Cool Jew-ess Rocked it last night...

Amazing gathering last night - seems the women are making a dent. There was almost an even split of female and male acts at Lisa Alcalay Klug's "Cool Jew" book launch last night at the JCC Manhattan.

We performed surrounded by old Jewish signs that are being featured at an art event - it's Rabbi Michael Strassfeld's collection! (I put together a band for his congregation, SAJ - come join us once a month on Saturday mornings!) Here's a picture:Fellow Chick musicians, Chana Rothman, Michele Citrin and Ladino rocker Sarah Aroeste (pictured in red) rocked in their unique and diverse styles along with Storahtelling's own Franny Silverman. It's interesting, all the male performers were observant Jews - two ultra-ortho-garb wearing (Yisrael Campbell - my favorite favorite hilarious chasid!! and Rav Shmuel as well as the dudes from Blue Fringe) and all the women rocked out to their own post-denominational version of Judaism - what do you think that means?

Jewish Chick Rock Street Team members Mara Berde (President) and Monica Rozenfeld (from The Jew Spot) came out to support the event and support JCR as a Movement.

Monica writes about it in her blog.

and now...
I'm off and running - to perform and work with some teens at Bnai Jeshurun Congregation in Cleveland! Talk about a rabbi who rocks - get to know Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria...i mean FOR REAL!

AND, if you're around Cleveland on Wednesday this week - come on out to Vine and Bean Cafe where I'll be doing a solo set!

Peace and Midwesterners!

JCR invades GoGirls NYC Music Fest 11.14.08

I love playing Jewish music for Jews - I love to see people connect to their heritage, culture, tradition and spirituality in a different way than perhaps they're used to.

I also LOVE playing Jewish music for secular, not exclusively Jewish audiences. I love to be reminded that Judaism is a unique and special take on the world - and quite exotic - as I've been told - in that it's so ancient yet consistently being renewed and reinterpreted.

This is the experience I had on Friday night.
The band played as part of a women's music festival at Hank's Saloon in Brooklyn. It was so awesome singing "Hashkiveinu" and seeing the whole audience vibing to the incredible beats that Glenn put out there on the drums. It was awesome hearing everyone say "Meshuga'at" knowing that they're speaking a language that's ancient and new all in the same breath!

I was terribly proud of Judaism at that moment!

Here's a little pic from the event.

Rock on everyone!

JCR and Avoda Arts on the Move 11.12.08

This has been a busy week for the project!

On Tuesday, Nov. 12th Avoda Arts on the Move invited the band
to perform for amazing students at Baruch College - it's a special program to bring more Jewish cultural arts to the NYC based campuses! Baruch student Elina Bank (head of the Jewish Women's Association and on the Hillel Board) worked hand in hand with Arts on the Move program staff and arts advocate Jackie Miller to create an incredible event.

Hillel Director Matt Vogel rocked out with Jackie Miller...(above right)

Event organizer Elina Bank with the band as well as the Hillel Student President Manashe!

This was the debut of bassist Jillian Laboi and guitarist Lisa Bianco!

(Also featured is musical director Glenn Grossman and me.)

Notice the great Israeli flag they put up - little did they know I'd be doing an acapella version of Shir L'Shalom (Song of Peace)!


What an amazing group of students and incredible set of organizers!

Official JCR Street Team Convenes! 9.25.08

Yes, it happened. It's official.

Mara Berde - the fearless leader of the Jewish Chicks Rock Street Team - convened 5 other fabulous rockin' Jewish women to passionately plot and plan the next steps to market the Jewish Chicks Rock Summer 2009 tour and beyond!

Publish Post

Pictured: (top from left to right)
Monica Rozenfeld (The Jew Spot blog chief), Mara Berde (prez and founder of street team), Joelle Asaro Berman (communications whiz of FJC fame), Hope Chernak (videographer and amazing Jewish educator), Naomi Less (Jewish chick rocker) and Molly Przetycki (production and marketing genius). Unfortunately one member was injured - SaraBeth Berman - whose brilliant project management skills were sorely missed. (A speedy recovery, SBB!)

With Naomi's first solo album focusing on Jewish chick rock almost complete, plans are gearing up for a major summer tour - entitled: The Response-Ability Tour

Check back here soon for more info on programming, concerts and other exciting news!

NEW BASSIST!

Exciting news...this will be a short post.
After months of hunting for an amazing chick bassist for the project, we found one!
Her name is Jill Laboi
and she ROCKS!

She's played bass for 14 years, studied at the Julliard school, and has been playing off broadway, tours, and session work.

She is thrilled to come on board, as are we to have her!

More on Jillian soon!

Naomi