[HANASHIR:12006] Post-Caje Update and Shanah Tovah Greetings

[FAVNI <FAVNI...>]

Dear Friends & Music Colleagues,

I have just returned from a fabulous CAJE experience where I had the 
privilege to work and sing with amazing music folk - like Laura Berkson, Peri 
Smilow, the Ba'al Shem Tones, and Judy Caplan Ginsburgh to name a few.
Meeting new friends and working with familiar faces was as always, 
challenging and ever-inspiring and all of the collaborative programs were a 
delight!!!!!

Some of my presenting included:
-Creating an 'instant' (2 hours) Havdallah choir for the Saturday night 
ceremony was amazing - we bonded and blended and joyfully sang 6 songs a 
capella  - unplugged!

-Randee Friedman's SOUNDS OF TORAH was an amazing event - and I was honoured 
to sing the first song, SARAH and HAGAR -composed by my colleague Linda 
Hirschhorn, giving it a bit of a new twist with drones and percussion - with 
the talents of Mike Stein on violin and Mark Bloom on synth, and then jam 
with Ellen Allard and Larry Milder on Karen Daniel's great catchy pice Adonai 
is Asking You.

-And a concert with Janice Rubin, a delightful Houston-based Yiddish singer 
and word-class photographer whose MIKVAH Project exhibit has travelled 
extensively -joined by the ever delightful Robbie Sherwin to do a Barry 
Sisters' version of Bei Mir Bist du Shayn) as well as Cindy Paley (always a 
great sport and jumper-in) as well as Helene Kates of the Ba'al Shem tones. 
Adrian Durlester as always, played beautifully on piano and added his 
inimitable touch as did Mike Stein.

-The New Chants for Peace/Instant Harmony Happening!! was filmed for an ABC 
documentary as was the TEACHING TORAH THROUGH THE ARTS-with storyteller par 
excellence Cherie Karo Schwartz, and artists Gwen Samuels and Ellen Franicek. 
I got to interweave my SHORASHIM song throughout as the participants were 
weaving words, phrases and material into an actual woven tapestry.

-My kids concert was a treat with my pal Barb Stambler adding her guitar 
chops and Michael Kates on keyboard. The new 'I'M ALL EARS repertoire is a 
fun phonemic awareness listening, moving and singing experience paralleled by 
Z'MAN LASHIR which
.will soon be out on CD from A.R.E. I also include songs from the Scholastic 
program  BUILDING LANGUAGE FOR LITERACY for which I composed 48 songs, as 
well as old favourites like ONCE UPON A Time - the story of creation so 
perfect for teaching preschoolers about Rosh HaShana ( from THE SEVENTH DAY 
newly out on CD)

-The highlight however was the program that Judy CG and I produced for the 
second year in a row - WOMEN WEAVING WORDS- which presented the musical 
talents of Laura , Peri, Judy and myself with the storytelling brilliance of 
Cherie Karo Schwartz, Peninnah Schram, Carolyn Figiel and Vered Hankin.
We are also hoping to perform this as major fundraising for large community 
events.

And finally -LAST BUT NOT LEAST I wanted to let you know that the 
'tsemed'(duo) Susan & Fran (acclaimed in 1972  and again in 1986 as an 
Israeli female Simon & Garfunkle) is riding the rails again!!!!  

We performed in Toronto last month and the feedback from the concerts was so 
positive that we have decided to work together again. We actually sound as 
polished and tight as ever - seasoned by time and experience, with the same 
haunting vocal blend and warmth of delivery. Two voices, two guitars 
intertwining percussion and exciting harmonies tapping their vast repertoire 
of traditional and original songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English .

Hed-Arzi just called and asked for permission to reissue our old recordings 
as CDs - along with the Dudaim and Susan & Fran, and make a big deal of it, 
interviews, TV, concerts, distribution etc.
We are very very excited and are offering our new SHOSHANIM CD as well. Susan 
and I can do a really exciting program with love from, for and to Israel and 
our dreams of peace.

For general information, I will be on the east coast from September through 
December - in Toronto over Labour Day, in New York/New Jersey at the end of 
November, as always, presenting a workshop for Scholastic at NAEYC, in 
Toronto again in January as well as commuting from Northern California to 
anywhere!

I would also love to perform in Chicago where my daughter Shira is doing her 
MFA and come to anyone's community for artist-in-residencies offering Friday 
night participation in the service with my Marcia Falk Blessings, a Saturdya 
PM Havdallah concert, Sunday Family/Community/Religious school presentation, 
and Monday preschool material as well as a workshop for cantors/music 
specialists/Hebrew teachers etc. - and of course in NY/NJ/Brooklyn/PA/DC etc 
close to where my baby, Ronit lives.

In fact - I am booking now for the rest of the year!!!! A few dates in 
Chanukah are still available.

Please contact me directly via email if you are interested in recordings, 
workshops, production or concerts. 

Now that I have unpacked from CAJE, I am off to California tomorrow to 
complete work on Vocolot's new CD -HEARTBEAT due out by Chanukah and continue 
work on the Ba'al Shem Tones' project then back to Montreal to sing and lead 
the Kol Nidre choir at the reconstructionist synagogue I belong to.

So -just call me a yoyo - but call me! 
I intend to keep singing and creating instant harmony happenings till  I 
croak.
Best wishes for a sweet, peaceful and healthy New Year!!!
B'Shalom,
Fran Avni
favni (at) aol(dot)com
www.franavni.com
510-595-9132 in Oakland
514-737-9630 in Montreal

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