Light in Winter!
“When you play music, you’re bringing light into the darkness” Carlos Santana
April 26 – Hal & Annie Aqua in Concert!
Hal Aqua is a Denver, Colorado-based musician, service leader, and graphic designer. He serves as music director for B’nai Havurah, Denver’s Reconstructionist congregation; provides songleading at Temple Micah, a Reform synagogue; facilitates joyous and inclusive b’nai mitzvah ceremonies along with his wife Risa Aqua; teaches classes, workshops and seminars on Jewish world music; and leads Denver’s long-running klezmer fusion band The Lost Tribe.
Annie Aqua, a violinist since the age of four, Annie plays in a variety of bands with a focus on Klezmer and Balkan music, including The Lost Tribe and MishMish (Balkan, Klezmer, and Arabic). Annie also has a background in visual arts and runs her own calligraphy and custom wedding art studio in Denver, specializing in ketubot and commemorative art.Together this father and daughter duo presents an eclectic musical program that draws from The Lost Tribe’s repertoire of lively Klezmer tunes, stirring Yiddish social action songs, and mashups of traditional music and contemporary grooves.You can hear The Lost Tribe’s recordings at https://halaquaandthelosttribe.bandcamp.com/
Tickets at eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/denvers-hal-annie-aqua-join-the-light-in-winter-concert-series-tickets-1303396908239?aff=oddtdtcreator
March 29 Light in Winter – Illiteratty at Cityview!
Join us for the inaugural Light in Winter concert at CityView on Saturday, March 29, featuring East Vancouver’s very own Illiteratty! This eclectic folk band blends swing, European cabaret, ambient, Celtic, rockabilly, a cappella, and world music, delivering sharp lyrics and up to five-part harmonies. With a lineup that includes guitar, mandolin, violin, accordion, stand-up bass, and percussion, Illiteratty’s music is intelligent, funny, and deeply varied.
Fronted by Earle Peach, a dedicated musician, educator, and activist, Illiteratty promises a night of dynamic and thought-provoking music that’s sure to leave you energized and inspired. Don’t miss out on this lively performance!
Judelman, Lurje & Alpert – Return to Or Shalom
We really love the vibrant, energetic tunes and stories of Craig Judelman (violin/fiddle), Sasha Lurje (vocals) and Michael Alpert (guitar) and they return to Or Shalom’s beautiful sanctuary Feb 15.
As war rages on in one of the main homelands of Yiddish culture, we join together to sing the songs and tell the stories of our shared homeland. Songs of forbidden loves, boy soldiers, the wonders of nature and looming dangers, these songs of the last centuries have sadly never been less relevant. Ukraine was also the source of our most important collections of old time klezmer tunes. In this program three of the world’s most in-demand Klezmer musicians bring together this diverse repertoire to paint a picture of Jewish life in Ukraine and stand in solidarity with our friends fighting for their freedom.
Seattle’s Tzepl opens the 2025 season of the Light in Winter Concert Series
Tzepl weaves together the accordion of Laurie Andres, the trombone and tuba of Jimmy Austin, and the violin of Mae Kessler into a musical braid, simultaneously harmonious and quarrelsome. They play klezmer in a mostly traditional style, but not strictly so. Their sound combines elements of nineteenth century European string players with the brassy American style of the early twentieth century, with the accordion bridging the gap. Tzepl’s music is just as pleasant for listening as it is invigorating for dancing.
Laurie, Jimmy, and Mae first began playing together in the spring of 2023 after being invited to present this music at a workshop for youth, organized by Seattle Fiddlesticks and The Rhapsody Project. Laurie Andres plays klezmer, New England folk music, and many other kinds of traditional music. He also performs in the klezmer duo, Kesselgarden, and is a highly regarded performer for contradancing. Mae Kessler has played in original and traditional music groups for many years and developed a deep love for klezmer music after attending KlezKamp in the Catskills in 2012. Mae also plays with the Scandinavian and klezmer duo, Varda. Jimmy Austin inherited his first name and first trombone from his grandfather. He also performs in a variety of situations, including the klezmer band Shpilkis, and directs The Rhapsody Project’s Yiddish Music and Heritage programming.
Playing at Or Shalom is a great experience, in a small hall with great acoustics, with an attentive and enthusiastic audience.
