CONTENTS:

BanjerDan reviews
Jacob’s Ladder review
I Hate Birthdays
Profile: Marianne Navon

www.cdbaby.com/crosson

Dusty Dan Rides Again

In Arizona, they call them "dust devils.” They appear on the horizon out of nowhere: tall, intense columns moving in constantly changing directions over the thirsty land, and then they are gone. One such dust devil recently appeared on Israel's landscape, and he called himself Banjer Dan. The aftermath of Dan's constructive zigzagging path across this country was characterized by the fragments gathered from distant places and deposited together on the floor of Tzora's Pub for an exceptional farewell party hosted by Judi and Lynn Lewis.

Dan Mazer is an extremely talented and versatile musician, and at the same time generous and enthusiastic and anxious to share. He took the musical giants of bluegrass on the scene and revved them up to make some fabulous music together. He took aspiring musicians and pulled them up a bit to change the shape of their musical envelopes. He attracted folks distant from bluegrass and caused them to interact musically and grow a bit together. And he attracted an audience that couldn't get enough.

Farewell to Dan – Tzora (Photo credit: Errol Sapir)

The format in the pub that night was a large circle of chairs for anyone who wanted to bring their instrument and join in, flanked by ever growing concentric circles of singers, listeners and quieter players, creating an unusual combination of banjos, mandolins, guitars, fiddle and bass playing along with a concertina, dulcimers, and more. The musical interactions that evening were unforgettable, and noticeably lacking was the unpleasant one-up-manship that can sometimes develop. Kudos to all those who contributed, including David Mencher, Sandy Cash, Paul Graham, Roni Polak, Lynn Lewis, Marc Gittleson, Dan Mazer, Betty Maoz (clockwise around the circle in the photo above), Shelley Ellen, Ray Scudero, Hillel Mogel, Jonathan Miller, Shay Tochner, Ari Meerson, Cyrelle Forman- Sofer, Judi Ganchrow, Lauren Ornstein, Marianne Navon, Shaun Deakin, Larry Gamliel, Judi Lewis, Larry Rosenfeld, Roby Shmerling, Efrat Zahavi, Chaim Gefen, Danny Lewis and all the numerous and wonderful singers in the audience.

Thank you Dusty Dan for stirring us all up and come back soon.

--Judi Ganchrow

BanjerDan Wows Herzlia Dips

As the white-gloved hand passed the glass of red wine off the silver tray to my waiting grasp, I was handed a paper napkin (serviette to some) emblazoned with the gold embossed seal of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. We were in a sprawling Herzlia Pituach backyard garden, under a wide veranda next to a perfectly blue swimming pool surrounded by flaming garden torches. So far so good. Just like in the movies. Having been at a number of other countries’ diplomatic functions in the past, this didn’t surprise me, and it was somehow comforting being surrounded by my fellow Yanks. I was surprised by my own sense of awe and pride in the opulence of the setting. Once the 60 or so guests arrived, exchanged niceties and sipped wine, it was time for the concert to start. Because Dan Mazer had asked me to accompany him on a blues number on harmonica, we ran a few riffs in the cavernous kitchen while the white-gloved staff looked on in amazement. They probably thought “What’s this pony- tailed fellow and this faded jeans person doing in our kitchen?” So we were outta there and into the foyer ready for the show. The audience wasn’t exactly sure of what they came to hear. Some had never seen a 5-string banjo up close, while a few did actually know about Lester Scruggs, Jimmie Rogers, the Carters and even Bill Monroe. Banjer Dan started going through his amazing banjo dynamics with country music favorites, classics (Mozart too) and some of his own songs. By the time he did his gory Halloween children’s song everyone was laughing and having a great time. Then he called me up to play the California Blues with him. Having never heard it before except for a few chords in the kitchen, it was time to get inside the blues and do some musical communing, which is especially satisfying when musically “on-line” with such a great musician. This was followed by Rocky Mountain Breakdown, which Dan did so good technically and so fast that it would have given a novice banjo player a nervous breakdown. It was Yaakov “Dry Bones” Kirschen who requested the Wabash Cannonball, who by the way, has some folk music buried in his past, and was now casually sketching his next political cartoon while poolside. It was a memorable evening as the guests all joined Dan in a grand finale of heady song and harmony. As Dan autographed his picture, he wrote “Wow! Banjos ROCK!” He did prove that without a doubt, and as I emptied my pockets at home wondering if I had just imagined the whole thing, I discovered a paper napkin (serviette to some) with a gold embossed seal of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. Thank you Cultural Attache and course Dan, who we’ll never forget.

--Harold Jacobs

Jacob’s Ladder Blast

Things are as crazy as ever here. Luckily one of the things that keeps us folks sane is music. Jacob's Ladder was really good this year. It just gets better all the time. For me it all started when I was bored, sitting under a tree. Cyrelle called the band up for square dancing and since it was Lynn Lewis, Jonathan Miller and the guys, along with guest Banjer Dan, I got up on the stage and told Cyrelle that if she didn't like the harmonica, she should just run a finger across her throat and I would be outta there fast. But she didn't.

