DISCLAIMER: FolkNotes is the official publication of the Israel Folkstuff Society. Views are those of the writers, not necessarily those of IFS.

Finding myself in Rochester, N.Y. for most of the summer, I also found

myself looking for local music and found it at "Golden Links", the Roch-

ester folk singing society.

A great group of people from all walks of life - doctors, lawyers and

Indian chiefs (!?)- get together with their guitars, mandolins, fiddles

and voices for a weekly sing-around. Some evenings are thematic and others are open stage for whoever has shown up that night with spontaneity or a rehearsed repertoire. Songs are "performed" both on professional and

amateur levels, each according to his or her musical talents. Bill Gamble,

president, often shares his music with handouts for all present. He

introduced me to Dave Mallet's music. Highly recommended! Bob Stewart sings really traditional stuff, acapella and with a flair! Dave Mongeau plays and sings his originals as well as more popular numbers. And that's just for starters.

Participants can also make requests. I took advantage of that option to add new "witch" songs to my collection. (If anyone here can help me out with more, please give me a call 07-6532080) I was even asked to sing a Hebrew folksong.

Golden Links organizes, sponsors and participates in local musical

events. The Turtle Hill Folk Festival, which took place Sept.17-19 is an

annual event. This year's program included Odetta, Stone Soup, 12 Corners Klezmer and more. Golden Links also has a monthly newsletter, library and librarian!

At present the society meets at 12 Corners Presbyterian Church, 1200

Winton Rd. South. For the latest info on folk events in and around town,

call the Golden Link Folk Fone (716) 234-5044. Their website is

http//www.goldenlink.org They're advertised in the local papers, too.

For me, Golden Links was a wonderful opportunity to share music, make new friends (I'm not from Rochester but grew up in Yonkers) and spend some very enjoyable evenings with a group of warm and fun folkies. I know I'll join them again on my next family visit to Rochester.

And the idea of a sing-around is something to think about organizing

here! (ed.note: We have them, they’re called Home Hoots)

--Laurie Ornstein Zaarur

Jewel, I don't know her full or even her real name, has been around for the past three years or so. I know nothing about her other that she is from Alaska. Her first CD hit the charts in the States and apparently made a splash. I had heard of her,

especially on the Voice of America, but had not heard her. Recently she released another CD which friends of mine talked about. So I bought both of them.

Perhaps Jewel is not a throwback to the Folk Rock singers of the Sixties as such, but she is surely influenced by them. On her first CD in particular, she at times is a mocking bird, imitating, among others, Buffey St. Marie, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and Marianne Faithfull. This first CD, entitled Pieces of You, is maddeningly frustrating on that account. Occasionally, perhaps despite her best efforts, Jewel's own voice comes into play and it is beautiful. But it gets lost or even deliberately submerged in a rush to imitate everybody else. The material tends toward the sophomoric, although there are glimpses of a potential gift. The title piece, is a message song calling for tolerance by telling us that we are as bad as all the people we hate, ugly girls, pretty girls, faggots, Jews, etc. It left me with the feeling that she could do much better.

Jewel does much better on her second CD, Spirit. I am told that

she was aware of the short comings of her first disk and set out to rectify them. She does. The songs are soft rock, with many an acoustic selection. She lets her voice shine through, and indeed it does. The songs are more mature, and she shows much more confidence in her writing and singing. Indeed several are profoundly moving with impressive lyrics and performance.

The bottom line: I would recommend both of them so that one can examine at close hand the growth of a young singer song writer who doesn't have her head stuck on backwards.

--Larry Gamliel

While in Rochester I had the great opportunity to attend an evening with Dave Rovics, a modern troubador who performs both his own original songs alongside more traditional and well-

known folksongs. His repertoire

includes titles such as Minimum Wage Strike, The Death of David Chain,

Song for Boxcar Betty and Parking Lots and Strip Malls. He's got a bag full of protest songs - labor, environ- mental, etc. He's a wonderful performer, accompanying himself on his guitar. Dave is American but has recently relocated to Hamburg, Germany.

