Blessed Bluegrass
An Orthodox musician's unorthodox music
Jerry Wicentowski
CREDIT: Frank Tamel
As a teenager, Jerry Wicentowski rebelled against his Orthodox upbringing, but only to a degree. He wouldn’t take the bus from his Brooklyn home to Washington Square Park to join his friends for bluegrass jam sessions but instead he stayed at home, incessantly practicing guitar runs in his bedroom to the great frustration of his father. Now in his fifties, Wicentowski has stopped rebelling. He does not play instruments on Shabbat. But he’s a highly respected bluegrass musician who’s found a way to combine his passion for the music with his religious faith. His greatest limitation, it appears, is that he is unavailable for most weekend gigs. Reporter Jon Kalish profiles him in this week’s podcast.
Listen to two of Jerry Wicentowski’s recordings:
Shalom Aleichem, from the unreleased album A Shabbos in Nashville.
Little Maggie, from the solo album titled Lucky Break, available here.
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Jerry,
I listened to “Little Maggie” first and was floored as expected. But “Shalom Aleichem” is a delight — Jewish soul meets Memphis hillybilly!
Is that a new guitar you’re playing? What happened to ole reliable 50’s D28 with the shaved neck and the gutsy bass notes?
I loved this podcast. Any chance you could post the rest of the Shabbos in Nashville album?
Shabbos in Nashville has not been released and is in a kind of legal limbo at the moment. But Andy Statman is hoping it will see the light of day eventually.
Jon Kalish
Sorry, Bob but it’s in a legal no-man’s land. Jon Kalish pulled a magic trick in obtaining permission to feature the selections posted.
My hope is that as performance opportunities increase with a recovering economy, we will be able to record those songs again (and some additional ones) with my current band for public release.
Jerry Wicentowski
As a born and bred Southerner, with city overlays, this site continues to produce both the unexpected and deepening of known concepts.
Let’s try to hold onto this “American-Thing” for a while longer. It gets more and more interesting.
Oh! And the music is excellent.
Thanks
Jerry- not only was it a pleasure restarting our HS friendship after so many years but hearing this version of Shalom Aleichem brought a great smile to my face. Continued best of luck in all your recordings- this was something special!
Thanks for brightening my day.
Bini
Dr. Kevin Christianson from Knoxville passed this link my way. I am just listening to those songs and I like what I hear a lot. Since I am doing the public radio show which is not really blues but more of roots music type of thing I try to have my ears open to different sounds, from jazz, through folk and indie, all the way to classical and world-music. This Jewish type of country music sounds very cool.
Keep rockin’,
Przemek Draheim, Poland
Speaking from a Jewish heart in Southeastern Appalachia, this music makes me smile and know that I’m right. If Judaism can be practiced in Russia, it certainly can fit in the Southeast US. Can anyone tell me if they’re having Fried Chicken for Chanukah? Is it really so wrong? .. And if you haven’t found Floyd County, Virginia, please let me know when you do and I’ll be there!
fantastic!! I love it! I want to hear more of the bluegrass zmiros. thanks Jon!
I play mandolin and jam with local bluegrass musicians. I often feel I’m “betraying” my roots, somehow, as so much of bluegrass and old timey music is gospel. I truly feel my seemingly polar opposite identities have finally been fused. Thanks, Jon and Jerry!
Jerry…..Wow,Completely Blowin Away. Is there any place to download Your music,any of it! I’ve become a Big Fan! Thanks
I dare anyone to listen to “Shalom Aleichem” without toe-tapping, head bobbing, or grinning out loud. What a delight!
Yes, we’re having Fried Chicken for Hannukah. And French Fries. The more oil the better!
Responding to e basak- sorry, I’m a little behind times as relates to downloads, but my CD ‘Lucky Break’ is available for purchase at http://www.countysales.com.
Thanks so much for all your comments.
Another excellent piece of journalism, Jon — Jerry Wicentowski’s music is fabulous and thank you for doing so much to forward Jewish culture and keep it out there in the world. A happy, freylekhn Khaneke!
Beautiful sound!
Your natural audience is here in Israel. Where shabbos is a way of life and your former American bretheren would flock to hear you play.
Chanuka sameach! v’hatzlacha!
