BOSTON'S "CIRCLE COFFEEHOUSE" - OPENING APRIL 27TH, 2002 (with Michael Alpert performing and teaching!)

[Tsulebn <Tsulebn...>]

ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF THE "CIRCLE COFFEEHOUSE" 
SATURDAY APRIL 27TH at 8:00PM (doors open at 7:30) 
at THE WORKMAN'S CIRCLE: 1762 BEACON STREET, BROOKLINE, MA.

MICHAEL ALPERT WILL BE HOSTING THIS FIRST COFFEEHOUSE WITH A SOLO CONCERT
FOLLOWED BY A KLEZMER JAM WHICH MICHAEL WILL LEAD (open to 
instrumentalists/vocalists at all levels!)

TICKETS ARE $10 IN ADVANCE, $12 AT THE DOOR
MAIL CHECK (payable to The Workmen's Circle) to THE WORKMEN'S CIRCLE 
at: 1762 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445. (*No advance ticket orders will 
be accepted after April 24th*)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: please contact The Workmen's Circle at 617-566-6281 
or email at: wcircle (at) gis(dot)net

*NOTES:
    -REFRESHMENTS: will be available throughout the evening.  A variety of 
foods and desserts (including Kosher) will be sold, along with hot and cold 
beverages.

    -DIRECTIONS:  Located on Beacon Street in Brookline, between Washington 
Square and Cleveland Circle.
    (Public Transportation): Take the Green Line - "C" Train to the "Dean 
Rd." stop.
The Workmen's Circle building is right there!
    (Driving Directions): From Cleveland Circle, head east on Beacon St. // 
>From Washington Square, head west on Beacon St.  On street parking available 
(no permit required).

    -WHEELCHAIR ACCESS:  We apologize, but the building is not wheelchair 
accessible.  Please call or email to inquire about special assistance.

    -The Circle Coffeehouse is made possible, in part, by a generous grant 
from the Brookline-Brighton Jewish Community Fund of the Combined Jewish 
Philanthropies.

                                        * * *

                            **ABOUT THE EVENING**

This will be the first of a projected series of ongoing Saturday evening 
concerts/jam sessions at the Workmen's Circle.  (Look for upcoming events 
later this Spring!)
    The Circle Coffeehouse is being launched as a venue for people in the 
Greater Boston Community, and farther afield, to listen to Jewish music, meet 
others, and to find community.  And for the musicians amongst us it is an 
opportunity to jam, perform, and learn from professional klezmorim and from 
each other.

ABOUT MICHAEL ALPERT:
    For those of you who may not yet be familiar with Michael Alpert (the 
host, performer, and leader of the jam session at this first Circle 
Coffeehouse event) - Michael is one of the pioneers of the Klezmer and Jewish 
Music renaissance that has been taking shape over the past twenty-five years. 
 He is internationally known for his performances and recordings with Brave 
Old World, Khevrisa, Kapelye and other groups.  He is an amazing and soulful 
musician (fiddle, accordion, tsimbol, etc. He even makes magic on his old 
poik!) as well as an extraordinary dancer and teacher of traditional Jewish 
dance.  And as a native Yiddish speaker, he is one of the finest traditional 
Yiddish singers of his generation.  Besides being a brilliant exponent of the 
music, Michael is a warm, and engaging person, and a gantz mentsch.  You will 
inevitably come away smiling, and glad to have been able to share in this 
unique expression of your own Yiddishkeit!

DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE EVENING: (in an "Up Close and Personal" segment) 
Michael will perform, and talk about his own personal history and connection 
to Eastern European klezmer music.  We will have an opportunity to ask 
questions, and learn about the history of the music, the "revival", where 
it's heading, and anything else you want to know.  Please feel free to come 
with your questions pertaining to this music and its vast historical context. 
 Michael is an incredible resource both for references to source material and 
for those interested in ongoing field recording and research throughout 
Europe and North America.

DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE EVENING: Michael will lead us in a klezmer jam 
session.  Again, ALL instruments (including voice) at all levels are welcome. 
 Or you may just want to sit back and enjoy watching an expert teacher and 
musician shape us into an ensemble.  Some sheet music will be provided for 
those who prefer to read, but all are encouraged to use their ears and learn 
in the aural traditional of the masters, (which is how this ancient music has 
been transmitted for generations!)  This will essentially be a "masterclass" 
where we will likely learn about technique, arrangement, and the many 
melodic, harmonic, rhythmic components of authentic klezmer.  But BEWARE! 
Michael is not a didactic teacher.  Be prepared to have fun, and take away 
whatever you want most from this unique jam/workshop!

A WORD ABOUT THE CIRCLE COFFEEHOUSE...
    Sponsored by The Workmen's Circle - a hundred-year old Jewish cultural 
and social justice organization - the Circle Coffeehouse is being created as 
a community-gathering place, as well as a venue to hear wonderful music, etc. 
 
With a focus on Yiddish culture and art with a social conscience, the Circle 
Coffeehouse features local artists and special performances by well-known 
international performers, all in an intimate, smoke and alcohol-free 
environment.

                                        * * *

A FINAL WORD ABOUT UPCOMING COFFEEHOUSE EVENTS:
We are hoping and planning to continue this coffeehouse in the future and 
would welcome your input in helping us shape this unique Boston venue for 
both "concert" style performance and participatory Jewish art and expression. 
 
We have been considering different possibilities for future events including 
open-mic evenings; storytelling; poetry; Yiddish (or Ladino) song; dance; 
original compositions; Jewish humor; and even "oral history" - the sharing of 
personal life experience, (through memoir, "telling", or just shmoozing with 
each other,) all with a focus on the sharing of our great collective and 
individual Yiddish heritage with each other.  
    PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT *YOU* 
WOULD LIKE TO EXPERIENCE AND SHARE AT THE CIRCLE COFFEEHOUSE IN THE UPCOMING 
FUTURE.  PLEASE DIRECT THESE COMMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS:   
     tsulebn (at) aol(dot)com
    

    Hope to see you all there on April 27th!

---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+