Looking for Light

December 15, 2021 AT 7PM

Cold, dark winter days are here - and we all need a little hope, a little light. This online concert is a soul-care playlist for these winter days, with music that soars, soothes, and sweetens the evening. With performances from IJ favorites Falsa, Yosef Goldman, Monnette Sudler, Solomon Temple, and Susan Hoffman Watts - and brand new music from Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger - join IJ for an evening of light and love.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Falsa is a Vocalist and Ukulele player rooted in 14th century Sufi music (Indian classical mysticism similar to Rumi's transcendent poetry) and his ukulele playing is rooted in the music of Mali (West Africa). He's been featured on NPR and NY Public Radio's New Sounds. Falsa trained in Sufi music from the age of 4, growing up in Pakistan, and is now bicoastal between NYC/LA. You can learn more about his work here (including the most recent record on Spotify with a Raga-Jazz ensemble, which he'll debut at Carnegie Hall NYC on Nov 13th and Lincoln Center on Dec 8th): https://linktr.ee/falsamusic.

Yosef Goldman's original Jewish music is sung at synagogues, schools, and camps across the country. As a sought-after vocalist, Yosef performs and records with a wide range of Jewish artists. He is a longtime featured vocalist in the Hadar Ensemble (led by Joey Weisenberg) and a founding member of the Middle Eastern Jewish music ensemble the Epichorus. Along with trombonist Dan Blacksberg, Yosef was selected by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for its 2018–19 Jazz Residency. His first album of original music, Open My Heart, will be released by the Rising Song Institute in fall 2019.

Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger has over two decades of experience as a musician. As a vocalist, Keisha has performed with the Philadelphia Singers, and has collaborated with artists as diverse as hip-hop producer Justin Gilmore of KRU records, dance music producer and DJ MacGuyver, New York composer Andrew Shapiro, and New Orleans composer and trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe. Keisha is currently the music teacher at Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, and has served prestigious institutions such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Settlement Music School, Rita Gold Center for Children and Families, and LiveConnections. Keisha holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Oberlin College, as well as a Master of Arts (Music and Music Education) from Teachers’ College, Columbia University. Keisha is a proud member of the Board of Directors of Intercultural Journeys.

Monnette Sudler’s music reflects her diverse exposure and love of varied genres. Her initial CDs recorded for Steeplechase records stay within the instrumental jazz genre with straight ahead & funky grooves on guitar and an occasional sultry vocal styling. Later CDs on MSM-Records and Discograph reflect a more eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary jazz, soul and poetry. Monnette also plays bass as well as lead guitar, drums and various African string and/ percussion instruments. She is a prolific composer and songwriter/poet. Monnette has been commissioned to score and or arrange for various ensemble configurations.

Solomon Temple is a non-binary (he/him) singer/songwriter, host and producer of a live music event called Songs For The Soul, an event based in Philadelphia created to heal, uplift and edify the soul through music, art & culture. His events feature a diverse line-up of singers, poets, visual artists & a live band. In 2020, Solomon released two singles "Call Me Crazy" and "Rapture" that are available on all streaming platforms. Follow Solomon on instagram @solomontemplelovepage & @songsforthesoulphilly to learn more about him and see what he has coming up.

Susan Hoffman Watts represents the youngest generation of an important klezmer dynasty that reaches back to the Jewish Ukraine of the 19th century, beginning with her great-grandfather, musician, composer, cornet-player, and poet, Joseph Hoffman. Susan is the sole living purveyor of the family’s traditional klezmer-style trumpet sounds which electrified audiences for decades. In addition to playing with a variety of noted klezmer musicians from around the world, Susan has recorded, performed, and sung with Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Henkus Netsky, Klezmer Concervatory Band, The Klezmatics, So-Called, Claire Barry, Mandy Pitankin, Dudu Fischer, Mikveh, Shtreimel, and The Klez Dispensers. Susan also has performed with her mother, the great klezmer drummer Elaine Hoffman Watts, in their Philadelphia-based group, the Fabulous Shpielkehs. Susan is also a composer and arranger, and her repertoire is filled with Hoffman family repertoire: generations of klezmer compositions from her great grandfather, grandfather and now Susan’s additions to the family cannon. Susan is a 2015 Pew Fellow and the recipient of two Leeway Foundation Grants, all centered on using klezmer as a social change agent.