Great work, Jon, great work Jerry!
I can really relate to the bittersweet experience of essentially giving up a serious music career for Shabbos. It’s worth it, but it’s not pain-free.
As someone who has played and loved bluegrass for over 30 years, I have to say that I still can’t relate to zemiros being done to Jimmy Martin tunes! Well, to each his own. Yashar koach!
To ekrueger-
Glad you enjoyed. I’d love to come to Israel to perform, but haven’t a clue as to who could help put it together.
Any ideas?
You music is so much fun! I wish I could hear the Shalom Aleichem recording, has it been pulled? I keep getting an error message when I try to open it. I looked you up on you tube and heard some more, how ’bout if you post some Jewish music there? I look forward to more!
Hatzlacha rabbah,
Aliza Bulow
You did it again, gave me big smiles. I am passing this on to the head of our Jewish Culture Department.
Again THANK YOU BOTH
Justine
Lovely and wonderful, but the song you have listed as “Little Maggie” is, in fact, “Hold What You Got.” Can’t vouch which song’s lyrics you are singing, but the music is most definitely that Jimmy Martin classic.
Hi Ronni-
I believe you clicked on the other button; “Little Maggie” is that song, but you are correct in identifying the melody of “Hold What You Got” that I borrowed for “Shalom Aleichem.”
Glad you liked it; try “Little Maggie” too.
Thanks Jerry. Clearly I pushed the wrong buttons. Great music!
Stumbled onto this website by way of Orrin Hatch’s Chanukah song. Then, I found this … AWESOME!! Great work, Jerry. Will be making Lucky Break a part of our family’s music collection. Our son is studying violin — and this may give him some inspiration as well as a good Torah example. May HaShem bless your endeavors and continue to use you as a light of Torah to the Nations. Chag Sameach Chanukah
Jerry,
Your best bet is to contact ‘Jacobs Ladder’, an annual folk festival here in Israel. This would be the perfect stage for your music.
http://www.jlfestival.com/index.asp
shabbat shalom,
ekruger
Eric- Thanks so much for your wishes and blessings; I’ll try to live up to them, IY”H.
ekruger- Thanks for the suggestion; I’ll follow up.
Hi, Jerry–
Great. I look forward to the rest.
Always knew there had to be something more uplifting inside of Hold What You Got.
Curious to know who is playing lead electric guitar on Shalom Aleichem. I have a strong suspicion, but will await confirmation.
Best,
Alan
Hi Alan-
Lead electric guitar on Shalom Aleichem is played by Jon Schole (did I spell his name right?). Does that confirm or dash your suspicions?
Jerry,
I thought we pushed the envelope with our version of “Shalom Aleichem” (www.TheWayJewsRock.com), but I think your version takes the prize. Keep it up. Elisha
Great article!
Do check out what’s happening on the other side of the ocean with Country and Americana music in Israel!
http://www.thebandholler.com
All the best!!!!
That’s exactly who I thought it was. Jon and I have been close friends since 1962, discovering and playing bluegrass, blues, etc. All these years. Still very much in touch. An astonishing player, oozing music.
Beautiful! How can I get this guy to play at my Hillel?
Hi Jackie,
We have a great time playing at Hillels. In recent years we’ve been very well received at the U. of Vermont and U. of Iowa, among others, and are presently finalizing a date with U. of I. in Champaign.
Please provide me contact information for your Hillel director and person in charge of programming. You can email it to me at jerry@luckybreak.us.
Thanks very much.
Jerry,
My roots are in the South Bronx and I too resented the restrictions of an Orthodox home. In our 3 tiny rooms, I had nowhere to escape.
Now I live in Knoxville, TN. Your music is wonderful. When you are scheduled to play in TN again, I hope I can get to hear you.
Happy Chanukah,
JSH
Joyce, I’m happy that you enjoyed the music,and attained much-needed elbow room in Knoxville.
Most of my performance opportunities come about through local Jewish organizations- synagogues,Federation, JCC’s, etc. If you know people in your community that can help actualize an event, please put me in touch with them.
Sorry to break up this love fest, but I fail to see how doing “Shalom Aleichem” to “Hold What You Got” expresses ANY of the soul-spirit of welcoming the angels, the Queen and your neshama yeseira.