Following the concert I approached Dave and asked him if he'd ever been

to Israel and if he'd like to come over for a tour of home and folk club

concerts. He's never made it to the Middle East but jumped at the idea. So, he will be here for second and third weeks of December, giving concerts. He'll also be bringing copies of his latest CD, "We Just Want the World".

www.fbgc.com

We've been up for a month and have had 1.2 million hits. It's live 24/7

from New Orleans.

--Grant Morris

Lerner's recommended site of the month:

http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/project

by Eliyahu Shiffman

Those who weren't among the 50 or so people at last night's Chuck Brodsky-

Sandy Cash concert really missed out. I say that not to make you feel

bad, but to put you on notice: the next time Sandy (who was also the promoter) tells you a performer is worth seeing, believe her!

The headliner, singer-songwriter Chuck Brodsky, is a baseball fanatic who sang songs about Max Patkin, the "Clown Prince of Baseball," and the passing of long-time baseball Phillies broadcaster Richard "Whitey" Ashburn. You didn't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy these touching songs (although it helps).

For the non-fans, he had a song of remembering how "bad" he was as a kid as he stood outside his childhood Philadelphia home ("I was a restless kid"), a song that sings the praises of those who pick him up as he's hitchiking ("We are each other's angels") and a series of very funny songs about his new hometown in the mountains of North Carolina.

One of the latter compared the world of the "come-heres" like Brodsky himself, who admire the beauty of ducks on the fly, to the "been-heres" who shoot the ducks and eat 'em. Another took a very accurate poke at country folk everywhere, who shove their old TVs, washing machines and cars out the back yard and into the river, while insisting on "keepin' the front yard lookin'

good."

Brodsky may have been the headliner, but, not taking anything away from him, Beit Shemesh's own Sandy Cash was his equal in terms of the quality of her performance. Songs don't often bring tears to my eyes, but "Cold Missouri Waters," a James Keelighan song about a fire-fighting effort that went tragically wrong, managed to.

Wasn't there a TV commercial in the old country featuring a guy who talked a mile a minute? Cash could give him a run for his money. In "Orange Cocoa Cake," a Lou and Peter Berryman song, Cash attempts to give a friend a cake recipe over the phone while at the same time trying to maintain control over several kids all simultaneously demanding her attention, with hilarious results.

Cash's ability to unearth wonderful songs you've never heard of and make them her own is a key element of her talen. But judging by "Pirates' Bounty," which she claims is the only song she's ever written herself, she hamuch to offer as a sas well. Drawing on her "other life" as a mother of three kids, she sings of her children's insistence that they are brave

pirates, while at the same time making sure mother isn't too far off.

Thanks to Sandy for bringing a little culture to Beit Shemesh, and thanks to Jon Berlinger and Rachel Adelman for hosting the concert in their home -- I hope they got a discount on the admission price!

Happy birthday to Sashi Clarfield, Mirian Goodich, Graham Jackson, Diane

Mazal tov to new grandparents, Judi and Lynn Lewis, on the birth of a grand- daughter - Tali, born to Debbie 'n' Michael. And of course to the parents

too.

Music Web award for the best story with music for children 7-12.

Different regions of the country are good host sites in different seasons for possible points to meet and jam. The Negev is especially good in the fall and winter AND, we may have found just the spot. It is in the Lahav forest complex where we located a large horseshoe of benches backed by tables that is totally shaded in the woods, and just a stair- case beneath the Joe Allon Beduin center which has interesting things and bathrooms. There is a modest admission fee to the center.

gorgeous with flowers. The meadow is just dirt now, but these alternative tables are in the woods abutting the meadow and the dirt road down to it assures more privacy. Granted, some folks in the know go there regularly.

So, the first real IFS southern fried jam will be Friday (due to popular demand), Nov 12 and we'll gather by 11 am. It is just over an hour from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or Sde Boker. The turnoff is about 1/2 hour after route 3 from the Jerusalem meets the route 40 highway heading for Beersheba. You drop down south of Kiryat Gat on 40, pass a gas station at a red light. Get in the left lane and turn left onto 326 at the Dvira junction. About 7 km in on that road, you'll see a map of the Lahav forest. Turn right and go up the hill to the Joe Allon Center and park.

Look for the stairs across from the Center. Bring your instrument and your

own food. See you there!

