(UPBEAT MUSIC) - I THINK THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT MUSIC IS THAT IT'S ABOUT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

- STING STANDS UP AND I'M JUST LIKE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.

- THERE'S LIKE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY AMAZING SONGWRITERS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE ATLANTA SCENE - I'D SAY ATLANTA ARTISTICALLY RAISED ME.

- WE GREW UP IN THE APPALACHIAN FOLK TRADITION AND ATLANTA'S 90'S HIP HOP REVOLUTION.

- THIS IS SOUNDS LIKE ATL, I MEAN EVERYTHING IS ATLANTA.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) - ALL RIGHT, HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING YOU DOING?

MAN.

SO NICE TO BE HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH TO WABE FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, FOR CITY WINERY FOR FOR HAVING US.

I'M JOE ALTERMAN.

I'M AN PIANIST.

I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NERANENAH, CONCERT AND CULTURE SERIES, THE FORMER ATLANTA JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL.

WANTED TO ALSO SHOUT OUT LESLIE GORDON AND THE BREMAN MUSEUM FOR HELPING US CURATE TONIGHT.

(CROWD CHEERING) IT'S GONNA BE A SPECIAL NIGHT CELEBRATING JEWISH HERITAGE HERE IN ATLANTA, AND I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST, OUR FIRST ACT.

YOU KNOW, SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A CENTRAL TENANT TO JUDAISM AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUS SONGS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO AMERICAN HISTORY.

I MEAN, THINK OF THINGS LIKE MARVIN GAYE'S "WHAT'S GOING ON", LES MCCANN "COMPARED TO WHAT", OSCAR PETERSON.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO THERE'S SO MANY GREAT KIND OF PROTEST SOCIAL CONSCIOUS SONGS, BUT IT ALL GOES BACK TO A JEWISH GUY NAMED YIP HARBURG.

AND HE'S THE SAME GUY WHO WROTE THE LYRICS TO "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW", BUT HE WROTE A SONG CALLED, "OH BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?

", WHICH IS TOLD FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A CONSTRUCTION WORKER WORKING ON THE SKYSCRAPERS IN NEW YORK.

AND THE WHOLE STORY IS, HE BUILT THE SKYSCRAPER BUT THEN HE CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO IT.

AND THAT WAS REALLY THE FIRST SOCIAL CONSCIOUS, SOCIAL JUSTICE SONG IN AMERICAN MUSIC HISTORY.

AND I THINK OUR FIRST PERFORMER IS A, IS IN LINE WITH THAT THAT TRAJECTORY OF GREAT SOCIAL CONSCIOUS SONGS.

SO I WANNA INTRODUCE THE WONDERFUL BETH SCHAFER.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) (AUDIENCE CHEERING) (GUITAR STRUMMING) (GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ DELIVER ON SHORE, STILL WITH SAND IN OUR SHOES, ♪ ♪ HOMEWARD BOUND.

♪ ♪ SURVIVORS IN THE SPIRIT WITH NOTHING TO LOSE, ♪ ♪ WE HAVE FOUND ♪ ♪ A LAND OF LIFE.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM SING, ♪ ♪ THE FREEDOM MUST ALWAYS RING.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM RISE, ♪ ♪ REPAIRING THE WORLD THROUGH FREEDOM'S EYES.

♪ (GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ LIVING THE HOPE OF AMERICAN DREAMS.

♪ ♪ WE REJOICE.

♪ ♪ WE HONOR THE STRUGGLE THAT'S OUR HISTORY.

♪ ♪ HEAR OUR VOICE, ♪ ♪ OUR PRAYER ♪ ♪ OUR SONG.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM SING, ♪ ♪ THE FREEDOM MUST ALWAYS RING.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM RISE, ♪ ♪ REPAIRING THE WORLD THROUGH FREEDOM'S EYES.

♪ ♪ WE LOOK BACK ON SINAI TO THE ROOTS OF OUR TREE.

♪ ♪ WE LOOK BACK ON PHILLY AND THE BRANCHES WE SEE, ♪ ♪ ARE FRUITED WITH OLIVES, BUT YIELD APPLE PIE.

