FolkNotes - The Official Newsletter of the Israel

Contents: Memories of Larry

Larry Gamliel 1950-2003

The Board of the Israel FolkStuff Society (IFS) wishes to express its sincere condolences to Nurit, Uzi & Gilad Gamliel on the loss of Arie z”l, known in the folk community as “Larry”.

Editorial: What now?

This was to supposed to be a very happy issue, with more on Sarona, pictures, comments, recommendations, etc. However it was not meant to be. Our editorial chief is no longer with us. Who will write the obituaries now, among other things?

IFS will continue for a while, as an Amuta at least until the sanctions in the government ministries are over.

We were going to continue the FolkNotes, even after we disbanded the Amuta, but this will depend on YOU.

We can put out just the monthly calendar (about 2 pages) or we can continue to publish the “The Official Newsletter of the Israel FolkStuff Society” in all its glory, with regular contributions from the members and readers.

It is in our hands to decide, so let’s decide with our pens and computers. If you don’t care one way or the other, let us know that too.

We will be publishing a booklet dedicated to Larry, (either Word or PDF) which will include all the tributes and emails received by me and posted on the Israel Folk Community email list. Your contributions would be appreciated.

We have about 100 pictures of events at IFS events, folk clubs, Jacob’s Ladders, etc. Your contributions in that field would also be appreciated (especially by Carol). Those too will be made available (on a disk) for those interested.

--Carol

Memories of Larry (some of his favourites)

1. The Four Larry’s.

It must have been about 1997. I was actively involved in the Jerusalem Folk Music evenings, hosted by Bruce Brill. One day I received an email from Larry Ockman, clarinet player for the High Society Dixieland Band in San Diego. We were not personally acquainted, though I had heard his band when I lived in San Diego before making aliyah. He was coming to Israel with a tour group from his synagogue, and someone had given him my name as

a jazz contact. He wanted to know whether he should bring his clarinet. I told him

to bring it, to let me know when he’ll be in Jerusalem, and we’ll arrange something.

At that time, tenor banjo player Larry Hirsch was still in Israel, so we had him on banjo, me on banjo and trombone, and our guest clarinet artist—all named Larry. “This is too good to ignore,” I thought, and I called Bruce to ask if he knew any other musicians named Larry, especially a piano player, who could play Dixieland. Bruce thought for a moment, and came up with Larry Gamliel, whom I had not yet met or even heard of. I called Larry and introduced myself, and Larry of course eagerly jumped at the opportunity. He asked me if he can play his electronic keyboard, and I told him he can if he wants to, but I’d prefer he play a real piano if he doesn’t mind. About half an hour later, Larry called me back to say, “Of course I’ll play a real piano! It would be heresy for me to play Dixie- land on an electronic keyboard!”

And so was born the “Four Larry’s Dixieland Band”, to enjoy a memorable 30 minutes of fame in a one-night stand on a rainy Jerusalem Saturday evening. We milked the name joke for all it’s worth, including my calling out “Take it, Larry!” during songs, prompting us all to play solos at the same time. Or planting someone in the audience to call out between songs, “O Larry?” as if to request a song, and we all replied in harmony, “Yes?” When I asked Larry to take a solo, he cried out, “I’m a rock and roll musician! What do I know about Dixieland?!” And then he did it, with his usual humor and perfection. Ever since then, whenever Larry G. and I performed together—which now I regret was never often enough—he would always introduce us as “Larry and Larry, of Larry, Larry, Larry and Larry.”

So now Israel is short one very beloved and larger than life Larry, who is now playing keyboard where no electricity is needed and all the instruments are in tune, or whatever metaphor is appropriate to describe his receiving his returns on all the love he gave to his music and to everyone who knew him. Shalom, Larry. We will miss you. We won’t forget you.

--Elazar (Larry) Brandt

2. Larry’s Musical Soulmate

I just got news that [Larry] passed away suddenly of a heart attack yesterday. I've missed him a lot over the past three and a half years that I've been in the States. He was one of the most amazing people I ever met, with an incredible love of life, vitality, level of joy, sense of humor, and love for people.

