Holiday Happiness--defined and commented on.

While the Grinch is not my hero I do have to say that there has to be some respite from all this forced happiness, gayety, and celebration.    A few thoughts on that subject and, perhaps, some comparisons of the various holidays we insist on celebrating.

The main event, as the boxing folks say, is Christmas.  What a joy.  I, too, as a youngster fell into the mood---and I am not Christian---but, oh those carols, those trees, that shopping (damn, I could have had 8 gifts for Channukah), and all that constant cloying moments of alleged magical musical moments.  Are we not overloaded with Andy Williams and that ilk by now?

To other holidays now--before we return to that miracle in a manger because the hotel was booked--

Channukah---I am killing my image here as host of a Jewish radio program.   We celebrate revolutionaries and the mayhem that encompassed---not peace.   The miracle of the oil ---lots of interpretations there but let us just leave it as so much that all those latkes could be cooked.   Or, in contemporary terms the miracle would be one again gasoline (oil) at .35 /gal.

Kwanzaa---I am no expert to comment on that subject other than to say it is a late entry into the mass that encompasses they cashing in of the Christmas season---not the spirit---the season is for merchandising
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Christmas---The basis for all this joy and celebration. is something I should not comment on but, suffice it to say, that Easter is the memorable occasion for the true believers.   Christmas, now that I am not a kid anymore, is truly an artificial holiday created for merchandising.    Snow---only in this area.   Yet, Christmas does happen in the Middle East (and all over the world).   The actual birthday of the baby Jesus is up for grabs.  Though I did hear on a radio program recently a lovely tale about a pregnant lady who was upset about that and a stranger offered to take her to wherever she need to go but they ended up not finding a hotel ---she gave birth and this kind man signed up as the father to the available authorities.

Perhaps some music to celebrate the holiday season now---


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THURSDAY & ANOTHER EDITION OF----

 a flip of the fedora as always to JIMMY CANNON

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1        As the year draws to an end this Sunday will be my last program on TRADITIONS for this year and I will be featuring---along with the regular features and the wonderful new material---some of the recordings that truly got to me this year.  Not a TOP10 just a summary of some that impressed me for various reasons.   If you have others in mind please do contact me and let me know and I will surely play them with your comments next time I am on the WFDU airwaves---or, now, their worldwide stream.   Damn, they have to contact a good Urologist about that.

2        I hope that you will be joining me once again on January 5 when my guest will be Mara Levine and we will play from her newest recording and talk about that and her career.

3        The Pope is now using Twitter---what a thrill.   I don’t since I do believe that it is the area limited to birds for communication.   Are we not more nuanced than the birds?

4        This is a good point to announce some of the future plans for both TRADITIONS AND SUNDAY SIMCHA.   On January 5 I am planning to have Mara Levine join me to talk about her career and play music for her latest recording---such a beautiful voice. That will be on TRADITIONS.  SUNDAY SIMCHA will featuring some your requests for the more traditional material as the years progresses and will also be adding some “newish” material---strange you don’t look newish---but you will assimilate and enjoy the program.   Alavei!.

5        I do want to make mention if the radio station that is truly---THE RIGHT PLACE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DIAL.  Actually, if you still have a dial---on the whole damned thing.     WFDU.  Where else would or do you get the eclectic  programming you get here---especially on the weekends.  OK I am partial.  Where else do the hosts get the liberty of programming what they believe is what the their audience wants---not what “suits”  say they want.   It is radio as is should be.   Not, like some alleged community/public stations say they are.   This is really “free form” radio at its best.  Radio you can relate with.   As was said, recently, by one of the staff members, “...a companion to those who are in need of company and a port in a lonely storm...”.   It is the best that radio offers.  Even more than TV.   It is personal.

6         For this year then---may your next year be what you hope it will be.

 

THURSDAY---another Edition of NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.....

The usual tip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon----

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)    How many times do you get to see a terrific concert at no cost?   Forget the $100 plus tickets at the arenas.  Come over to the Orangeburg Library (call for reservation—845 359-2244---FREE) on Sunday 12/2 at 2 PM.  Do get there at 1 PM to view this multifaceted artist’s art work.  I speak of CHRISTOPHER BROWN---Not Chris Brown----Rock’s problem.

2)   Facebook might turn out to be the psychotherapy out there and it is free (except for the annoying ads).   Some people truly get their professional information out there---and then there are the folks who post everything from their shopping list to their bowel movements.   They are truly being helped by this medium since a “shrink” would charge an exorbitant amount to have them vent and accomplish “zilch”.  It may well be that Facebook will be the downfall of the pontificating and pointless purveyors “pap” at exorbitant rates.   Shakespeare said it best (as always) about these purveyors of panacea ----“...signifying nothing..”   OK, it is the last line of a longer speech talking of something else yet does apply here---just forget the “ sound and fury part” which was not mentioned here.

