Rabbi Joe Black, the author of the popular holiday song “Judah Maccabee,” joins creative forces with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band to launch the Hanukkah season together. This is the only Chicago-area performance of their show, “Eight Nights of Joy” - an exuberant synthesis of Rabbi Black's original songs and dynamic guitar mastery with the energy and creative genius of Chicago's own klezmer Big Band. This lively hour of music will entertain audiences of all backgrounds and ages.

Reviews of “Eight Nights of Joy” (the show and the album):
“The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band teamed up with Rabbi Joe Black to create a great Chanukah show for Temple Sholom in Chicago. Now you can join in the fun. It's more than a children's album, although there are some great pieces for the kids, especially the new ones composed by Joe Black. He has a great ear for combining lyrics with the American folk and country sound, which work well. There are also some fantastic jazz arrangements with Maxwell Street.” -Jewish Music Web Center

“'Eight Nights of Joy' proves a most delightful blend of traditional and new, with styles ranging from klezmer and Yiddish song to jazz, bluegrass, country, rock 'n' roll, swing and even Soca….Not only is ‘Eight Nights of Joy' a superbly consistent album, but, more than compelling, it is also utterly charming, enchanting, and just plain enjoyable.”
-Richard Rainlore, Rainlore's World of Music, London

Rabbi Joe Black

Rabbi Joe Black is known for his guitar virtuosity, soaring voice, and lyrics that are funny, inspirational, and thought-provoking. A pioneer of Jewish Contemporary music, Rabbi Black has performed for congregations and communities around the world, and his music is played and recorded by many artists. His recordings and books have received accolades from sources as diverse as The New York Times, Hadassah Magazine, Parent's Choice and The American Library Journal. Rabbi Black has recorded five critically-acclaimed albums of Jewish music including Eight Nights of Joy, recorded live in concert with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. An Evanston native, Rabbi Black serves as Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, a position he has held since 2011.

http://rabbijoeblack.blogspot.com/

Maxwell Street Klezmer Band

Writer and historian Studs Terkel wrote, “The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band is a joyous celebration of music that was—and fortunately, still is.” Named for Chicago's colorful Sunday marketplace, Maxwell Street Klezmer Band embodies the spirit of Jewish immigrant America. The band has played at Carnegie Hall and toured Europe. Founded in 1983 by Lori Lippitz, Maxwell Street marked the band's 30th “Bandiversary” at The Old Town School of Folk Music in 2013. Musical Director and violinist Alex Koffman was recently the soloist with the Chicago Sinfonietta in a classical klezmer composition created for him. The band was featured in 2014 with The Lyric Opera of Chicago in the world's first klezmer opera, “The Property.” As singer and actor Theodore Bikel said, “These are fine musicians…they care about the music. And when they care—I care.”
The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band is supported by the Klezmer Music Foundation, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit organization.

http://www.klezmermusicfoundation.org/

http://klezmerband.com/

VIP Tickets

As a supporter of the Klezmer Music Foundation, which provides educational and outreach activities (such as Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, The Junior Klezmer Orchestra, The Yiddish Arts Ensemble, and the Salaam-Shalom Music Project), you will receive the following with the purchase of each VIP ticket:

1) Exclusive seating at cabaret tables in front of the general ground floor seating.

2) A glass of wine or the beverage of your choice and a snack item.

3) A gift basket from the band including the CD "Eight Nights of Joy," a signed photograph of the band, and a little Hanukkah.

4) A tax letter (the donation being $50 more than the general ticket price). The Klezmer Music Foundation is an Illinois 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization.