West Bloomfield

Music festival mixes young and new, classic and old

By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

WEST BLOOMFIELD — A mixture of young talent and old favorites will delight the ears of visitors at the 2012 Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit this March.

Festival director Linda Levy said the event, which lasts from March 15-25, will bring top-notch singers and musicians from around the world to metro Detroit.

“Our mission actually is to entertain, educate and energize our community,” she said. “That explores true music, Jewish culture, experiences and belief.”

The festival will launch March 15 with a concert by child pianist Ethan Bortnick. Festival organizers call him the youngest composer and musician to ever headline a concert tour, and he has appeared with Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Justin Bieber and more.

Levy said Bortnick will also appear in a movie, “Anything is Possible,” which features his musical score, in 2012.

“Ethan is something very new for us,” Levy said. “He is an 11-year-old pianist who made history. … He’s also known around the world as a philanthropist.”

The festival will also host some veterans of the music industry.
Grammy award-winning producer Don Was will stop by March
24 to talk about his career working with such stars as the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop and more.

Like in previous years, fans of klezmer music and other Jewish genres can come to the March 18 World Jewish Music Showcase, which will feature the groups Balkano and Spirit of Sepharad. French chanson music will come alive March 21 courtesy of Claudia Hommel and Stefan Kukurugya.

In addition, the festival is bringing back local favorites from last year, such as conductor Edward Benyas and the Michigan Board of Cantors, the latter of which will close the festival March 25 with its concert on love, “AHAVA.”

Local talent will take the stage at the JCC’s Berman Center for the Performing Arts March 22 when Soul Shabbat Band performs with blues soloist Thornetta Davis and cantorial soloist Neil Michaels.

Michaels said he was thrilled to see Soul Shabbat guitarist Ari Teitel’s enthusiasm to use his musical talents at Temple Israel. Michaels said the public will probably be seeing Teitel’s name in various venues soon.

“He’s gifted and well beyond his years,” Michaels said. “I love that it’s a festival that’s broad ranging enough to be open to not only established musical acts, but also open to supporting and lifting up those who are local and are incredibly talented and who are part of the very fabric of Michigan and make it special every day.”

The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road, in West Bloomfield will host performances for the 2012 Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival March 15-25. To learn about show times and ticket prices, visit www.jccdet.org or call (248) 661-1000.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1058.