--LOZ & JG

Not only is the Jerusalem Folk Club viable, it is positively blessed. Witness for instance the last two evenings. The September meeting was the first in the 7th Place Restaurant to include a large audience. Spoiled as we are by the high caliber of artists performing here, this was outstanding. The headliners were father and daughter Decklebaum. He is the David of the Taverners, and Yael is fresh from the Sir George Martin Special on television. They were wonderful, individually and together, although their styles and repertoire are amazingly different. Yael is a

Janis Joplin devotee and she does her mentor justice, to put it mildly. God have mercy, what a voice. Besides which, she is the nicest young lady you could meet, charming the audience with her easygoing friendliness. As for David, he is a drunken ribald bum. That's what he told me to write! Besides that, he is a great musician and raconteur. They very graciously stayed around and participated in a jam until poor Yael's voice got up and went.

And October was even better, if such a thing is possible. We opened with Full Circle, consisting of Teisha Bader, Laura Fink and Efrat Gerlich. (More about them next month as they will be headlining, which already tells you about their

quality.) Sandy Cash was the warm up act. She doesn't like it when I get mushy about her. So let's just say she was her usual self, and she

did new material. It was all right, I guess. <grin>

And now for the crowning gem. Much has been written about our inter- national guest, Chuck Brodsky. So what can I add! He sings with no chips on his shoulders. His tunes are

refreshingly simple and catchy. His lyrics are sharp, contemporary and packed with punch. But the singing! It is perhaps low key, gentle and for that all the more effective. He loves baseball and Phillies, poor fellow. Of course it could be worse, he could have been a Red Sox fan. But of whatever subject he sings, there is naught but integrity and honesty. In my book, when I think of what current folk music is all about, I will think of Chuck Brodsky.

--lg

**SHELLEY ELLEN guitar lessons available for performances (03) 674-5356.

**For Sale: Franco Esteva concert model (top of the line) classical guitar

with Scudero pickup, plus hard wood case, in MINT condition. Contact Marc

Gittelson (02) 671-6803 or (053) 962-600 or NURSEMARC@NEWMAIL.NET

**Jill Rogoff's "THE CELTIC CRADLE" and ACROSS THE NARROW SEAS (ALC 129) are available on cassette (NIS 40) or CD (NIS 60). Tel/Fax (02) 679-0410.

**Bar/Bat Mitzva or Weddings: Have a foot- stomping party with Debby Elnatan, fiddler & caller, square and line dancing, clogging. Have wheels, will travel. (02) 678-9778, 053-806-281.

Our Trad Ads section is free to IFS members. Display ads are priced according to the following schedule:

Full page NIS 450 Half page NIS 225 1/3 page NIS 180 1/4 page NIS 125 1/10 page NIS 60 /16 page NIS 45

1/20 page NIS 35

FolkNotes and all of the articles, photographs and material contained therein are, unless otherwise noted, copyrighted by IFS 1999.

Agron, 37 Hillel, (02) 625-4495 Call ahead.

Sundays, biweekly. Israel Dulcimer Society: Get that dulcimer off the wall

and join us for biweekly music sessions. All levels welcome. Alternate

Mondays, 8:30 p.m. For more information: Judith (02) 679-8448 or Dena

(02)-561-8910

Thursdays, 8:30-11 P.M., Balkan Dancing at Moadon Hasport, 30 Hatsfira,

Moshava Germanit, call Cyrelle (02) 566-2682

American Square Dancing Group. for info: Brenda (02) 561-2435

Wed. Nov. 3, 8:30 pm. Japanese & Hebrew poetry evening. NIS 30. Confederation

House. 12 Emile Botta St., For more information, prices, etc.,

call: (02) 624-5206.

Sat. Nov. 6, 8 pm. Scottish Folk Dancing at St. Andrew's Scottish Hospice,

David Remez 1 (near Rakevet). Please call to verify time, etc. (02) 673-2401

Sat. Nov. 6, 8:30 pm. Nava Ensemble. Bucharian, Central Asian, Uzbekistani and

Tagestani music. NIS 55. Confederation House. 12 Emile Botta St., For more

information, prices, etc., call: (02) 624-5206.

