Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Buddy Rich Plays "Norwegian Wood" on the Ed Sullivan Show

It's another Throwback Thursday and today we're turning the clock back 56 years to 1967 when Buddy Rich and his orchestra played Norwegian Wood on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Born Bernard Rich in Brooklyn to Jewish American vaudevillian parents, he was part of his parents' act before he turned two, but on breaks he would sneak into the orchestra pit and try to get the drummer's sticks. 

Rich would often sneak into jazz clubs at an age when he looked old enough to sit on the drum set. He was on Broadway as Baby Traps the Drum Wonder at age four, playing The Stars and Stripes Forever on a drum. He was a singer and tap dancer. In his teens he led a band and toured in the U.S. and Australia. At 15 he became the second highest paid child entertainer behind Jackie Coogan during the 1930s.

In this video clip from 1967, the Buddy Rich Orchestra performs a jazzy rendition of The Beatles' hit song Norwegian Wood on The Ed Sullivan Show. Led by legendary drummer Buddy Rich, the band showcases their impressive skills with a lively and energetic performance that combines swing and rock elements. The performance is a testament to the enduring appeal of jazz music and the talent of the musicians who played it.

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 Comedy Special: Victor Borge Introduces the Instruments of the Orchestra

We never get tired of watching the mischievous piano comedy antics of the great Victor Borge, the Danish comedian, conductor and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in the United States and Europe.

His blend of music and comedy earned him the nickname "The Clown Prince of Denmark","The Unmelancholy Dane", and "The Great Dane."

He was born as Borge Rosenbaum to a Jewish family in Copenhagen. His parents were both musicians. He began piano lessons at the age of two, and it was soon apparent that he was a prodigy.

Much of his comedy has been preserved in his concerts and TV specials that are available on DVD, VHS, and now on streaming media. We laughed our way through many of the video clips available on YouTube before settling on this one to share today. In it Borge explains the role of the conductor and introduces each of the instruments of the orchestra in his unique hilarious way.

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

Music: A Common Language For Arab and Jewish Youth

Twenty-four young Israeli musicians aged 15 to 28, 12 Arabs and 12 Jews, have found a common language in music. They are the members of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra (AJYO) and come from various parts of Israel. 

The orchestra was founded in 2002, through the initiative of Dr. Meir Wiesel, Director of Youth and Music Israel. In 2008, the renowned composer and Oud player and violinist Professor Taisser Elias became the orchestra’s Musical Director and conductor, incorporating the Arab-Jewish Ensemble in the orchestra and creating collaboration between the Youth and Music NPO and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.

The repertoire is based on a mixture of East and West, reflected also in the instruments, ranging from the Oud and Kanoon up to the Cello and Violin. A new sound and a new music are thus created, developing a repertoire of newly composed or arranged works, both original as well as works taken from Oriental Arabic or Jewish traditions. 

Concerts are performed throughout Israel, in Jewish as well as Arab locations. In addition, AJYO has performed on 5 European concert tours.

In 7 years of its existence the orchestra has proven to be a real success, both musically and socially. It has succeeded in developing a new kind of music, which combines the Arab, Jewish and western cultures. The young musicians travel great distances to participate in rehearsals and performances, and when on stage they prove to the audience that harmony and coexistence are in fact possible.

The first video below is an introduction to the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra. The second video is a performance by the orchestra at the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

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.)