Georgia Musicians Play Center Stage at Atlanta Jewish Music Festival
From Hip Hop to Jazz, Locals Shine at AJMF9
(Atlanta, GA) February 14, 2018 The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival is excited to feature several local musicians in its 9th annual Spring fest. Representing rock, jazz, hip hop and folk, local musicians will appear on stages and in coffee houses across metro Atlanta as part of the 9th Annual Atlanta Jewish Music Festival (AJMF9).
“Atlanta is home to so many talented musicians," says Becky Herring, AJMF Board President. "AJMF9 will be featuring jazz pianist Joe Alterman, singer/songwriters Sammy Rosenbaum, Beth Schafer and Hannah Zale, and more. Some of these musicians will not only be performing, but also working with aspiring teen musicians, who we see as the AJMF local artists of the future!” Herring added.
This year’s local artists include rock band Zale, jazz pianist Joe Alterman, hip hop artists Matt Citron, Sammy K and Prodezra, Hebrew Chant artists Flavia & Gershone plus Sunmoon Pie, and Jewish folk singers Sammy Rosenbaum, Beth Schafer and Rabbi Brian Glusman.
"No matter where my work and travels take me," began pianist Joe Alterman, "I'm constantly reminded of how proud I am to be a Jew from Atlanta. Of course, there's nothing like playing for that hometown crowd, but performing at AJMF is always extra special. AJMF isn't just a series of concerts; it's a gift to our community and, as a performer, that's exactly how it feels."
AJMF9 "Local High Notes" include:
AJMF9 is proud to partner with the Atlanta Science Festival in presenting Gil Weinberg’s Shimon Robot , a musically improvising robot. Gil Weinberg is a professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Music and the founding director of the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology, where he leads the Robotic Musicianship group. His marimba playing robotic musician called Shimon uses machine learning for jazz improvisation, and a prosthetic robotic arm for amputees
that restores and enhances human drumming abilities. Weinberg has presented his work worldwide in venues such as The Kennedy Center, The World Economic Forum, Ars Electronica and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Museum. His music has been performed with orchestras such as Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the National Irish Symphony Orchestra, and the Scottish BBC Symphony!
Friday, March 9, Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Dr 30332, 7:00 PM, $15, all ages
The Well featuring Rabbi David Spinrad, Sammy Rosenbaum and other local musicians
The Well is a passion project of the past three years for which a large amount of original music has been written. The Well has blossomed into a once a month musical service with over 80 young professionals in frequent attendance. Their motto. "Come with spirit. Leave with soul."
Friday, March 9, The Temple, 1589 W Peachtree St NE 30309, 8:00 PM doors, 8:30 PM service
FREE AND OPEN TO YOUNG ADULTS
Local rock group Zale will share the stage with visiting AJMF resident Chana Rothman for a free concert to all ages. (Frontwoman Hannah Zale attended high school in Warner Robbins, GA before attending University of Georgia.) This young indie group has sold out venues like Eddie’s Attic, The Georgia Theatre, and The 40 Watt Club. ZALE is currently recording their second LP at Madison Records to be released this Spring.
Thursday, March 15, Venkman’s, 740 Ralph McGill Blvd NE 30312, Music at 7:00 PM, FREE to attend and ALL AGES, *Food and Drink available for purchase
Based out of Athens/Atlanta, Flavia Krishna & Gershone are a chanting/singing duo spreading Light through Sacred Sounds. They chant sacred mantras & songs in Sanskrit, English, Portuguese, Hebrew and Spanish.
Saturday, March 17, Vista Yoga 2836 Lavista Rd 30033, 7:00 PM Doors, 7:30 PM Music, $20 in advance and at the door, ALL AGES
Acclaimed Jazz pianist Joe Alterman will perform two shows during AJMF9. A native of Atlanta, Alterman studied music at New York University, where he received both his Bachelor's and
Master's degrees in Jazz Piano Performance. In addition to performances with Houston Person,
Les McCann and his own trio, Alterman has performed at world renowned venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland and New York’s Blue Note, where Alterman has opened, many times, for Ramsey Lewis. Only 29 years old, Alterman has released four critically-acclaimed albums, his most recent being 2017’s “Comin’ Home To You”.
Sunday, March 18, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338, 5:00 and 8:00 PM shows, $20 members, $25 community, ALL AGES
Matt Citron, Sammy K and Prodezra
Georgia's Matt Citron is a gifted rapper and singer known for his passionate, East Coast-meets-Deep South hip-hop sound.
Sammy K‘s passion for creating music that is truthful to his heritage is powerful and unique.
Savannah rapper Prodezra draws strength from his desire to make music that people do more than just listen to, but will actually feel within their soul.
Thursday, March 22, Music Room 327 Edgewood Avenue Southeast Atlanta, GA 30312, 9:00PM (Doors at 8:00PM). 21+, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Beth Schafer and Friends
Singer/songwriter Beth Schafer is the cantorial chair at Temple Sinai. Beth Schafer continues to redefine Jewish music by combining masterful songwriting with sensitivity to liturgy and unique insight toward text. She specializes in music for Torah-minded adults looking for an extension to their Jewish lives through music.
Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs on Sunday, March 25 at 4:00PM (Doors open at 3:30PM). Open to all ages, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival (AJMF), the largest Jewish music festival in the South, features a diverse musical lineup curated to please audiences of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations, including Jews and non-Jews. In addition to being one of Atlanta’s premier international musical events known for introducing the community to unique musical acts featuring nearly all musical genres, AJMF, which will run March 8-25 in various locations throughout metro Atlanta, is deeply proud to highlight the diverse, widespread and unique talents of many local artists.
We would like to thank our AJMF9 (2017-18) Sponsors:
The Marcus Foundation, Fulton County Arts and Culture, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, The Helen Marie Stern Memorial Fund, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Jewish Times, Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast, The Davis Academy, Ellen and Howard Feinsand, Mimi Hall and Russell Gottschalk, Becky Herring, Carole and Sid Kirschner, Lefkoff, Rubin, Gleason and Russo, MailChimp, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), Morris Family Foundation, Raychel Robbins and Peter Scourtis, Diane Roosth and Amos Hall, The Weber School
For more information and to view the entire lineup visit www.atlantajmf.org.