♪ ♪ A HARVEST OF PEACE SET ON TABLES OF PRIDE.

♪ ♪ LI LA LA LI LA LA.

♪ ♪ LI LA LA LI LA LA.

♪ ♪ LI LA LA LI LA LA.

♪ ♪ LI LA LA LI LA LA LI LI.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM SING, ♪ ♪ THE FREEDOM MUST ALWAYS RING.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM RISE, ♪ ♪ REPAIRING THE WORLD THROUGH FREEDOM'S EYES.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM SING, ♪ ♪ THE FREEDOM MUST ALWAYS RING.

♪ ♪ CHILDREN OF FREEDOM RISE, ♪ ♪ REPAIRING THE WORLD THROUGH FREEDOM'S EYES.

♪ (GUITAR STRUMMING) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - OH, THANK YOU.

- I THINK MY SOUND COMES FROM A TRADITION OF FOLK MUSICIANS LIKE JAMES TAYLOR AND PAUL SIMON.

BUT THEN, IN COLLEGE, I GOT INTRODUCED TO THESE WOMEN CALLED THE INDIGO GIRLS, AND THEY REALLY, REALLY INFORMED A LOT OF MY WRITING, THE HARMONIES THAT I LIKE TO USE.

AND, OF COURSE, MOVING TO ATLANTA, I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND BEING IN THEIR HOME CITY, AND FEELING THAT VIBE AND GETTING TO SEE THEM OFTEN HAS ONLY BEEN VALIDATING AND WONDERFUL, AND EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY OFF OF THEIR SOUND AND INCORPORATE SOME OF THAT INTO MY OWN SOUND.

(AUDIENCE CLAPPING) (GUITAR STRUMMING) LET'S KEEP IT GOING.

(GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ WHEN WE LOOK FOR GOD, ♪ ♪ WE VERY OFTEN LOOK ABOVE ♪ ♪ BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE SO VERY FAR AWAY.

♪ ♪ AND IN SPENDING TIME WITH YOU, ♪ ♪ I REALIZE GOD IS IN OUR LOVE ♪ ♪ FUELING THE FIRE OF OUR LIVES FROM DAY TO DAY.

♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV, HEART IN HEART, ♪ ♪ WHERE MY HAND STOPS, YOUR HAND STARTS ♪ ♪ IN A CIRCLE OF LOVE THAT HAS NO END.

♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV, HEART IN HEART, ♪ ♪ GOD'S BEEN WITH US FROM THE START.

♪ ♪ IN THIS COMPLICATED WORLD, YOU'LL NEED A FRIEND.

♪ ♪ SO I'LL KEEP YOU CLOSE TO ME, ♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV.

♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ WHEN WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S VOICE, ♪ ♪ WE THINK WE'LL HEAR IT LOUD AND CLEAR.

♪ ♪ LIKE A GIANT CLAP OF THUNDER FROM THE SKY.

♪ ♪ BUT IN SINGING SONGS WITH YOU, ♪ ♪ IT IS THE MOST ATTENTIVE EAR, ♪ ♪ THAT KNOWS GOD DWELLS 'TWEEN THE WORDS ♪ ♪ FOR US TO FIND.

♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV, HEART IN HEART, ♪ ♪ WHERE MY HAND STOPS, YOUR HAND STARTS.

♪ ♪ IN A CIRCLE OF LOVE THAT HAS NO END.

♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV, HEART IN HEART, ♪ ♪ GOD'S BEEN WITH US FROM THE START.

♪ ♪ IN THIS COMPLICATED WORLD, YOU'LL NEED A FRIEND.

♪ ♪ SO I'LL KEEP YOU CLOSE TO ME, ♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV.

♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ WHEN WE YEARN FOR GOD'S TOUCH, ♪ ♪ WE HOPE ALL PAIN WILL GO AWAY.

♪ ♪ IN AN INSTANT, IN A MOMENT BE RENEWED.

