Boston's "Circle Coffeehouse" - this Saturday, April 27th (with Michael Alpert performing and teaching!)

[Tsulebn <Tsulebn...>]

For all people interested in attending the grand opening of 
The "Circle Coffeehouse" - Boston's new venue for Jewish music and other arts:

The first session of the "Circle Coffeehouse" 
is this coming Saturday, April 27th, at 8:00 PM.  (Doors open at 7:30)
at: The Workmen's Circle: 1762 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA.

The internationally renowned klezmer musician 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 area, 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, poik,etc.) 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, glad to have been able to share in this unique expression of 
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 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 
music.  Be prepared to have fun, and take with you 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 one another.  
    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 ---------------------+