I just don’t.
On the other hand, the version in the Kalish piece feels right enough. Likewise “D’ror Yikra”.
Now, I have been playing Irish music with Irish musicians for the last thirty years (to their occasional dismay, delight or plain puzzlement). I happen to find Irish tunes to feel much the same spiritually as a good niggun, but I have never once found a set of Jewish lyrics that work with an Irish tune (though if you get me drunk I might do “Adon Olam” to a filthy sea chantey). It’s too much like when us yeshiva kids did “Adon Olam” to Hernando’s Hideaway” (oy veh!)and later to “Champagne Don’t Hurt Me, Baby” (Taj Mahal’s version or Rick Von Schmidt’s … not Jerry Jeff Walker’s).
Fortunately for me, the Irish tend to play together on Saturdy night and Sunday afternoon, so the Shabbat thing doesn’t interfere as much.
Hi Eliezer,
I welcome your comment, but I’m a little confused. You’re critical of doing Shalom Aleichem to ‘Hold Watcha Got’, but then say “the version in the Kalish piece feels right enough.” Are you saying that you’re put off by it in theory, but like the final product?
In any event, I certainly agree with your premise that a melody or musical style may intrinsically be at odds with a spiritual message.
If, as you say, you find Irish tunes to feel much the same spiritually as a good niggun, there has to be a way for you to bridge the gap if it enhances your experience spiritually and musically.
Is Dror Yikra available on i-tunes or on this website? Love it.
i would love to put shalom aleichem on my website on a music player. when will it be available for purchase?
Hi Sura and Rabbi,
In answer to your questions, please refer to the 4′th comment that I made on 12/7.
Love it!!!! Your version of Shalom Aleichem – finally, music I can connect with! As a born n bred Kentucky Jew who cried when Monroe died, sure I like the klezmer and the Laurie Berkner and the cantorial stuff from eastern europe a hundred years ago- but this is a lot more relevant and integral for me.
I emailed the local Federation’s activities director your email. Can’t wait til you get the legal stuff resolved so I can get more!!!
Eden, you’re a kindred soul! While we’re waiting for legal resolution, I’d certainly get a kick out of playing for you and the Lexington community. Maybe we can get JD Crowe to sit in…
Hey Jerry, i am orthodox as well and i really enjoyed your music. My family is a musical one, almost all of us play the fiddle and we have attended music camps in Nashville, New York etc. It is very interesting to see an orthodox jew preform the way you do, although we have been involved in the fiddle world for many years we have never encountered an orthodox jew who preforms blue grass, it is very enlightening. Who is the fiddler preforming in your pieces ?
My daughters performed their arrangement of Acheinu at a fiddle camp, if you’d like to listen here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLdHE5G80cA
THANK YOU! :)
Hi Alyssa- I’m not acquainted with any Orthodox fiddlers who play at a professional level, but they’re probably out there (maybe learning in Kollel). I once spoke to an Orthodox bandleader who would only allow Orthodox musicians into his band. Sadly, those who made the cut religiously left much to be desired musically.
The fiddler performing on the Shabbos in Nashville selection is Kenny Kosek.
I enjoyed your daughters’ playing.
Excellent, both your story and your music.
Your Sholon Aleichem is great. Your version of Dror Yikra is haunting, very shalosh seudos appropriate.
Are you aware that Ben Zion Soloman, currently lives on Moshav Meor Moddin in Israel (Shlomo Carlebach’s moshav) and an original member of Diaspora Yeshiva Band is very big on Bluegrass and C&W? Some of their tunes feature him on banjo and fiddle.
In closing let me quote Reb Nachman of Breslav who said “All music is holy”
(the music not necessarily the lyrics but absolutely all music)
Ruby Harris is an extraordinary professional fiddler (part of the original Diaspora Yeshiva Band) and an orthodox fellow. Lives in Chicago; plays all over the world. He did the fiddle part on our song, “Suru” on our most recent CD.
Great schmooze Jerry. I heard a lot about you when I played for Chabad in Milwaukee. Now I hear you. Sorry we didn’t get to meet. As you can see from some of the above posts, we (Diaspora Yeshiva Band)had some strong Bluegrass/Jewgrass influences. Good stuff.
Thanks for the music, man!