♪ ♪ BUT AS WE WORK TOGETHER, ♪ ♪ TOWARD THAT SACRED PEACEFUL DAY, ♪ ♪ KNOW THAT GOD HEALS EACH OF US THROUGH ME AND YOU.

♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV, HEART IN HEART, ♪ ♪ WHERE MY HAND STOPS, YOUR HAND STARTS ♪ ♪ IN A CIRCLE OF LOVE THAT HAS NO END.

♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV, HEART IN HEART, ♪ ♪ GOD'S BEEN WITH US FROM THE START.

♪ ♪ IN THIS COMPLICATED WORLD, YOU'LL NEED A FRIEND.

♪ ♪ SO I'LL KEEP YOU CLOSE TO ME, ♪ ♪ GOD BE WITH US.

♪ ♪ AS TOGETHER WE WILL SAY, ♪ ♪ LEV B'LEV.

♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (AUDIENCE CHEERING) WELL, THANK YOU!

SHALOM ATLANTA!

- THERE ARE A LOT OF INFLUENCES IN MY MUSIC.

I STARTED OUT AS A JAZZ PLAYER AND I LOVE PLAYING BLUES.

AND THERE IS SO MUCH OF THAT GOING ON IN ATLANTA.

THERE'S ALSO THIS AMAZING GOSPEL TRADITION HERE IN ATLANTA.

AND WHILE JEWISH CONGREGATIONS DON'T TEND TO LEND THEMSELVES TO GOSPEL SINGING, THE ENTHUSIASM, THE SIMPLICITY OF THE HARMONIES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN HOW I APPROACH MY CONGREGATIONAL SINGING.

GETTING PEOPLE TO BE COMFORTABLE SINGING ALONG IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE ABSOLUTELY LEARNED FROM THE GOSPEL TRADITION.

AND THAT IS JUST SO PREVALENT HERE IN ATLANTA.

AND REALLY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF LIVING HERE, MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS.

(GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ FREEDOM'S HELD HOSTAGE BY HATRED AND FEAR.

♪ ♪ CRYING A DESPERATE CRY.

♪ ♪ WHO WILL COME RUNNING, WHICH ONES WILL HEAR?

♪ ♪ WHICH ONES WILL TURN AND DENY?

♪ (GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ MERCY'S BEEN CHALLENGED BY A DANGEROUS SOUL.

♪ ♪ HELD BY AN ANGRY HAND.

♪ ♪ WHO WILL GO SAVE HER?

WHO'LL STRIKE A CHORD?

♪ ♪ PROCLAIMING THROUGHOUT THE LAND... ♪ ♪ RALLY THE ANGELS, THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

♪ ♪ GO SOUND THE TRUMPETS, COME ALL, COME ONE.

♪ ♪ JUSTICE IS CALLING THAT WE LEAD THE WAY, ♪ ♪ AND HISTORY WILL ASK WHAT WE DID ON THIS DAY.

♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ GOODNESS IS BEGGING THAT WE LISTEN CLOSE, ♪ ♪ AND RISE TO AN ANCIENT CALL.

♪ ♪ THAT ASKS US TO STAND UP AGAINST ALL HER FOES, ♪ ♪ AND FIGHT UNTIL EACH OF THEM FALLS.

♪ ♪ RALLY THE ANGELS, THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

♪ ♪ GO SOUND THE TRUMPETS, COME ALL, COME ONE.

♪ ♪ JUSTICE IS CALLING THAT WE LEAD THE WAY, ♪ ♪ AND HISTORY WILL ASK WHAT WE DID ON THIS DAY.

♪ ♪ NO TIME FOR SILENCE, NOT TIME TO WAIT, ♪ ♪ NO TIME TO GAMBLE HUMANITY'S FATE.

♪ ♪ RALLY THE ANGELS, THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

♪ ♪ GO SOUND THE TRUMPETS, COME ALL, COME ONE.

♪ ♪ JUSTICE IS CALLING THAT WE LEAD THE WAY, ♪ ♪ AND HISTORY WILL ASK, ♪ ♪ WHOA, OH, OH.... ♪ ♪ RALLY THE ANGELS, THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

♪ ♪ GO SOUND THE TRUMPETS, COME ALL, COME ONE.