3)    An amazing array of wonderful new material always arrives at this time of year for air on both Sunday Simcha and Traditions.    Let me just give you a few items that might work for gift giving time---

For SUNDAY SIMCHA Fans---

a)            The Idelsohn Society---anything at all with special attention to  Twas The Night Before Hannukah (2 CD set)—also their Black Sabbath recording of African American Artists doing Jewish Music

b)            Susan Colin and Joy Katzen Guthrie and any of their recordings.  Two cantorial charmers of wonderful vocal delivery

    For TRADITIONS Fans---

a)            Kim & Reggie Harris ---Resurrection Day

b)            Anne Hills---The Things I Notice Now (Tribute to  Tom Paxton)

c)            Suzie Brown—Heartstrings (for the Prine cover song there)

d)            Iris Dement---Sings the Delta---because she is Iris Dement

e)            Tune in and find even more items of note.

4)                December 16 will be my last show for this year.  Ron Olesko will be doing the others for Christmas and New Years and I return on January 5 with my special guest.  Mara Levine.   She will be debuting her new album and we shall have an interesting conversation about her and her new CD.  I will, on the last show of the year for me, try to select some of the most meaningful music I have played this year---it could be new, it could be classic, and mainly it will be meaningful to me and, I hope, to you as well.

5)                It is amazing how nothing dies on the internet.   I just rcvd. a request for a copy of an interview I did with THEODORE back in 1998 or so and it was mentioned in the, now defunct, THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER  in 2008. The answer was “..not available..”  This brings up the question---do you ever die on the internet even if you have left this world in the true sense?

6)                I wonder how the younger generation(s) can envision life without all the instant communication of today’s world.  Probably as I cannot envision the days prior to automobiles and telephones (I am not that old).  Still, think of a few things.  Does this immediacy of communication really make things better?   Was not, say diplomacy amongst nations, better when there was more time for thought?  Were kids not better off making up their own games and fun?  Did it not make it more worthwhile to do research instead of a quick one liner from a search engine (truth in commentary---that is still magic to me and amazing)?    Well,  now the next line---“...get the hell off my lawn...”

7)                As we get to the end of the year I do want to thank all the listeners for their interest and support of SUNDAY SIMCHA & TRADITIONS.  I also want to thank so many of you who have made SUNDAY SIMCHA such a part of your Sunday routine.  And, I do not serve bagels and/or coffee. 

8)                I am not a diplomat but I do have to wonder about the semantics of the U N resolution granting non-member status to Palestine.  Perhaps the person who stated that words are powerful things has it right then.   A State in words only.   Then again, let us recall the British and the Balfour Declaration which talked of Palestine as a Jewish state (Home—to be exact).   Hmmmm!!!!!

                                 

  

                  

RANDOM RECOMMENDATIONS & RADIO UPDATES

Many more people seem to read the Playlist Page but I do hope you will take a peek at this---or as might  be said in Yiddish Theater---gib a kik ahier.   You have only a few days left to see THE GOLDEN LAND at The Baruch Ctr For The Performing Arts (25th St./Lexington Avenue).  Go to www.folksbiene.org  for ticket information.  The show ends its limited run on 12/2 I believe. One can only hope it once again gets revived.   The history of this particular Folksbiene project dates back to the 1930 when it started as a concert piece and finally evolved into a full fledged musical stage production.  This version has been updated to reflect the current time and still give the history of Jewish immigration through a great cast of 6 performers who make you thing that there are 18 people on the stage---or as Zalman Mlotek, the creator said to me on SUNDAY SIMCHA--"...they are all triple threat---singing, acting, and dancing...".   You will love the music and there is one particular piece that jumped out at me for which I offer this trivia query---who wrote the piece "BREAD AND ROSES".   No Googling---and the question is a bit tricky.  Let me just say the Playbill is partially correct in its credits.  Partially.   The first person to comment here with the true story gets a CAPITOL STEPS CD.  Now, take a peek at the trailer for this production---you know---gib a kik ahier---







Now for a few radio updates.    TRADITIONS on Nov. 25 has some wonderful new material to offer you as well as slightly belated Thanksgiving theme---though I do believe the best way to start a Thanksgiving program is with Loudon Wainwright and his take on that subject---I too am a cynic. BUT, after that opening you will find your old favorites, the features, and some Thanksgiving material and at the very end a story song with a story about it from the "its a small world department".   As to the wonderful new material that flew in over the always open transom---Kim& Reggie Harris (brilliant) , Anne Hills (ditto), Debra Cowan, and a few more surprises for you.  You can always catch the program on www.wfdu.fm if you cannot receive us over that free thing called air.   Which means that the fellow who is on after SUNDAY SIMCHA now---Ghosty--has it right.  As he says---catch him on your listening device.  Don't fret, I am stealing the phrase for future use but I have to admit that he is the best thing to come down the WFDU trail in a long time.

Since mention was made of Anne Hills and her album of Tom Paxton music and of Kim and Reggie Harris---in English now---take a look---








A few samples that are not truly representative of the new albums but only about the brilliance of the artists.

