The Jews of Tin Pan Alley is a unique one man show presented by Milwaukee's award winning musician Lil' Rev.
Rev traces our rich heritage as contributors to the American musical landscape. As writers, song pluggers, publishers, singers, comedians, and entertainers.
Jews contributed and dominated in every facet of American popular music ... learn how our immigrant past shines brilliantly in song and dance with popular standards, blues, ragtime, sentimental ballads, Yiddish theater pieces and the influences of the old-country.
Performing on banjo, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, harmonica and recorder, Rev highlights the work of Sophie Tucker, Gus Kahn, Fanny Brice, Ted Lewis, Gus Edwards, Al Jolson, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Aaron Lebedoff, Joel Grey, The Weavers, and more.
"Lil Rev is a phenomenal musician, whose performances engage, entertain, educate and captivate audiences of all ages. He brings the rare combination of in-depth knowledge of folk music with an instant rapport with audiences young and old. He infuses the audience's musical experience with an unforgettable connection with their musical heritage."
-- Lis Shapiro
Adult Education Coordinator
Coalition for Jewish Learning
"Lil Rev enhanced and energized our Sunday morning Sukkot Program with his musical talent and Knowledge of Jewish Music. He enthusiastically demonstrated his gifts as a teacher of children, their parents and our teachers with his interactive, easy going style. "
-- Ellen Polsky
Director of Education and Programming
Temple Emanuel, St. Louis, MO
Lil' Rev with Rabbi Levertov of the Santa Fe Chabbad Center
Santa Fe, New Mexico - Winter 2008
"Your 'act' is the real deal! There is Ruach and Kavanah in what you do."
-- Mike Rocklin
Kalamazoo, MI
"What a thrill it was to have you entertain and educate our children and adults last Sunday. You really mesmerized them all. Your program for the children had them humming tunes and singing all day, I really think you broke through to them and helped them to understand that their heritage is something rich and vibrant and they were a little bit prouder when it was all over. The adults as well were enthralled and loved learning about the history and lives of the composers you sang and taught about. You left everyone with tears and smiles."
-- Cantor Scott Simon
Temple Chai
Long Grove, IL
"Lil' Rev is amazing! He's entertaining, Jewish, engaging, funny, educational, and inpsiring. He plays, sings and talks from the heart and connects very well with his audience. I look forward to doing another concert with him."
-- Rabbi Berel Levertov
Chabad Jewish Center
Santa Fe, NM
"Lil’ Rev is a real ‘find’. His presentations are stimulating, nostalgic, entertaining, and full of interesting material. An animated performer and gifted teacher, whose enthusiasm is contagious, Lil’ Rev is a credit to our Yiddish and Judaic heritage, who has made his mark on Southern California."
-- Ken Hailpern, Director of Operations
American Jewish University
Brandeis-Bardin Campus
Below are some items of interest for the Jews of Tin Pan Alley shows:
Below are some sample live recordings (in MP3 format, 64 kbps sample rate) from The Jews of Tin Pan Alley:
Fiddler on the Roof
Meets
Oh Brother Where Art Thou:
Come along on a fascinating journey and celebrate the best of Jewish Folk Music, Lore, and Stories with award-winning folk Singer Lil Rev.Combining the spirit of these two musical tales, Lil Rev carries the listener back in time as we ride upon th coat-tails of those gone down before; from our early arrival as Immigrant Jews in the late 1800's to the traveling stories of a modern day trobadour we'll explore many themes dear to our hearts as American Jews including songs of home, love, struggle, triumph, dreams made good, hope and faith.
Thru a colorful prism of American roots influence, you'll hear Jewish Blues, Bluegrass (or as i like to call it Jewgrass!), Country Western (look out Kinky Friedman! Here comes Lil Rev), and original songs, played on the guitar, ukulele, mandolin, harmonica and banjo.
Lil Rev Seamlessly weaves a tapestry of Yiddish, Israeli, Chasidic and American Folk-Songs, into a rich gumbo of story, song and lore for the whole family.
Sample set list for the Fiddler on the Roof Show mght include:
1) Blue Skies (I. Berlin)
2) Immigrant Song (Lil Rev)
3) Bulbes (Trad. Yiddish)
4) Poem -The Tenement/Ofn Pripochik
5) Green N Gold (Lil Rev)
6) Artza Alinu/Hold On
7) OY Mein Kapeleye (Yiddish Theatre)
8) Yiddisha Blues
9) Most Precious Thing (Song & Story)(Lil Rev)
10) Tumbalalaika
11) Somthing From Nothing (Song & Story)
12) Ale Brider (trad. yiddish)
13) Bloom Where Ya Planted (Lil Rev)
Lil' Rev's Newest Album:
Click Here to buy Lil' Rev's music from oySongs.com!
What others are saying about Lil' Rev's music:
"Listen to this! Lil' Rev is great!"
-- Pete Seeger
"To hear Lil Rev sing is to enter a timeless world of Jewish song. This is an album where the power of a great melody takes center stage. These are songs to be sung around a campfire, each song like an ember of the Jewish soul. "
-- Rabbi Larry Milder
Lil' Rev with dear friend and Jewish mentor Paul Melrood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Summer 2007
"This album will stand the test of time."
-- Peter and Ellen Allard
"Watch out for this guy."
-- Joel Eglash, Managing Editor
Transcontinental Music / URJ
Now Available!
This wonderful collection of soulful Jewish meoldies (Niggunim) is now available through Transcontinental Music. Lil' Rev's original composition "The Wandering Jew's Niggun" was selected for inclusion within this anthology. This beautiful package is available both as a book and CD package or as a CD.
Jews of Tin Pan Alley