♪ ♪ JUSTICE IS CALLING THAT WE LEAD THE WAY, ♪ ♪ AND HISTORY WILL ASK WHAT WE DID ON THIS DAY.

♪ (GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ HISTORY WILL ASK WHAT WE DID ON THIS DAY... ♪ ♪ HISTORY WILL ASK WHAT WE DID.

♪ (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) - THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.

THERE'S GREAT MUSIC COMING UP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S GO OUT AND DO GOOD THINGS.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - I'M VERY EXCITED TO, TO INTRODUCE THE GREAT MUSICIANS PLAYING TONIGHT.

I THINK IT SHOWS A GREAT DIVERSITY IN THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT JEWISH PEOPLE PLAY.

(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY) I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR MANY REASONS.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) - ALL RIGHT.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) Y'ALL STILL HERE!

ALL RIGHT!

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW ABOUT IT FOR BETH SCHAFER?

YES!

ALL RIGHT.

Y'ALL ARE A GREAT AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO, AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NERANENAH, I'M OFTEN CALLED BY FELLOW, YOU KNOW, JEWISH PEOPLE, JEWISH ORGS THAT SAY, "CAN YOU GET US SOME JEWISH MUSIC FOR OUR EVENT?"

AND I'LL SAY, "SURE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"

AND THEY'LL OFTEN SAY, "YOU KNOW, MUSIC THAT REFLECTS JEWISH LIFE."

AND I'LL SAY "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"

AND THEY'LL DESCRIBE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

AND I'LL SAY, "NO OFFENSE, BUT THAT REFLECTS JEWISH LIFE YOU KNOW, 120 YEARS AGO IN EASTERN EUROPE."

AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT JEWISH MUSIC CURRENTLY COMING OUT OF PLACES LIKE BRAZIL, IN ETHIOPIA.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE CONVERSATION USUALLY BECOMES FRUSTRATING, 'CAUSE THEY'LL SAY, "YEAH, BUT THE REAL JEWISH MUSIC IS COMING FROM EASTERN EUROPE."

I'LL SAY, "NO" AND TO ME, THERE'S NOTHING MORE JEWISH ABOUT, MUSIC FROM EASTERN EUROPE AS THERE IS FROM JEWISH MUSIC FROM BRAZIL, AS THERE IS FROM JEWISH MUSIC FROM ETHIOPIA, AS THERE IS FROM THE NEXT GROUP YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, WHICH IS SOME JEWISH GUYS FROM ATLANTA WHO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC.

LOVE BOB DYLAN.

AS AN ASIDE, I WANNA SHARE THIS REAL QUICK.

I ASKED ALAN LIGHT, GREAT WRITER OF THE ROLLING STONE.

"SURE, BOB DYLAN WAS BORN JEWISH BUT WHAT WHAT'S JEWISH ABOUT HIM BESIDES THAT?"

AND HE SAID, "JOE, HE ANSWERS EVERY QUESTION WITH A QUESTION."

AND I LOVED THAT.

SO, SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO INTRODUCE A GREAT BAND, JEWISH MUSICIANS WHO ARE LIVING IN MODERN TIMES AND LOVE COUNTRY AND FOLK MUSIC.

THIS IS BOOK CLUB.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) - GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) HOW ARE YOU?

WE'RE BOOK CLUB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

(DRUM BEATS) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ A DISTANT PULL ON MY ARM ♪ ♪ LYING TO MY GOOD LUCK CHARM ♪ ♪ LYING TO MY MIND ♪ ♪ DREAMIN' TILL THE TRUTH SETS IN ♪ ♪ I SHOULD'VE LET YOU DREAM WITH ME ♪ ♪ LYING TO MY GOOD LUCK CHARM ♪ ♪ LYING TO BELIEVE ♪ ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING AT ALL ♪ ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING AT ALL ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT ♪ ♪ SELLING THE FARM TO BUY THE HOUSE ♪ ♪ I LOST MY CHANCE TO TEST THE LINE ♪ ♪ I GUESS I'M DOING FINE ♪ ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING AT ALL ♪ ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING... ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I SHOULD'VE TRUSTED YOUR INSTINCTS ♪ ♪ KNOWN BY NOW MINE ALWAYS STINK ♪ ♪ I SHOULD'VE GONE WITH YOU, I SHOULD'VE KNOWN WHAT WAS BEST ♪ ♪ I GUESS I NEEDED REST ♪ ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING AT ALL ♪ ♪ I HEARD A DISTANT CALL ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IT WAS NOTHING AT ALL ♪ (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - WE PUT THE SONGS TOGETHER.