Then later I conducted Harold's Hoot in the concert hall that was actually very open ended. I had Marc Miller and Larry Gamliel on stage along with Gidi, a young blind flute player, so we took turns leading all kinds of stuff. Marc did his great war-horses, Larry was marvelous as always. As musicians joined the audience, I called them up to do some songs. That's how I got Hachmoni, Ray & Joanne Scudero, Marianne (formerly Marianna) & Shaun, Susan Hadash, Hillel and others to join the festivities. It turned into one hell of a hoot and preview promo of things to come. It also gave many musicians the chance to play with others with whom they would normally never jam.

It was an intense day, so being lulled to sleep by Essev Bar was a wonderful way to slip into a Galilee slumber. Then a bit after midnight it was the Midnight Mojo Band funking their way into the night. One can’t be ambivalent or impervious to this band. It had me rocking in my foam rubber cot. Especially Dov Hammer's wonderful vocals and blues harp. They did two BB King songs that would have blown my socks off had I been wearing them, so they blew away my bed linens instead.

Wow.

Shabbat morning started with a super hostel breakfast, and the only almost-bad thing of the day was when strong winds caused a huge tree branch to come crashing down onto a baby carriage! By some miracle the baby was not in it. Menachem was terrific in getting the show and audience back into its festive mood. The sets I played with Julio's Friends and Marianne & Shaun on the main stage were very satisfying, as there were many happy people singing and/or dancing along. My favorite was a beautiful Dylan song that I can't wait to do again some day. Larry Gamliel played superb bass while Shaun played a wonderful bouzouki. After making really good music you feel like you're walking on a cloud!

On the way home we passed Hatanachim Junction where a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up a few days later. Luckily no one else was hurt. Welcome back to reality.

--Harold Jacobs

I Hate Birthdays

The Tel Aviv Folk Club has always marked for me the beginning of my folk career. Although my debut was at Tzora (Thank you Lynn for making me sing that night!), my first encounter with the folk community in Israel was a few months earlier, when I went to TAFC to participate in Ray Scudero’s Birthday Party.

Therefore, I was overjoyed when I found out that MY birthday fell exactly on the date of the first Folk Club in June this year. Birthday Parties in various Folk Clubs are always special (everyone who was present still remembers Larry Gamliel’s surprise party two years ago). So, keeping to the old clich? “If you want it done, do it yourself” – I left nothing to chance and asked Ariela to host a party for me on June 5th.

Yoav

The result (and yes, I know I’m biased, but still…) was nothing short of magnificent. Two of my performing friends, Sandy Cash and Larry Gamliel, took time and accompanied me and each other with wonderfully chosen sets. It was an amazing experience singing with them (as it is every time I get the chance to do so), and the added excitement of the audience, which included many Hebrew-speaking friends of mine who are not folkies, made the evening unforgettable. And what an audience it was! Celebrating my 26th year with friends like Shay Tochner, Judy Buchman-Ziv, Shelly Ellen, Harold and Marc G. who joined the music when they saw fit (not enough, IMO) and Carol Fuchs, who, to her everlasting credit, stayed all the way through Fhear A Bhata, made me wish the night would go on forever.

I would like to thank everyone who was there that night. Special thanks go to Ariela for helping me organize the evening, Sandy and Larry for making the evening a musical knockout and Carol for recording the evening and giving me an everlasting souvenir. And thank all of you who were there June 5th and challenged my core belief that “I Hate Birthdays”.

--Yoav Biran

Artist's Profile - Marian Navon: The Queen of Real Country

"Where do I begin," if I may plagiarize. How do you start to talk about a very special woman? For one thing, she is physically striking, being as tall as one of Tolkien's ents. (Although to be fair, unlike those creatures, she is bendable, I suppose.) She has the look of the country about her. Her voice is soft when she speaks and sings. It has a soft vibrato about it and it is very expressive, especially when she sings suggestive songs, which she does with amazing effect.

“She” is Marianne Navon and for just about two years, has been gracing the various folk clubs around the country. Although the sort of songs that she sings is not all that common in Israel, (more on that in just a bit), she is very popular. She blew the folks away at Jacob's Ladder, and there is an enormous bunch of musicians who enjoy making music with her. Fortunately for us, she also enjoys playing with us, and for me at the very least she has been a warm glow of musical sunshine.

Marianne was born in California to what she calls "hippie" parents. Her mom was the musical inspiration -- a musician and music teacher. She listened to a variety of music growing up, among which was folk, especially the Appalachian kind, classical, and 70s rock. Mom is still active musically, and dad is a computer engineer.