I met him when I joined an oldies rock and roll band, and we became great friends. He took me under his wing in the group -- all males except for

me -- and we would have tremendous fun together. He was a big teddy bear who

gave the greatest hugs, and made people feel so loved. In his forties he started his career as a musician and another new career in computers.

Neither was his day job, but these were his passions. He was continually meeting new people and starting new duets and trios, performing with so many people around the country. He loved most types of music, but folk and folk-rock were his favorites. I was privileged to work with him as a duo and in a trio. One of the crowning accomplishments of my life to date was when we performed together on a live radio talk show. I was extremely nervous about

it, but he was just excited and thrilled to be there. He also went on to be one of the editors of the Israel's folk music publication for the last few years of his life.

It was the death of his older brother, Jay, of a heart attack that led him to review his life and go back to his first love, music.

May Larry's death help us all to be inspired, as he was by Jay's, to become all that we can be in every way, and to live each moment to the fullest. Every year Larry would give a memorial concert to commemorate his brother's passing. Besides being a memorial, it was a concert giving thanks to his brother for the wake-up call, which turned Larry's life around. He would perform with his many duos and trios for the occasion and have everyone get up onstage for a fabulous finale. It became a wonderful tradition that I was privileged to be part

of every year until I left. I hope that the concerts will go on, but as a memorial to Larry as well as Jay -- and to show that the show does go on.

Life goes on, and those left can take a lesson from Larry and Jay to live it

all to the fullest.

I keep thinking about him going on to the next phase of existence and having

a grand old time there -- just brightening up the place and having lots of adventures in so many different realms, no longer limited by a physical

body. He was blind, but he could see more than anyone I've ever met. I've been picturing him now, able to see physically as well, and completely free of all restrictions or limitations, just bouncing around the universe,

spreading joy and love, and helping people out when- ever possible until he's ready to move on. I think he'll probably spend a lot of time acting as a guide and angel for others. He loved life so much and enjoyed every minute of it, continuing to learn and to grow and to play until the end.

--Riki Rose

3. The ‘little-known’ Larry: The tour guide: When Jon Wasserman was here we were looking for someone in Jerusalem to play tour guide: take him around the city and show him the sites. Carol suggested that I ask Larry G., who then took us (Jon and me) through the Old City from Jaffa Gate to David’s Tower, through the Armenian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter (he tested a shofar or two in one of the shops in the Cardo), down to the Wall, through the shuk, the Christian Quarter, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and out through the Arab Quarter market. There were shopkeepers who hadn’t seen him for 10 years and still remembered him.

The comedian Larry: As soon as Larry recognized my voice, I started coming up behind him, covering his eyes and saying, “guess who?” His response was to tell me that I should be covering his ears... The techie-musician Larry: As a ‘thank you’ when I let him borrow my vinyl records - he returned them along with CD copies, so I could have a portable version.

I miss his laugh...

--Janet Lerner

4. His other life – N.F.B.

Though I knew Larry Gamliel for several years, I never encountered him in person nor even heard his voice, which now saddens me deeply.

We met through an Internet technical support forum for blind and low vision people. I knew him only as Arie, the name he used in this venue, and so I'll refer to him by that name, because this is who he was to me.

As someone gradually becoming blind in mid life from Retinitis Pigmentosa, I

came to this forum seeking not only technical support but also good blind role models to help me cope with the profound changes RP brings, and Arie provided me gener-ous help in regard to both.

He was always there for me with his technical expertise, crystal clear explanations, good humor and infinite patience. More importantly, his example inspired me to understand that a person could live with dimming

sight of this world and yet still cherish such a life. Family, friends, travel, intellectual and cultural interests, he had them all. He showed a lot of heart. In our private correspondence, he was thoughtful, compass-ionate, diplomatic and wryly amusing, always, whether it was just the chord changes of some popular song or the harrowing topic of the "situation" we happened to be discussing. This was a role model I could take hope and courage from.

