Contents: Wail Away, Coming of Age, Minutes of the General Meeting, Memorial Concert Review

One famous block on New York's 48^th street between Ave. of the Americas (6^th) and 7^th (Ave of the Raunch) is musical equipment heaven. So on a recent trip to the big apple, I just had to pay my respects to this Mecca of musical machinery, where one can easily equip either a one-man-band or multiple symphony orchestras with the swipe of a credit card. The now landmark institutions where as a kid I bought banjo strings and finger picks, Manny's & Sam Ash have grown to huge proportions and have lost their person- alized charms although some of their staff are very knowledgeable and even accomplished albeit snobbish musicians. But nestled in between these Goliaths is United Music Inc., where you can mutually enjoy bargaining with the guy on the cash register who is Israeli and it's still the kinda store the big guys used to be, with all kinds of unique items & metziyas. The standard harmonica harness is way too big and clunky for a "Blues Harp" or "Marine Band", but U.M. Inc. has a super comfortable patented "Jim Dunlop Harp Handle" that is made in Benicia California. It is easy to adjust to your favorite angle and rightfully claims to be "Rigid and Versatile", unfortunately I found it to be a hassle when trying to do a fast harp change between songs. Then it dawned on me why wonderful Sonia of Disappear Fear (who performed for us a couple of years ago and who we all loved) had two harps already pre-loaded into their harnesses sitting obediently on stage. At $20 each (bargain him down to $15) you can get a few. Another drawback is that it won't hold a sandwich (like the older spring type brace) when reading the Village Voice on the subway with one hand, and holding on for dear life with the other. It will also not accommodate a new type of harp that I discovered called Lee Oskar™ ($30) made by Tombo Japan. Note: the Hohner harps cost the same. After playing my first "A" [key] Lee Oskar, I will be looking forward to getting additional keys because although the comb is black plastic (ugh - to purists who want wood), after really rough playing on the more resilient reeds that respond faster & easier and need no breaking-in, lip friction is greatly reduced. It's like frying on Teflon instead of a plain pan - a world of difference if you play a lot. The harp's accompanying info sheet claims that the late blues legend, Junior Wells said about Lee Oskars: "...I can always depend on them to get down, Mmm, I love 'em!" Luckily I didn't dump my trusty rusty old harp harness that's now dedicated to my new Lee Oskar and the occasional sandwich.

-- Harold Jacobs

The Tzora Folk Club celebrated its 13th anniversary this May so we feel this is an opportune time to thank again all you Folkies who have made our F.C. so popular over the years.

We have welcomed into our folk "family" several performers from abroad, those who came for a short visit and those who stayed for a year or two or more. Don & Susan Jennings and Philip Griffin made an enormous impact on the folk scene here and we are proud that they made Tzora a regular performing venue.

We have helped in developing the scope and diversity of the music performed and as we encourage "inter-mingling" of the artists, new and interesting sounds are created. As we have a totally flexible program we allow for impromptu presentations with amazing results. When one of our regulars has a celebration we are delighted to dedicate a whole evening to them, giving us an opportunity to flatter each other. Most recently we celebrated the engagement of Ray Scudero to Joanne Katzen. We have also dedicated evenings to friends who have left for distant lands. The evening dedicated to Philip Griffin was incredible in its quality of musicianship, as was, in a different style, the farewell evening for our sorely missed friend, Avery. On the sad side, we also held a memorial evening for our dear departed friend Dave Gould.

People that that have entered our Folk World have entered into our "Family" and are treated as such. This has been particularly appreciated by artists visiting from abroad, even for a short time.

We are very keen to encourage new performers to take to the stage. Chaim Gefen of Julios' Friends and Yuval Berger, both found confidence in performing before an audience and graduated from singing with their friends in their living room to performing with merit at the Jacobs Ladder Festival.

The multi-talented Larry Gamliel has introduced several beautifully voiced ladies to the folk club and nearly every month has shown up with a new face in tow whom he accompanies on guitar or keyboard. For this we thank him and hope he continues to help us encourage new talent. We provide a welcome break from home and family obligations to those such as Sandy Cash, who lives in neighboring Bet Shemesh, who has made our F.C. a home from home. Regulars such as Shelley Ellen and Shay Tochner come from further afield and can perform or just "hang out" with their friends. Others, too many to mention, are regular performers who help to make our F.C. so unique.

We thank you all.

We must not forget our audience, many of whom have become close friends over the years. Without you we would not have a Folk Club. So please, keep on coming, and we will continue in the same tradition of great music and fine ambiance.

See y'all at the next evening of glamour and excitement.

Judi 'n' Lynn.

Israel FolkStuff Society (I.F.S.) Protocol of the General Meeting, Wednesday, June 27, 2001 20:45

Chaired by Carol Fuchs

1. The Financial report for the year 2000 was handed out.

8. Marc Gittelson moved that it be accepted -Seconded by Jane Gruman - Accepted

1. The Financial outlook for 2001 was handed out.

- correction - Marc Miller pointed out that the total turnover is the total of the income, not the sum of

income and expenses.

- moved to accept - Laurie Ornstein, seconded - Cecile Panzer - accepted

2. Minutes of the Board meeting of June 15, 2001 - were handed out.

A copy was also printed in the July issue of the FolkNotes

3. Proposal by the Board: All formal documents of the Amuta require the signature of at least 2 Board members and require the "Stamp" of the Amuta

- accepted unanimously

4. Proposal that by the Board that:

a. The Amuta set up a bank account

2. the appointed Signers be: Marc Gittelson, Larry Gamliel and Carol Fuchs
3. We request an information card in the name of Carol Fuchs

- accepted unanimously

1. Election/selection of an Oversight Committee (Va'adat Bikoret).

Proposed that Harold Jacobs and Cyrelle Forman-Soffer sit on the Oversight Committee - accepted unanimously

2. Election of Board members

- All members of the old Board are ready to stand again

- Cyrelle Forman-Soffer proposed that Jane Gruman also join the Board

- new enlarged Board consisting of David Deckel- baum, Carol Fuchs, Larry Gamliel, Marc Gittelson, Jane Gruman, Laurie Ornstein, Cecile Panzer, and Sherry Whetstone - accepted unanimously

Meeting adjourned at 21:15

Jay Allan Ginsberg was only 47 when he died after his second heart bypass operation. As he was a professional actor, his creative colleagues and friends decided that it would be appropriate to do an artistic evening with music in his honor. Little brother Larry (Gamliel) who till then was engrossed in getting his Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling, specializing specifically in issues concerning the blind, was inspired. The creative spark was rekindled and Larry found himself back in the world of Rock 'n' Roll. Flash-forward to Bruce Brill's Jerusalem folk club and the AACI song contest where Larry accompanied singers, kindling the spark into a flame. That flame is central to the unique annual musical to Jay at the Jerusalem Variety Center concert hall. This a lovely gem of an auditorium where for the last few years, musicians have been getting on the stage to produce evenings of enchantment and good vibrations that provide participants (both performers and audience) with smiling faces, and hearts bursting with happy music. A true tribute to Jay's creative spirit. This year was the best yet, and much of the music had to do with Broadway Musicals or Show Business themes, but some country music, pop, and lots of wonderful schmaltz succeeded in sneaking in. Hey why not, as long as everyone was having fun. The vivacious Mistresses of Ceremony Jane Gruman and Beverly Burge bubbled with joyful energy as they introduced some of the country's best musical performers starting with Tripod. Shelley Ellen on guitar, Marcie Schreier on flute and Larry Gamliel on keyboard. All sang & played wonderful renditions of Lay Down Sally, Walking on the Moon, All Right Now and some original compositions.

Then Susan Lewis-Hadash and Judy Buchman-Ziv with Larry G. brought the house down with Broadway show stoppers from West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Pajama Game, and others. But when they did their version of "Bei mir Bis du Schoen" you could have platzed. Yoav Biran then did some wonderful music in his lovely laid-back style, followed by Rahel Jaskow with some inspirational love songs. Then it was Marianna Navon's mini set accompanied by big Larry and Harmonica Harold. She did the very appropriate Big Boned Gal and I'm a Woman W-O-M-A-N, and got everyone rocking. The grand finale had all of the cast up on the stage doing Pretty Woman and You Can Do Magic. You could indeed.

Thanks Jay.

--Harold Jacobs

Happy Birthday to JoAnn Arinsberg, Gila Cook, Rannen Doron, Charles Greenbaum, Lenny Labensohn, Dena Maltinsky-Kurz, Oren Regev, Margo Schotz

NOT TRAD ADS - fee is NIS 10 (NIS 5 for members).

**SHELLEY ELLEN - guitarlessons, also available for performances (03) 674-5356.

**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.

**SUZALEH'S SILK ART - Glassed and Framed, modestly sized and modestly priced, door signs, mazal tovs, etc. Handmade by Sue Tourkin-Komet (02) 676-3346.

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

FolkNotes and all of the articles, photographs and material contained therein

are, unless otherwise noted, copyrighted by IFS 2001.

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FolkNotes Staff: Sherry Whetstone, Larry Gamliel, Carol Fuchs, Cecile Panzer