She loved Joni Mitchell and other folk singers. But as she got older, a new sound came her way. Dwight Yoakum came from Kentucky and began to perform. He blended Kentucky sounds with Buddy Holly licks -- Rock-a-Billy. She was so attracted that she began performing it.

At about that time, in her late teens, she got wanderlust and started roaming through Ireland and Europe, South Asia and eventually found herself in Australia. She started her own country band and performed, particularly in Brisbane, for ten years. Unfortunately, all of the recordings she made were lost. Toward the end of her sojourn there, she met an Israeli who courted her. They were married and made their way to Israel, via Los Angeles. They had two little boys before splitting up earlier this year.

At about that time, Marianne met a new immigrant from England, Shaun Deakin. He is a musician and singer, and does wonders with a variety of stringed instruments. They took to each other at once and have been performing together ever since, much to the delight of us all.

So, now that we've dispensed with the bio, let's turn to the music. Before I met Marianne, I thought I knew something about country music. Marianne started to tell me about a number of artists that she loved and who had influenced her over the years.

Marianne Navon

Some of whom, such as Emmylou Harris and Dwight Yoakum and John Pryne, I had heard of. Others I hadn't. For instance, Lucinda Williams. Marianne gave me a bunch of her CDs and bade me go listen, which I did. This was indeed country music, but not at all like the highly commercialized stuff I had grown up with.

So what are Lucinda Williams and Iris DeMent and Steve Earle like? Well, they are very unpolished, and this is not a put-down. They are rough, direct and totally authentic. They don't have any of the glitz you find in Nashville these days. The instruments can be electric, especially guitars, and you will hear decent drumming, but you also find the acoustic accordion, fiddle and mandolin. You can hear these latter instruments on the blues-based songs. As for subject matter, it is close to the ground, rural, a bit seedy perhaps, but even more enjoyable for that. These singers are not totally unknown in Israel, I’ve heard a Lucinda Williams song on 88 FM. But Marianne's music is not common and I have never heard anyone else playing and singing it. She tells me that most of these artists come from Texas, and the back woods nature of the music and lyrics is very apparent.

Marianne is doing us a service, which is similar to that done by Sandy Cash, by exposing us to singers and styles with which we might not otherwise be acquainted. But beyond all that, Marianne is a songwriter in her own right, writing songs about life and nature. Like her, they are unpretentious and disarming. One of my favorites is a song about her grandmother, The River Girl, who was born in South Carolina and who had a long turbulent life in her quest for peace and romance. She performed it to much acclaim at Jacob's Ladder.

On the other hand, Marianne can be thoroughly modern. She organized a program to teach high school kids English by using popular songs of the day. I was there, and I can tell you that she gives depth to Madonna you never thought existed.

So there you have it, even though I haven't done her justice. We are all the happier for having her in our lives. Don't pass up the chance to hear that soft beauteous voice singing all those hard gritty tunes.

--Larry Gamliel

Workshops at Sarona

After a hard night at Karmiel, we will be holding various workshops late Friday morning and afternoon.

Scheduled so far:

The Petting Zoo – get to touch/play an instrument new to you. Guides so far are Judi Ganchrow (and friends) with their dulcimers

Bev Burge (and friends) with pennywhistles

Dance workshop with Cyrelle

Get a closer look at the 7000 instruments available on Larry’s keyboard

A little humor (Purported to be actual -- yeah, right -- answers from students on music exams)

The principal singer of nineteenth century opera was called pre-Madonna.

It is easy to teach anyone to play the maracas. Just grip the neck and shake him in rhythm.

Gregorian chant has no music, just singers singing the same lines.

All female parts were sung by castrati. We don't know exactly what they sounded like because there are no known descendants.

Milestones

Mazal Tov to: Naomi Friedman and Bob Gregory and his brother, Cory, recently welcomed new baby Toby into this world.

Happy Birthday to: Ann Rachel, Naama Cohen, Judy Admon, Scott Fields, Judy Lewis, Lynn Lewis, Jade Marcus, Dena Matmon, Cecile Panzer, Eli Rockowitz, Larry Rosenfeld, Etty Rosenthal, Peter Singer, Ruth Vlessing

Happy Anniversary to: Margo & Amiel Schotz

Not Trad Ads

Fee is NIS 10 (NIS 5 for members).

**Sandy Cash's new CD, EXACT CHANGE, is available for 60 NIS, plus 15 NIS shipping (per order). Send a check, along with your name and shipping information to P.O. Box 1639, Bet Shemesh, 99522. For more information, call Sandy at (02) 991-9686 or contact her at: sandycash@bigfoot.com

**SHELLEY ELLEN - guitar lessons, 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.

**DAY OF REST -- Rahel Jaskow's CD. Renditions of traditional and slightly off-the-beaten-track Sabbath songs. NIS 65 plus NIS 10 postage. Contact Rahel Jaskow: rjaskow@actcom.co.il

** 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.

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