Wed. Nov. 10, 8.30 pm: JERUSALEM FOLK CLUB, 7^th Place Restaurant in Bet Agron Building, Hillel Street, Jerusalem. Admission: 30 NIS including first drink. Open mike at 8:30, Headliners: Full Circle with Teisha Bader, Laura Fink, and Efrat Gerlich at 10. For Info call Larry Gamliel at (053) 801-202 or Carol at 671-4007.

Sat. Nov. 13, 8:30 pm. Balkan Music. NIS 55. Confederation House. 12 Emile

Botta St., For more information, prices, etc., call: (02) 624-5206.

Wed. Nov. 17, 8:30 pm. Davka Trio from USA. Premiere in Israel. Jewish, Middle

Easter, Central Asian music. NIS 70. Confederation House. 12 Emile Botta St.,

For more information, prices, etc., call: (02) 624-5206.

Sat. Nov. 20, Bible Lands Museum featuring The Stompers Dixieland Jazz. 8 pm.

Wine and Cheese. 8:30 performance.

Sat. Nov. 20, 8:30 pm. Elana Elia & "Jabbaluv". Kurdistani ethnic music,

Andulusian, Egyptian, and Jewish "piyyutim". NIS 55. Confederation House. 12

Emile Botta St., For more information, prices, etc., call: (02) 624-5206.

Wed. Nov. 24, 8:30 pm. Nordan, from Sweden. Premiere in Israel. Ballads,

shepherd calls, folk instruments, and modern. NIS 70. Confederation House. 12

Emile Botta St., For more information, prices, etc., call: (02) 624-.

Sat. Nov. 27, 8:30 pm. Classical Persian music. NIS 55. Confederation House. 12

Emile Botta St., more information, prices, etc., call: (02) 624-5206.

First Friday of every month. Oppenheimer English Storyteller Center for

Adults. Come listen, learn, share, and enjoy. Please call ahead and reserve a

place. Email: dvoras@netvision.net.il or call Dvora at (03) 546-2913. (11

Yotzer Blvd, near Assuta Hospital)

Tuesdays (every): Country & 60's Dance, with Meir at Moadon Naamat, Rehov

Ha-Kuzari corner Mazeh, Herzlia; NIS 18 entrance, for details call Meir (03)

613-0071 or Meshi (052) 595-030; 8-9:30 P.M. beginners, 9:30-11 P.M. advanced.

Wed. Nov. 3, 8:30 PM.: Tel Aviv Folk Club, with Unstrung Heroes, Dave Bender

and others. Bikurei Ha'itim 6 Heftman St. For more details, call Ariela:

(03)683-7441

Wed. Nov. 17, 8:30 PM.: Tel Aviv Folk Club, with Laurie Orenstein Za'arur,

Shelley Ellen, Hal Wrobel, and others. Bikurei Ha'itim 6 Heftman St. For more

details call Ariela: (03) 683-7441

Thurs. Nov. 18, 11 pm.: Jug of Punch will be performing at the Carousel,

36 Pinsker Street, five minutes from Dizengoff Center. Entrance fee NIS 30.

Fri. Nov. 5, 8:30pm. Great evening of square dancing with Cyrelle, plus

folk music and singing with miscellaneous Stars etc. Price: NIS 30 - includes refreshments galore... For further information, call Cyrelle (02) 566-2682 or Judy Admon (02) 534-6899.

Wed. Nov. 24, 9 P.M.: The usual wonderful Folk Club. Further details from

Judi & Lynn Lewis. Tel. (02) 990-8382 or (051) 348-061 or

judilynn@gezernet.co.il

Thurs. Nov. 4, 9 pm. An evening with Eli Marcus, John Mayer, and Marc

Miller. Entrance: NIS 15. For more information, call Larry (04) 990-2455.

############################################################################

Try to get your information to the appropriate persons for the Calendar, as

early as possible, so we can meet publication deadlines (15th of each month).

Contact Sue Tourkin-Komet (02) 676-3346 for Jerusalem activities, Angela Silman (03) 696-4653 for other areas, Larry Gamliel at (02) 641-1043 or (053) 801-202, or by fax: Carol (02) 675-8376.

For late-breaking updates, join our email listing, contact Carol:

carol@mdlib.huji.ac.il