Jewish jazz musicians

[Bright Moments]

steven bernstein (diaspora soul)

david chevan

[jlhoots]

Greg Cohen

Joey Baron

Jenny Scheinman

Uri Caine

? Dave Douglas

[JSngry]

There's that whole "New York Tenor" school - Liebman, Grossman, Brecker, Berg, Mintzer. This in a parallell to the whole "Brothers" school of Lester Young disciples of a few years earlier. In fact, I once drew a cartoon of Prez greeting Trane at the Pearly Gates, extending his hand and saying, "You too?". Nobody I showed it to got the joke...

Historically, the biggest non-African-American contributions to jazz have come from Jewish-Americans & Italiain-Americans. Why that is probably as much sociological as musicological, but Dan Morgenstern, in the notes to a Sonny Berman Onyx LP entitled, iirc, SOME BEAUTIFUL JEWISH MUSIC, went into a bit of commentary about the similarity between the melismatic, "wailing" quality of certain cantorial (NOT Eddie! ) traditions and jazz. Pretty interesting stuff.

And speaking of Ziggy Ellman, is it "common knowledge" that his classic solo bit on Goodman's "And The Angels Sing" was based on a traditional Jewish dance/rhythm? Sorry, I don't remember exactly which, but it was called a fralich or something like that. Again, sorry I don't know the exact name. I'd be more than glad to be enlightened, however. Whatever, it was an early (and overt) use of what I guess could be called "Klezmer" elements in a "mainstream" setting.

[slide_advantage_redoux]

Although his wide spread fame was made as a comic, he started out as a big band sax player.....Sid Caeser.

Also, this may have suggested already.

There is a good book on Klesmer music, and it touches on the evolution of Jewish musicians in America. It doesn't neccessarily address jazz specifically, but it is a good book worth having on the reference shelf.

The author is Henry Sapoznik, and the book is entitled "Klezmer (Jewish music from old world to our world)"

good luck

Edited February 7, 2005 by slide_advantage_redoux

[cannonball-addict]

As a Jew myself, I had wanted to start this thread for a while but I thought it would encounter backlash as the black opionion thread did.

Stan Getz!

Lennie Niehaus

Flora Purim

Harry Connick, Jr.

Ben Sidran

Add to the young generation:

Kurt Rosenwinkel

Chris Potter

Ben Perowsky (bassist)

Fima Ephron

Adam Rodgers (brecker's guitarist)

Mark Feldman

David Fiuczynski

Aaron Goldberg

both Avishai Cohens (trumpeter and bassist)

I think as far as knowledge of yiddishkeit, Don Byron could be a Jew. In fact, in addition to the Mickey Katz record, he played in Hankus Netsky's fabulous Klezmer Conservatory Band when he was a student at NEC.

p.s. - I really don't think dave douglas is jewish though I was thinking about it recently.

[brownie]

Georgie Auld

Ruby Braff

Serge Chaloff

Victor Feldman

Herb Geller

Burton Greene

Shelly Manne

Some Europeans:

Sacha Distel

Ronnie Scott

Martial Solal

Rene Urtreger

[Don Brown]

Marky Markowitz

Sam Staff

Hymie Schertzer

Sam Marowitz

Sam Margolis

Shorty Rogers (Milton Rajonsky)

Al Cohn

George Wettling

Marty Flax (Martin Flachsenhaar)

Lou Stein

Chubby Jackson

Sid Weiss

Lou Fromm

Joey Bushkin

Max Kaminsky

George Wein

[Dmitry]

Serge Chaloff

I think Chaloff was Russian [not a Jew of Russian descent].

[Big Wheel]

Marty Ehrlich, I think.

Isn't Ben Perowsky a drummer?

[Fran]

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Doesn't count - as I believe we are looking at ethnic influence.

[robviti]

And speaking of Ziggy Ellman, is it "common knowledge" that his classic solo bit on Goodman's "And The Angels Sing" was based on a traditional Jewish dance/rhythm? Sorry, I don't remember exactly which, but it was called a fralich or something like that.

"And The Angels Sing," also known as "Freylekh In Swing," is an adaption of "Der Shtiller Bulgar."

[JSngry]

And speaking of Ziggy Ellman, is it "common knowledge" that his classic solo bit on Goodman's "And The Angels Sing" was based on a traditional Jewish dance/rhythm? Sorry, I don't remember exactly which, but it was called a fralich or something like that.

"And The Angels Sing," also known as "Freylekh In Swing," is an adaption of "Der Shtiller Bulgar."

I appreciate that info, and found HERE that

The FREYLEKH ('joyful'), also called 'hopke', 'redl', 'karahod', 'dreydl', 'kaylekhiks' or 'rikudl', is a lively  Jewish circle dance. A lyrical joyful piece could  also be called freylekh. The freylekhs can also be heard as lyrical pieces in a joyful mood.

[Fran]

Besides Alfred Lion and Frank Wolff, many independent jazz (or other type of music) record producers were of Jewish descent:

Bob Weinstock

Don Schlitten

Lester Koenig

Herman Lubinsky

Max & Sol Weiss

Moses Ash

Milt Gabler ?

Herb Abramson

Their importance for the jazz scene can hardly be underestimated.

No question on Milt Gabler - Commodore Records Founder

And he was Billy Crystal's uncle - as Crystal has often commmented

[Jazz Kat]

Julius Wechter, Tonni Kalash, Bernie Fleischer.

