Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: Mexican Mariachi Music in Jerusalem

Mariachi Yerushalaim is a band that provides a live Mexican experience and ambience to its audience.

By using the traditional instruments and dressing in the authentic Mariachi attire, they put on a show that makes the audience feel as if they were actually in Mexico.

Yojanan Peretz, the pioneer of the group, made Aliya in 2018. Inspired by his former Hebrew professor Jacob Shekrel in Valencia, Spain he set out to scout the music scene in Israel. After months of extensive research, his heart was set on the Mexican genre.

In this interview with i24 TV, lead singer Yosef Daniel Villareal and the mariachi band sing and play Avadim Hayinu and Tequila near the walls of Jerusalem.

Enjoy!

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Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: The Story of "The Lonely Bull" by Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass

Today we're turning the calendar back to 1962 when American trumpeter Herb Alpert co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Ross. He recorded five No. 1 albums among 28 albums on the Billboard chart; achieving 14 platinum albums and 15 gold albums; and earning nine Grammy Awards. He has sold 72 million records worldwide.

A native of California, Alpert is the son of Tillie (née Goldberg) and Louis Leib Alpert. His parents were Jewish immigrants to the U.S. from Radomyshl (in present-day Ukraine) and Romania. Alpert's philanthropic donations include the Louis and Tillie Alpert Music Center in Jerusalem, which brings together both Arab and Jewish Students.

At age 86, Alpert is still performing. He has a concert scheduled in San Antonio, Texas on June 7, 2022.

During a visit to Tijuana, Mexico, Alpert happened to hear a mariachi band while attending a bullfight. Following the experience, Alpert recalled that he was inspired to find a way to express musically what he felt while watching the wild responses of the crowd, and hearing the brass musicians introducing each new event with rousing fanfare. Alpert adapted the trumpet style to the tune, mixed in crowd cheers and other noises for ambience, and renamed the song "The Lonely Bull". In the US, "The Lonely Bull" was a hit  in 1962, peaking at #6 on the Hot 100.

Originally the Tijuana Brass was just Alpert overdubbing his own trumpet, slightly out of sync. By the end of 1964, because of a growing demand for live appearances by the Tijuana Brass, Alpert auditioned and hired a team of crack session men. 

The band debuted in 1965, and became one of the highest-paid acts then performing, having put together a complete revue that included choreographed moves and comic routines written by Bill ("José Jiménez") Dana.  

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

 

  #Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Welcoming Shabbat with a Mariachi Version of Lecha Dodi by Cantor Gaston Bogomolni

Argentinean-born Cantor Gastón Bogomolni of the Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in North Miami Beach is a versatile, soulful, and energetic edu-tainer and performer.  

Prior to his arrival to the US in 2002, Cantor Gastón worked and organized multiple Jewish events in the Dominican Republic, Europe, and South America. 

Cantor Gastón’s embracing of Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Neo-Hassidic, Renewal, Latin and Folk background allow him to create a unique spiritual experience when davening at shul.

Back in 2004 Cantor Gastón got a special gift to record the album of his dreams: a Latin-Jewish recording. Each song in the album was crafted and designed to have a connection between the text of the liturgy and the special Latin American style. 

Lecha Dodi was set to a Ranchera style (from Mexico) having in mind that a group of Mariachis would be welcoming and serenading the Bride and Queen of Shabbat.

Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

Mexican Cantor Moshe Mendelson Sings Rumenia Rumenia (with a Mariachi Twist)

Every time we post a song by Mexican Cantor Moshe Mendelson (twice so far) we get an enthusiastic response and requests for more of his singing. So when we found Mendelson singing his version of the classic Yiddish song Rumenia, Rumenia, we knew we had to post it here.

The song was composed and originally sung by Aaron Lebedeff in 1925. It's a song of nostalgic praise for old Romania, with its special foods and the good life there before the war. There are references to mamalige (a cornmeal mush or cornbread), Karnatsel (a garlicky sausage or meat patty) Kashtaval or Kashkaval (cheese made from sheep’s milk) and other delicacies. 

Since this was recorded in Mexico City, where Mendelson has been a cantor for the Ashkenazi Kehila in for 43 years, he is accompanied by a Mariachi band in full costume.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Mexican Cantor Moshe Mendelson Sings a Song About Gefilte Fish

We have featured Cantor Moshe Mendelson from Mexico City singing Ein Keilokeinu with a full mariachi band. It was one of the most liked posts ever on Jewish Humor Central.

Because you liked it so much, we're posting another song by Cantor Mendelson. It's in Yiddish, but you don't have to speak the language to understand that he's singing the praises of gefilte fish.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Mexico Chazzan Moshe Mendelson Sings Ein Keilokeinu With a Full Mariachi Band

Cantor Moshe Mendelson has been the Chazzan of the Ashkenazi Kehila in Mexico City for 43 years.

In this video he teams up with a full Mariachi band to sing Ein Keilokeinu.

Shabbat shalom.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)