Arie's presence in my life, however physically and geographically remote, was truly nourishing, and I miss him. May his spirit live on in the hearts of his family and friends, and may the music he so loved, and loved to play, never fall silent.

--Joel Deutsch (Los Angeles)

MILESTONES

Happy Birthday: Malcolm Admon, Bracha Fuchs, Leah Shalek, Menachem Vinegrad, Sherry Whetstone,

Happy Anniversary: Malcolm & Judy Admon, Mike & Jill Rogoff, Menachem & Yehudit Vinegrad,

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, photo-graphs and material contained therein are, unless otherwise noted, copyrighted by IFS 2004. The disclaimer is so that people do not "steal your article." In every case that people turn to FolkNotes for permission, we refer them directly to the author of the article. Advertisement tariffs for FolkNotes are available on request.

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

C A L E N D A R

January 2004

JERUSALEM AREA:

Israel Dulcimer Society has resumed Sunday (or occasionally Monday) night weekly sessions. Dust off your dulcimer and join us. Or, if you want to try out "other" instruments to see how they

sound with dulcimers, speak up. One session a month welcomes all instruments, with other options possible. For general information, contact Dena at (02) 561-8910 or Judi at (02) 679-8448.

Thursday, January 15^th, 8:30pm. JERUSALEM FOLK CLUB. Memories of Larry Gamliel.

All Larry's friends and co-musicians are invited to share something of him with us. Please tell Bev if you want to play/sing/raconte so we can set up the programme. (zstaff@netvision.net.il)

At the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo Auditorium. Admission NIS 25/20. For information call Carol (053) 850-098.

Jerusalem Harp Circle has moved its regular meeting date. It's now 10:30am on the second Sunday of each month. Admission NIS 10. For details, please contact Shoshanna (02) 624-3435. All harp players, all levels, welcome.

TEL AVIV AREA:

Wednesday, January 7^th, 8:30 pm. TEL AVIV FOLK CLUB with Tarnation (Judi Ganchrow & Josh Goodman); Barry Gilbert; Cyrelle Forman-Soffer & Shay Tochner. Admission NIS 30. Bikurei Ha'itim, 6 Heftman St. For information call Ariela (03) 683-7441.

Wednesday, January 21^st, 8:30pm. TEL AVIV FOLK CLUB with Hal Wrobel, Kiran Porat & Yatsiv Caspi (Indian music). Bikurei Ha'itim, 6 Heftman St. Admission NIS 30. For information call Ariela (03) 683-7441.

KIBBUTZ TZORA and area

Wednesday, December 31^st, 9pm. KIBBUTZ TZORA FOLK CLUB. Special New Year’s Eve Bash and Benefit. For information call Judi & Lynn Lewis (02) 990-8382 or (051) 348-061, or email them at judilynn@tzora.co.il. Also see their website: www.oocities.org/tzorafolk

Monday, January 5^th, 8:15pm. BET SHEMESH MUSIC NITE 8:15pm - With the return - both by popular demand - Elisheva Kornberg and the "two and only” Marianne and Shaun. Rehov Hatsiforen 15A (Nofei Aviv). Still only 12 NIS (kibbud incl.)

Further details: Roby 02-9992106

Wednesday, January 28^th, 9pm. KIBBUTZ TZORA FOLK CLUB. For information call Judi & Lynn Lewis (02) 990-8382 or (051) 348-061, or email them at judilynn@tzora.co.il. Also see their website: www.oocities.org/tzorafolk

KARMIEL and North

Thursday January 1^st, 9pm. Karmiel Folk Klub with Roby Shmerling, Sandy Cash and SheRock. At Beit HaNoar Matnas. Admission NIS 30. For more information call Larry Rosenfeld at (04) 990-2455 or (053) 414-544, or see his website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/israelfolkcommunity

January 2004

Folk Notes