Entertainment and Music Events

Jewish Jazz from AmiciMusic

AmiciMusic Brings Jewish Jazz to Asheville, Hendersonville and Black Mountain

A production of the award-winning chamber music organization AmiciMusic, Jewish Jazz explores the connections between traditional Jewish Klezmer songs, classical music and American jazz of the early 20th century. From Thursday, December 15, to Sunday, December 18, clarinetist Steve Loew and pianist Daniel Weiser will perform Jewish Jazz at venues in Asheville, Hendersonville and Black Mountain.

Works by the likes of George Gershwin, Benny Goodman and Scott Joplin combine with traditional Jewish music for the fascinating mix that is Jewish Jazz. “Many people do not know about the historical connections between Jewish Klezmer and jazz music, and once they hear the two types of music back to back, it becomes much easier to hear the similarities and the symbiosis,” says Weiser, founder and artistic director of AmiciMusic.

“The immigrant Jews and African Americans who met up in NYC in the first decades of the 20th century often ended up playing in the same clubs because they were both discriminated against by certain establishments,” says Weiser. “The Jewish scale and the blues scale had certain similarities of tone and feeling that made this a natural connection.”

AmiciMusic’s mission is to make instrumental concerts relaxing, informal and completely welcoming. The organization attempts to take all the “stuffiness” out of formal productions by bringing performances outside of traditional concert halls and into smaller, more intimate spaces.

“I always talk before each piece and aim to tell some interesting stories about the composers,” says Weiser. “I often try to point out a few important things to listen for. This tends to make the experience more satisfying for the audience as well as the musicians.”

Loew and Weiser have performed all around the world and feel that Jewish Jazz is a special type of concert. “We like to call it ‘edutainment,’” says Weiser, “because we both feel it’s a very fun and educational program.” Loew is the founder of the Asheville Clarinet Quartet and Windsong Clarinet Choir. He is a former member of the US Marine Band and has performed with the New York Philharmonic and National Symphony. Weiser is a former US Artistic Ambassador of Music and has performed in over 15 countries, including Israel, Egypt, Thailand, and Syria, as well as at Carnegie Hall.

Loew and Weiser will perform Jewish Jazz on Thursday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m. at All Souls Cathedral in Biltmore Village. On Friday, December 16, at 6 p.m. the duo will bring Jewish Jazz to Agudas Israel Synagogue in Hendersonville. Saturday, December 17, the performance can be seen at the White Horse in Black Mountain at 2 p.m. The final performance will take place on Sunday, December 18, at 2 p.m. at Beth Israel Synagogue in Asheville.

Ticket prices vary based on event location. For tickets and more information visit amicimusic.org.

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