For Immediate Release, Monday, January 30, 2017 Kim Smith PR | 917-349-8090 | [email protected]

YOSHIE FRUCHTER & THE FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER present

CHURCH AVENUE SESSIONS *A Brand New Monthly Music Series in Kensington, Brooklyn*

OPENING CONCERT OF THE SERIES: WHO IS MANNY BLANC? & XYLOPHOLKS

at The Flatbush Jewish Center 327 East 5th Street (@ Church Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11218 THURSDAY MARCH 9TH @ 7:30PM $15 ALL AGES ARE WELCOME!

“Doesn't pull any punches while slapping around the Jewish liturgical tradition" – RELIX MAGAZINE

"A post-modern approach to Jewish sacred music...this set should appeal equally to open minded jazzers, fans of Yiddishkeit and downtown habitues…" - DOWNBEAT

CHURCH AVENUE SESSIONS

A new monthly music series has sprung up in Kensington, Brooklyn called Church Avenue Sessions. Founded by guitarist and composer Yoshie Fruchter and hosted by the Flatbush Jewish Center, the series is focused on showcasing the amazing artistry of Brooklyn based musicians, regardless of genre. All ages are welcome! As a recent transplant to Kensington from Prospect Heights, Yoshie was inspired to start CAS from other peers who have run music series’ in synagogues around the city, including The Sixth Street Synagogue in the East Village, Kane Street synagogue in Cobble Hill, Temple Beth Emeth in Ditmas Park, and the Stephen Wise synagogue on the upper west side.

As community spaces, synagogues are many ways perfect venues to present art and music, and Flatbush Jewish Center is no exception. With a beautiful and spacious sanctuary, and a downstairs event room, there is opportunity to present both sensitive acoustic music, as well as bands that utilize drums and electric instruments.

The series, open to all ages, will begin with performances by local Kensington bands Who is Manny Blanc? and Xylopholks on Thursday March 9th at 7:30pm Led by Klezmatics clarinetist Matt Darriau, Who is Manny Blanc? celebrates the music and aesthetic of the little known dynamic 60's Brooklyn musician and arranger. Blanc released an obscure yet astonishing LP in the early 60's called Jewish Jazz. Exotica meets jazz meets surf - from double electric to harmonica driven duck-call dialogue. The LP is one of the earliest attempts at putting klezmer melody in a jazz and groovy context.

The XYLOPHOLKS are a dynamic group of musicians who mostly play novelty ragtime music from the 1920's (featuring the xylophone!). They do so while wearing furry animal costumes. The XYLOPHOLKS wish to make people happy and perhaps even dance.

Flatbush Jewish Center (FBJC) is a Conservative synagogue offering programming and services for families, adults, and children. We serve the Windsor Terrace and Kensington, Brooklyn communities and offer traditional egalitarian services.

Yoshie Fruchter is a , bass, oud player and composer whose band, Pitom (), has received critical acclaim from JazzTimes magazine, the Wall Street Journal and Guitar Player Magazine, among others. The unique blend of rock, jazz, experimental and jewish styles in his playing and composing is a defining characteristic of his music. He has toured the US and Europe with Pitom and other groups, playing the Atlantique Jazz Festival in France, the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival, Saalfelden Jazz Festival in Austria and others. He recently released a record of post-rock arrangements of old cantorial recordings entitled Schizophonia, and leads a new project called Sandcatchers featuring oud, lap steel and cello. In addition, Yoshie is a sought-after freelance musician in New York City in bands ranging in style from acoustic world music to heavy metal and has performed with , Cyro Baptista and , among many others. We are fortunate to have Yoshie and his family as members of Flatbush Jewish Center and our Kensington community at large! Please come join us!

Stay tuned for the schedule of upcoming performances!

ALL PRESS INQUIRIES & INTERVIEWS FOR YOSHIE OR FBJC, PLEASE CONTACT KIM SMITH

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