The Huppah Project Music Under The Canopy

“...gather round to absorb and channel these melodies that open the ears of the heart. Music that comes from the heart, enters the heart” -Rabbi Dr. Aubrey Glazer

For additional information please contact Aviva Chernick...416-535-1689 [email protected] www.thehuppahproject.com The Huppah Project is a Musical Event

Hear the Jewish Wedding Celebration in music, both traditional and contemporary.

Under a huppah, Aviva Chernick’s soaring vocals and Aaron Lightstone’s melodic ud and guitar, together with the virtuosic sounds of an ensemble of world class musicians weave their way through the moments of this long celebrated Jewish life-cycle event.

While the ensemble plays original compositions as well as traditional liturgy to contemporary settings they also fuse global rhythms and melodies from around the Jewish World.

The concert runs approximately one hour.

Aviva Chernick (vocals) is a versatile and passionate singer whose voice and presence enchant audiences. Among her collaborations, Aviva has recorded and performed with Jaffa Road, Mitch Smolkin and Klezmer Buenos Aires and Beyond the Pale. She is also a Cantorial Soloist, lending her voice to Jewish Spiritual practice throughout . www.avivachernick.com

Aaron Lightstone (ud, guitar) has performed on the guitar, ud and related string instruments in various projects for over a decade. He has trained with world-class teachers in Jazz, Sephardic, Arabic, and Classical Indian Music. Aaron is the bandleader for the world music ensemble Jaffa Road (www.jaffaroadmusic.com). He holds a Masters degree in Music Therapy and practices music therapy in palliative care. www.lightstonemusic.com

Jeff Wilson (percussion) is a percussionist and multi-instrumentatlist. Jeff presently co-leads a new world music project known as the Liquidaries. He also works with Maza Meze, David Buchbinder’s Brass Band, Autorickshaw, Sultan’s of String and numerous others. Jeff is a sought-after accompanist for ballet and modern dance classes in Toronto including: The National Ballet, Dancemakers, and Toronto Dance Theatre. ernie tollar (fl utes/sax) has been playing music professionally in jazz and world music contexts for over two decades. His jazz collaborators include: David Restivo, , N.O.J.O., Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, , Yvette Tollar, Mecca, Hugh Marsh and Don Byron. Tollar’s world music credits include work with Indian percussion virtuoso Trichy Sankaran, Maza Meze, Tasa, Maryem Tollar, and The Flying Bulgar Kelzmer Band. andrew downing (bass/cello) has been playing the double bass in many aspects of the Canadian music scene for the last 15 years. Andrew composes for his own groups Melodeon and the winning The Great Uncles of the Revolution. Andrew has played with Jim Hall, Bruce Cockburn, Canadian jazz legend Moe Koffman, American blues artist Kelly Phelps, and improvised music icon Eugene Chadbourne. www.andrewdowning.com dr. george sawa (guest artist on qanun) was born in Alexandria, Egypt and is a highly regarded master, performer and teacher of Arabic Music. He is the recipient of many research grants and honours including the Lifetime Achievment Award from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the award of excellence in the Arts and Culture by the Canadian Arts Federation. www.thehuppahproject.com