divine in Uncomfortable and Unexpected Places.” Goldstein served as the voice behind “Ask the Rabbi” on MSN and is the National Jewish Chaplain for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. Niles holds a black belt in karate, and he has traveled through such remote and rugged regions as Mongolia, Alaska, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Amazon.

Erez a.k.a. dj Handler: DJ HANDLER (NYC) – Erez a.k.a. dj handler is the founder and director of Shemspeed (largest, most diverse Jewish music site), Modular Moods (an independent record label), The Sephardic Music Festival and Hip Hop Sulha. As the brains behind the Shemspeed empire and many of the hyped parties in and around NYC, dj handler defies musical stereotypes. As a multicultural maestro, he spins a mix of Baile Funk and Afro Beat blended with 80′s free style and hip hop, while incorporating Ashkenazic cantorial music and traditional Yemenite melodies . He has performed with Lou Reed, Anthony Coleman, Matisyahu, MC Paul Barman, Spankrock, and Idan Raichel, and countless others. The Village Voice stated that his work “as producer and DJ is among the most adventurous and banging on the new Jewish music scene;” and the Forward listed him as one of the Top 50 “most influential Jews of 2007″. dj handler’s music, style, and presence get famous US clubs to resemble the craziest festivals abroad.

Elias Parker:Elias serves as the first Fellow at the Center for Leadership Initiatives, at which his portfolio includes contributing to the maintenance, development, and facilitation of projects, programs, and networks including the Charlie Awards, ROI 120 and CLI’s website. His history with the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation began in 2005 when he was awarded a Charlie Award in Jerusalem. Elias studied Socio-Cultural Anthropology and Social Justice & Peace Studies at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Raised predominantly in Toronto and its surrounding region, Elias feels a strong connection to both his Jewish and Native American roots and has lived in Colorado and California. He currently leads an active lifestyle in Vancouver while balancing his portfolio at CLI with his graduate studies in Ethno-Political Conflict Analysis and Management.

Joshua Neuman: Joshua Neuman is the Publisher of Heeb Magazine and the Executive Director of Heeb Live.

Neuman’s first book, The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies, was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2005, and since then, has contributed to anthologies for Crown and Algonquin Books. He has appeared on BBC Radio, VH1, Air America, Court TV and National Public Radio where he’s commented on subjects ranging from aardvarks to Zinedine Zidane. He has written for Slate Magazine, eMusic, ESPN and Comedy Central and lectured at universities and colleges, including Harvard, Vassar and Tufts. His speaking engagements have taken him around the globe and are as wide and varied as the United Jewish Communities General Assembly in Toronto, the Symposium on Jewish Media at Oxford University and the Independent Press Association in San Francisco.

A graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Divinity School, Neuman has served as adjunct faculty at New York University and lectured on social theory, cultural studies and philosophy. Neuman is also a proud member of the Friar’s Club. Okay, he’s never commented on aardvarks.

Elliot Steingart: Elliot Steingart has already been compared to Jerry Seinfeld (not his comedy, his looks). Only 23, Elliot Steingart is an LA favorite who regularly performs at clubs and colleges. He writes for National Lampoon Sports Minute, Chabad Telethon in addition to performing and producing comedy shows with some of the top comics in the country. Elliot Steingart is also a producer of the King Davids of Comedy, a Jewish themed show held monthly at the Hollywood Improv and “The New Jewish Faces of Comedy” College Tour.

Doug Miro: Doug Miro has been a professional screenwriter since 1999. He has worked for all of the major studios on a variety of projects. His produced credits include THE GREAT RAID, a world war II mission movie and TALE OF TWO SISTERS, a thriller due out this spring. He is
currently working on PRINCE OF PERSIA, a Jerry Bruckheimer film
slated for release in summer ’09.

Jonathan Hajdu: Jonathan Hajdu started his wine career in the vineyards surrounding Melbourne Australia since 2003. He has worked for various wineries in California and Israel, and most recently started his own winery— the wine is so young it has yet to be named. Jonathan also enjoys the outdoors, singing songs at the Shabbos table and your occasional drum circle.

Ruth Andrew Ellenson: Ruth Andrew Ellenson receieved the National Jewish Book Award for editing the anthology The Modern Jewish Girl’s Guide to Guilt. She’s a journalist who has written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People and other publications.

Gavriel Weiss: Gavriel (a.k.a. Gabe) Weiss is a 29 year old guy with a passion for fine kosher wines. He has worked in the acclaimed Herzog Winery in California, and has produced his own label, Shirah Wine. The wine has received top ratings from renown wine makers and its label won a prestigious design award. Gabe is an all-around wine guru – he can tell you the perfect wine for the occasion and what’s what in kosher wines. He is also a highly regarding mashgiach, working in the finest kosher restaurants in NY and LA.

Rav Shmuel: Rav Shmuel is a rabbi who hangs out in Greenwich Village and plays original compositions on his guitar. According to Billboard Magazine, “Rav Shmuel’s solo debut is an immediately likable bit of good-humored anti-folk that doesn’t require the visuals or even the knowledge that, yes, Rav Shmuel really is a Hasidic rabbi … like the old slogan for Levy’s Rye Bread used to say, you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy Rav Shmuel.” With a critically acclaimed album, a hit video, and a MySpace page that playfully boasts over 8,000,000,000 friends, the good rabbi is fast becoming one of music’s must-see performers.

Lee Weissman Guru
Leibish Hundert Rabbi, Ghetto Shul Montreal
Rabbi Yonah Director, Jewlicious Festivals
Rachel Bookstein Director, Beach Hillel
Eli Winkelman Challah of a jew
Hartley Wyberg Musician, producer
Adam Hootnik Unsetteled
Esther Kustanowitz freelance writer, columnist
Jonathan Boyar Production, fundraiser
Marty Belafsky COmedian and Actor
Devorah Brous Founder of Bustan

]]> http://jewliciousfestival.com/2008/02/jewlicious-festival-40-presenter-bios/feed/ 0 http://jewliciousfestival.com/2008/01/y-love/ http://jewliciousfestival.com/2008/01/y-love/#comments Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:16:28 +0000 rabbiyonah http://jewliciousfestival.wordpress.com/2008/01/08/y-love/

The Jewlicious Festival Concert Series

Y-Love (Yitz Jordan-NYC) is an MC unlike any other; he converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2000, and later took on the traditions of Hasidism (the mystical branch of Orthodox Judaism). He is among the most innovative MCs on the scene, weaving seamless polyglot rhymes in English, Arabic, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Most unique is Y-Love’s revival of Aramaic, the language used to discuss Jewish Law and Kabbalah. With each word he spits in the tongue of ancient Babylon, Y-Love breathes new life into hip-hop, one beat at a time.

Y-Love has performed with these fine folks, Lou Reed, DJ Spooky, Hadag Nachash, Matisyahu, & Steinski at venues ranging from Princeton to Irving Plaza. Y-Love was the subject of over 50 articles just this past year. URB Magazine’ featured Y-Love, on their site, as their artist of the month. At the 2006 Jewish Music Awards, Y-Love took home the award for “Best Hip Hop Artist”. Through his unique style and music, Y-Love shows incredible talents in bringing races and religions together with the power of Hip Hop and his own personal positivity.