The Afro-Semitic Experience @ Anshe Emet Synagogue

It is a sad commentary that during the past twenty years relations between African-Americans and Jewish-Americans have--in the wake of the dismantling of the Civil Rights movement--disintegrated. In response, these two Connecticut jazz artists, Warren Byrd and David Chevan, have created a unique musical program that merges their distinct cultures and heritages. In this musical offering, African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd, and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan combine their talents to fuse two centuries-old traditions that have served as time honored sources of comfort and strength. David and Warren have selected pieces from their traditions that speak to the soul and that emphasize and reveal the strong similarities that are at the heart of the passions, suffering and joys of these two worlds.

Their music simultaneously projects a sense of deep contemplation and joyous exuberance. While there have been jazz artists who have delved into their spiritual lives for musical inspiration, this collaboration marks the first time that Jewish and African-American music have been so merged. The very act of performing these distinctive works together reveals how important it is to renew and strengthen bonds between the Jewish-American and African-American people and how extraordinary the results can be when such a collaboration takes place.

Before long they were jamming on Klezmer and Yiddish songs along with our usual assortment of jazz and world music pieces. As word got out they began playing the occasional wedding and Bar Mitzvah, performance art space, outdoor festival and concert space. The mixing of these languages is a thrilling and challenging experience. Members of the band are equally comfortable with terms like freylakh, swinginga blues, playing a line with either a bulgar or some funk feel to it. The Afro-Semitic Experience band has up to seven members in its "big band" lineup.

"Music from two different cultural experiences, one enhancing the other." -Rabbi Herbert Brockman, Congregation Mishkan Israel, Hamden CT

"A brilliant piano-bass duo reading of tunes from the Jewish and African-American sacred traditions and easily the best record I've reviewed this year. Warm, intelligent and swinging..." Jewish Week

The Afro-Semitic Experience
Appearing live in Chicago!
Where: Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3780 N Pine Grove (Broadway & Grace)
When: 8:00 pm Saturday, January 17, 2004
Tickets: $15 available online in advance or at the door.

Sound Clips

1. Let Us Break Bread Together
2. Oseh Shalom (take 2)
3. How Much More (of Life's Burdens Must We Bear)
4. Eliyahu HaNavi

Tickets: $15 on secure ticketweb.com

Presented as part of KFAR's concert series