Or Shalom is an East Vancouver progressive Jewish spiritual community that sponsors monthly Saturday night concerts throughout the dark winter months. Our community aims to support music from Eastern European traditions as well as music from the Middle East. The venue is small (80-120 seats) but has great acoustics, and we provide in-house audio, and a livestream of the event with high production value. We sell tickets on Eventbrite and provide guarantees to musicians as well as share ticket revenue.
Contact Or Shalom Light in Winter Concerts for more information.
Previous Light in Winter Concerts
January 20, 2024 – Jesse Waldman Trio
One of Jesse Waldman’s most cherished possessions is a cassette of his grandmother singing the Yiddish folk song Papirosen to his mother. A remnant, like the abandoned guitar discovered in his parent’s basement, drove his rock ‘n roll dreams out of the suburban sprawl of Thornhill, Ontario, and into the bars of downtown Toronto. A journey cross-country led him to mountains, ocean, and into the arms of Vancouver’s Commercial Drive music scene. Now his home of over twenty years, the West Coast continues to inspire his lush imagery, sublime melodies, and outstanding technique.
Influenced by folk and blues pioneers Townes Van Zandt, JJ Cale, and Neil Young, Jesse has toured Canada, Western US, and the UK, performing everywhere from local pubs to soft-seat theaters, appearing at major festivals including Vancouver’s Folk and International Jazz Fests, Burnaby Blues and Roots Fest and Mission Folk Fest.
“It’s a body of work born from the need, as Waldman sings, “to keep a light on in the dark,” a message that resonates now more than ever, no matter where you call home.”
Nov 2023, Queen Kong Live at Or Shalom Light in Winter
October 28, 2023 Jake Shulmen-Ment and Pete Rushefsky
March 2023 Harriet Frost & The Universal Band
February 2023, Songs of the Jewish Ukrainian Heartland, with Craig Judelman and Michael Alpert
Comments from previous performers:
“Playing Or Shalom is a beautiful experience. The audience is a real community, with a diverse range of ages and backgrounds. They clearly believe in the spiritual power of music to bring people together, heal and celebrate. And they listen! More than a gig.”
– Geoff Berner
“Or Shalom was one of the highlights of our BC tour 2018. We were amazed by the natural acoustic of the synagogue as well as the great listening and the warmth of the audience. We would play there again anytime!”
– Gabriel Paquin-Buki, Oktopus
I have played at Or Shalom a few times in the past and the experience every time was very beautiful. The audience is super attentive and listening deeply to the music, the staff is always warm and helpful, and their commitment and dedication to bring the best sound to the room is amazing!
Thank you!! – Itamar Erez
Performing at Or Shalom is a joy that I have experienced a couple of times. The performance space at Or Shalom is intimate with excellent sound. I felt the audience focus very deeply on my music which makes it such a joy to play – hope to do so again sometime soon,
– Ed Henderson
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Oktopus at Or Shalom
Previous Light in Winter Events
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Saturday, March 13, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Traditional Middle Eastern and Flamenco Music and Songs by Emad Armoush
Fluent in Spanish, English, and Arabic, he performs a repertoire of flamenco, jazz, Arabic, Turkish and Persian music. Emad is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. He plays flamenco guitar, Oud and Ney, and sings Arabic, flamenco, and jazz.
Watch this concert on YouTube at https://youtu.be/L–zQWJM_DM
Saturday, February 13, 7:30 – 9:00 pm (Pacific)
Jazz with Andrea Superstein, Livestreamed from the Bayit
This event was live-streamed over youtube https://youtu.be/QvOQ8nxTPpQ
No live audience, but delicious music.
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 – 8:30 pm (Pacific)
Chanukah Lights in Winter Concert Featuring Noah Gotfrit and Trio – Livestreamed from the Bayit
Jazz for a Chanukah Evening with Candle Lighting.
Click the video below to watch the Livestream of the Chanukah Lights in Winter concert, with Noah Gotrit on bass and Brad Shigheta on trombone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psQk-pvusHE&feature=youtu.be
Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 7:30 pm (Pacific)
Geoff Berner was welcomed back to the Or Shalom Light in Winter concert, now virtual! This event was live-streamed over youtube https://youtu.be/QvOQ8nxTPpQ
No live audience, but great music and entertainment. Instead of buying tickets, Geoff asked everyone to make a donation to Covid-19 Coming Together (Vancouver)
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Lebedik!
Featuring Sasha Lurje, vocals; Craig Judelman, violin, Yoni Kaston, accordion.
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| February 7, 2019 Lebedik! | March 9, 2019 Myrna Rabinowitz |
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