Correction: no credit for last month's picture of the Southern Jam was given. Photographer: Margo Schotz

Correction: In last month's piece on the Jam, Jamie Bregman who played the recorder is a HE not a she (although he does have long hair and a sweet face)

I never knew a musician or storyteller who could make the chilling sound charming the way Jill does. This rare skill came out in her guitar- accompanied rendition of a traditional Irish song about a woman who tries to murder her husband. Chilling too in its universality was the grief of women who had lost their men folk in war and yet continue to honor their traditions, in the contem- porary English Dancing at Whitsun. Jill's own song- writing prowess shone forth in the song she had recently composed, and sang for us about a young widow waiting the return of her fisherman-husband who has been lost at sea, a work she told us was inspired by the story of a personal friend.

Anyone who has described Jill lately as 'a singer of songs of the British Isles has not kept up with her ever- expanding repertoire, in which Ladino now figures prominently. La Mala Suegra or, as Jill described the subject of the song, 'the mother-in-law from hell', was an absolutely therapeutic experience for some people in the room who thought they had mothers-in- law to complain about! Jill also sang in Old Provencal, so beautifully rendered (and elucidated beforehand) that I could conjure up the very image of that frolicsome medieval queen who was the subject of the song, seeking to flirt and dance with the young men of her court. Rosa das Rosas, a 14^th century cantiga Jill sang in Galicio-Portuguese (with an instrumental prelude on the recorder) had us in awe of her musical as well as her linguistic talents. (Where does one find a Galicio-Portuguese tutor, after all?)

None of us had ever heard of a sruti box, which turned out to be a Pakistani-style hurdy-gurdy that emits only sharps. This may not sound very soothing, but Jill explained all about it before taking us back with it to 13^th century France and Belle Doette, a woman who establishes a convent after her lover dies.

I have had the pleasure of listening to Jill's exquisite and compelling voice for some fifteen years, during which she has honed and developed that voice to heights that are no exaggeration to describe as celestial. We are all of us fortunate to have this rose in our little garden, where sometimes the briars seem all too many.

-- Miriam Feinberg Vamosh

In the past two weeks I have been to the Karmiel Folk Klub, the Tel Aviv Folk

Club and at the 2nd premier performance of the Sarona Folk Club. I have had the pleasure of hearing Hal Wrobel, Sunita, The Beit HaEmek Singers, Jug O' Punch and Julio's Friends. Additionally, I have seen Moshe Averich who is a very talented singer/ songwriter, whom everyone seemed to know except for me, Yeshua, a Flamenco guitarist, Ariela, Marianna Navon and Sean, and two very talented women, Maya Kohl & Tami Kimhi.

It's Maya and Tami that have inspired me to write the following review of Dar

Williams live album Out There.

Maya, I have heard numerous times sing and play the recorder with Chaim Gefen and Julio's Friends and she has always been great, and when Maya and Tami sang together the magic was truly there. Their set included songs by The Nields, S & G, Joan Baez, Greg Brown and others. Not bad for two Israeli-born women. When I asked Tami how they chose the songs for the set they said that someone gave them the CD "Cry Cry Cry" which brings me, finally, to Dar Williams live album "Out There".

Having already sung praises to this folk goddess in FolkNotes, I will keep it short. Dar Williams' melodies are simple and her lyrics are intelligent. Every song has something to say and the music is composed to highlight the lyrics and not the opposite like in most pop music.

Two of the songs, The Babysitter's Here and I won't be your Yoko Ono, has her intro into the song as well. These introductions and explanations of the songs still stick out in my mind today when I think back to the concert. Dar's dry wit not only has you appreciating why the song was written but feeling that you are a part of the creative process. Included on the album is The Christians and the Pagans, which she didn't sing when I saw her but was definitely written for all of us living in this mess they call the mid-east.

One last comment, in the review that I wrote for FolkNotes I mentioned that a brilliant bass guitarist accompanied Dar and I didn't know her name. Well her name is Gail Ann Dorsey and she also accompanies David Bowie. She is no less brilliant on the CD than live. For those of you who don't own any of Dar Williams' music, this is a great way to start your collection. I am sure the Paul Graham would be happy to order it for you. BTW, the cost was the same as the CD's I bought in the States.

--Larry Rosenfeld

The Tel Aviv folk audience went into speechless pleasure shock. Normally they just love humming along, singing along, harmonizing along, and even playing along. Most performers enjoy this interaction and once rapport is established, the back & forth flow of energy can sometimes even transport & uplift a set into a higher musical sphere.

This is exactly what did not happened on January 2nd. Hal Wrobel was already inspired. His Irish acappella songs were so good, that they were already in that marvelous musical sphere and the audience full of so much positive energy that it just coflowing into the ensuing super jam session led by Shay Tochner & Hal and supported by an amazing duo named Iris Eyal and Guy Kark. Iris and Guy's earlier set (that had inspired Hal) had completely enthralled the TAFC audience who were at a loss for words, and couldn't stop applauding. The enchanting two played both folk and original ethnic inspired instrumental music on Celtic harp and classical guitar.

To fill out the evening, David Barshaw gave a superb set that featured a picturesque seasonal rendition of his "Xmas in Idaho". I followed it with a jovial interpretation of the Medieval Chastity Belt song, while Ariela Orion, who is the spirit and ringleader of the TAFC was her regular vivacious self and pleased the audience with an original

-- Harold Jacobs

I haven't checked further than the page that this links to, but it seems they're looking for people to test- listen to country music.

For any brave souls willing to try it:

--Janet

The Washington Post has written an article on Esther. It is on their website, with MP3 files of four songs from her CD. The article is by Maria

You can read it at this link:

and listen at this link:

1) John McCutcheon gave his usual outstanding performance last night -- he has a lot of Mark Clarfield in his delivery and 6 instruments up there on stage to play on. The audience was rapt. Like many other singer/ songwriters, Sept 11 inspired a stream of new songs to exit his fingers, some of which are available on his web site (folkmusic.com). "Not in my Name" (written from God's viewpoint), and "The List" (60 pieces forbidden to be played including Lennon's "Imagine", Springstein stuff, Louis Armstrong and many more -- but McCutcheon's music was allowed and he was mad!). No day passes without hearing reference to Sept. 11. He hopes to come to Jacob's Ladder someday.

2) Meanwhile, Jacob's Ladder brings us BanjerDan, who represents a reblossoming of bluegrass in America following "O Brother, Where Art Thou". The soundtrack to that movie sold 3.5 million copies here. Bluegrass sales in general are way up and festivals are experiencing record crowds. Even Bill Monroe's home in Kentucky is now a tourist site (unlike several years ago for Ari Meerson, who had to virtually hack his way through the weeds to find that place).

3) Lastly, I grabbed my trusty pennywhistle and made it to an Irish music session for the wannabes in Balboa park Sunday morning. The air was full of excitement getting ready for major St Patrick's celebrations in music in just over a month.

--Judi G

Please note that Laurie has a new cell phone number. Please DO NOT use the old one as her daughter has returned and reclaimed the old one.

USE: 064-464377

Happy Birthday to: Sara Gefen, Judy Greenbaum, Harold Jacobs, Vered Kater, Suzanne Pomeranz, Roby Shmerling,

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 and CD. Tel/Fax (02) 679-0410.

** Voice and/or flute lessons. Call Marcie Schreier: (053) 834-174.

**Computer Support. Free telephone support, and house calls. Very reasonable rates. Ben Hizak. (050)280-644.

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 2002.

Advertisement tariffs for FolkNotes are available on request.

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