[Fran]

also:

Paul Whiteman

Harry James

Ziggy Elman

Mel Torme

Herbie Mann

Herb Alpert

and don't forget great composers who provided a starting point for jazz improvisation:

Irv-ing Berlin

Jerome Kern

George and Ira Gershwin

Oscar Hammerstein

Richard Rogers

Lorenz Hart

Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe

Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg

Are you sure - Harry James?

[JSngry]

Are you sure - Harry James?

http://www.jinfo.org/Conductors.html

[brownie]

Serge Chaloff

I think Chaloff was Russian [not a Jew of Russian descent].

Serge Chaloff's mother was not jewish indeed. She was a Presbyterian. But his father was. Even if he converted to Christianity 'after getting miffed at the rabbi from his synagogue who was pressuring him for money' (quote from Vladimir Simosko's biography of Serge Chaloff).

[maren]

Byron could be a Jew. In fact, in addition to the Mickey Katz record, he played in Hankus Netsky's fabulous Klezmer Conservatory Band when he was a student at NEC.

p.s. - I really don't think dave douglas is jewish though I was thinking about it recently.

Don is not Jewish, but you're absolutely right about knowledge of Yiddishkeit.

I think you're also right that Dave Douglas isn't.

But Josh Roseman (trombone on "Don Byron Plays the Music of Mickey Katz") definitely IS.

[maren]

Marc Ribot

Anthony Coleman (with one of the great band names of all time: "Sephardic Tinge")

[jlhoots]

Barry Altschul

? Eddie Daniels

[brownie]

Dave Amran

Joel Futterman

Errol Parker

Lou Soloff

[maren]

Borah Bergman

Andrea Parkins

Zeena Parkins

Fima Ephron

Ellery Eskelin (I think)

[Noj]

The Chanukah Song - by Adam Sandler

Put on your Yamaka

Its time for Chanukah

So much funnaka

To celebrate Chanukah

Chanukah is the festival of lights

Instead of one day of presents

We get eight crazy nights

When you feel like the only kid in town

Without a Christmas tree

Here's a new list of people who are Jewish

Just like you and me

David Lee Roth lights the menorrah,

So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shore-ah

Guess who eats together at the Karnickey Deli,

Bowzer from Sha-na-na, and Arthur Fonzerrelli.

pause for giggle

Paul Newman's half Jewish; Goldie Hawn's half too,

Put them together--what a fine lookin' Jew!

You don't need "Deck the Halls" or "Jingle Bell Rock"

Cause you can spin the dreidl with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock--both Jewish!

Put on your yalmulka, it's time for Chanukah,

The owner of the Seattle Supersonic-ahs celebrates Chanukah.

O.J. Simpson--not a Jew!

But guess who is...Hall of Famer--Rod Carew--(he converted!)

We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby,

Harrison Ford's a quarter Jewish--not too shabby!

Some people think that Ebeneezer Scrooge is,

Well, he's not, but guess who is: All three Stooges.

So many Jews are in show biz--

Tom Cruise isn't, but I heard his agent is.

Winona Ryder,

Drinks Manischewitz wine

Then spins a Dreidle with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein

Guess who gives and receives

Loads of Chanukah toys

The girls from Veruca Salt and all three Beastie Boys

Lenny Kravitz is half Jewish,

Courtney Love is half too

Put them together

What a funky bad ass Jew

We got Harvey Keitel

And flash dancer Jennifer Beals

Yasmine Bleeth from Baywatch is Jewish

And yes her boobs are real

Put on that yarmulka

Its time for Chanukah

2 time Ocsar winning Dustin Hoffmanaka

celebrates Chanukah

O.J. Simpson

Still not a Jew!

But guess who is,

The guy who does the voice for Scooby Doo

Bob Dylan was born a Jew

Then he wasn't

but now he's back,

Mary Tyler Moore's husband is Jewish

'Cause we're pretty good in the sack.

Guess who got bar-mitzvahed

On the PGA tour

No I'm not talking about Tiger Woods

I'm talkin' about Mr. Happy Gilmore.

So many Jews are in the show biz

Bruce Springsteen isn't Jewish

But my mother thinks he is.

Tell the world-amanaka

It's time to celebrate Chanukah

It's not pronounced Ch-nakah

The C is silent in Chanukah

So read your hooked on phonica

Get drunk in Tijuanaka

If you really really wannaka

Have a happy happy happy happy Chanukah!

[garthsj]

Did we ever really define what we mean by "Jewish" in this thread? I am a Jew by virtue of a Jewish mother and grandmother (her name was Esther Cohen !!!) so I am totally accepted as a Jew, but some of the names on this list might have been of Jewish heritage, but were not practicing Jews .. Shorty Rogers for one .... Sammy Davis, on the other hand converted to Judaism (I am not sure how seriously he practiced his religion) ... So, do we have a definition? This is, of course, an issue that preoccupies much of Israeli culture and internal politics ...

[medjuck]

Serge Chaloff

I think Chaloff was Russian [not a Jew of Russian descent].

Serge Chaloff's mother was not jewish indeed. She was a Presbyterian. But his father was. Even if he converted to Christianity 'after getting miffed at the rabbi from his synagogue who was pressuring him for money' (quote from Vladimir Simosko's biography of Serge Chaloff).

Well according to Orthodox Jewish law (and apparently the laws of Israel) that would mean Serge was not Jewish since it passes through the mother.