A few comments now about Kim and Reggie Harris and some other artists.  Kim & Reggie were part of a wonderful Phil Ochs Song Night---and, yes, the name Dylan does not come up at these events for good reason.   The music of Phil Ochs, taken from us too soon (as so many) is eternal and Kim & Reggie Harris did it great justice as did Greg Greenway, John Flynn, Magpie, Pat Wictor, and Magpie---and the audience at the Acoustic Cafe that evening---Nov. 17, 2012.  Sonny Ochs was a wonderful interlocutor.

The weekend was a delight because the day after---Sunday---Priscilla Herdman and her angelic voice performed at the Borderline Folk Music Club in New City NY with a wonderful opening set by Loretta Hagen, Roger Hagen, and Mara Levine (who will be on Traditions in January).  My honor was to introduce them all.  Frankly,  I never understand that.   They need no introduction.  They grab an audience just by their stellar presence.

The final thoughts after that last paragraph are short and to the point---why do people not realize that the best venues are not overpriced arenas but small venues with artists that will meet with you at reasonable prices.   Have I been in my cave too long to know what is real and what is popular?

On a positive note---Thanksgiving is upon us and may I will you all a happy and memorable one.  Some folks do not have a hell of a lot to be thankful for this year after that storm---some surely do.  Either way---have a joyous one and take look at two thoughts on it----Loudon Wainwright after The Berrymans




There you have it.   That is Loudon Wainwright III in the second clip and  The Berryman's doing their own composition which I have played many a time as done by Herdman, Hills, and Mangsen.   My favorite version.   May you have a joyous holiday celebration and do please avoid confrontation and do keep your food down.   Tomorrow is another day.

THURSDAY---Another Edition of NOBODY ASKED ME BUT....

A flip of the fedora as always to JIMMY CANNON\

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)                You really have to go to see THE GOLDEN LAND now playing at The Baruch Ctr. For The Performing Arts under the auspices of The National Yiddish Theater.  You do not have to know Yiddish to truly enjoy this wonderful celebration with 6 performers playing myriad parts with wonderful music to boot.  It ends in December.  Best to catch it now.

2)                How great is it that Costco and other  retailers are now offering financial arrangements---mortgages, loans, etc; and do not have government oversight as the banking industry does (for all that good that has ever done)?    I suppose a Costco mortgage would require you to own at least 6 properties ===just like the cordless phones or toilet paper rolls the purvey.

3)                Hurricane Sandy is done but the damage remains.  We, who have power and amenities, should count our blessings and empathize with those unfortunate ones who are now without homes, heat, and shelter.   Do contribute to legitimate places that offer help to those in need.  We, who are not in need, should count our blessings and not curse a few days of, basically, inconvenience.

4)                A tip of the hat and a great thank you to the MTA.  I disagree, totally, with their insane fare and toll hikes but I commend them for restoring the services as quickly as they did.  Kudos!!

5)                The expenses in certain areas are truly out of line----this will take a moment—   I attended a local Town Board meeting on this subject as a Library Board Member (ex Pres.) yesterday

               a)The gist of many complaints was that why are not municipal employees contributing to their pension funs, their medical insurance, etc;  Why are they not taking pay cuts like so many?  I offer no opinion on that. I do offer the presentation of it.

6)  My interest and appearance there was for local Library purposes ( I am on the local board).   The Library has been cut 10% in its fund request for 2013.   Without going into lengthy detail let me just say, and the Town knows this, that it will not add even ONE CENT to the town budget since the Libraries of this town have naught to do with the Town Budget---they are a contractual agency separate from the Town.

7) But going back to The GOLDEN LAND---There was a scene wherein I thought that I bet they do not know the old joke about Sean Ferguson (that is the punchline) ---they did..   A whole segment about Ellis Island and, finally, the immigrant says (when asked his name) Shoyn Fergesen---hence, Sean Ferguson---I heard it years back about a golf game. 

8)  Do join me on SUNDAY  SIMCHA  next week when you will hear some more wonderful music for the upcoming holidays from the Idelsohn Society.  Some real surprises there--- do join me on TRADITIONS on Thanksgiving weekend for a special treat and also on Dec 9 and Dec 16 when we do some pre-holiday magic and some most memorable recordings of the year .

9)  May you all have a season of joy and not make it one of dashed expectations.  Take it the way it comes---like LIFE.

                               

Thursday and Nobody Asked Me But...

As always the flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon for this column---

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)            We will forego  the commentary this week due to all that bad weather and I am sure  we, in the telephone booth we share, will not be too upset about that.   We are a small group for sure.  A larger group if you are inclined to tell your friends and relatives.  But, if you are inclined you are slanted and that is of no help at all.

2)            One item that does need mentioning is the election.   

3)            You can decide what that last line should be.

4)            A few concert and misc. updates—

           Nov. 17   Acoustic Cafe     Park Ridge NJ www.cafeacoustic.org Phil Ochs Song Night w/ an all star cast

          Nov. 18    Borderline Folk Music Club in New City NY (2 PM)  www.borderlinefolkmusicclub.org  I will  be MCing that and am delighted to once agian meet and greet the wonderful Priscilla Herdman.

5) Playlists will be once again-weather permitting---- posted next week.