WE GO WITH KIND OF NATURAL ARRANGEMENTS, NATURAL FEEL, WHAT COMES NATURALLY AS MUSICIANS.

AND HOPEFULLY IT TRANSLATES TO AUDIENCES TOO, LIKE JUST TO TAKE AWAY THE FEELING THAT THERE'S NO REAL, I DON'T WANT TO SAY SURPRISES, BUT YOU KIND OF, YOU GET WHAT YOU SEE AND YOU SEE WHAT YOU GET, AND MAYBE THAT'S A COMFORTING THING.

I MEAN, IT FEELS GOOD ON THE STAGE, SO HOPEFULLY FROM THE AUDIENCE TOO.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I HEAR DENVER COLORADO IS A PLACE THAT I SHOULD GO... ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL, I FEEL OUT OF PLACE AT HOME... ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I HEAR SAN FRANCISCO CITY HAS A LOVELY ENDLESS BAY... ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I HEAR SOME PEOPLE TELL ME I SHOULD REALLY GET AWAY... ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I HEAR THERE'S PEOPLE LIVING OUT ON RIVERBOATS AND CARS ♪ ♪ SO I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL, WHEN I ALWAYS FEEL SO FAR AWAY ♪ ♪ NO, I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ AWAY, NO, I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IT'S BEEN SAID ♪ ♪ THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS EVERY DAY ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IT'S BEEN SAID THAT ANSWERS ARE AS OFTEN TOLD ♪ ♪ AS THEY'RE OBEYED ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IT'S BEEN SAID THAT LIFE'S A JOURNEY ♪ ♪ AND IT'S NOT A PLACE YOU STAY ♪ ♪ SO I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL WHEN I ALWAYS FEEL SO FAR AWAY ♪ ♪ NO, I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ AWAY, NO, I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IT'S BEEN SAID A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IT'S BEEN SAID A THOUSAND WORDS ARE WORTH YOUR TWO CENTS ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IT'S BEEN SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO ♪ ♪ AND THERE YOU ARE ♪ ♪ SO I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL WHEN I ALWAYS FEEL SO FAR AWAY ♪ ♪ NO, I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ♪ ♪ AWAY, NO, I DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ♪ ♪ I HEAR DENVER COLORADO IS A PLACE THAT I SHOULD GO... ♪ (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY BANDS AND DIFFERENT KIND OF TWISTS ON ROCK AND ROLL AND TWISTS ON HIP HOP AND TWISTS ON FOLK AND TWISTS ON COUNTRY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT ATLANTA.

AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THAT KIND OF MELTING POT KIND OF TOSSED SALAD OF GENRES AND INFLUENCES.

AND MAYBE WE WRITE A FOLK SONG BUT ONCE FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE GET TOGETHER TO PLAY IT, IT COMES OUT A LITTLE MORE POP OR ALTERNATIVE OR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SUM IS GREATER THAN THE PARTS.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

WE'RE BOOK CLUB AND IT'S A REAL HONOR.

THIS IS CALLED "SPACE BETWEEN THE DAYS".

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IN THE STILL OF MORNING AIR ♪ ♪ PAINTED ON THE SKY'S TALL WALLS ♪ ♪ IN THE MORNING I DON'T CARE ♪ ♪ WHAT WAS SAID FOR SPITE OR CAUSE ♪ ♪ AND IF YOU EVER GET THE URGE ♪ ♪ TO WAKE UP FROM THOSE DREAMS YOU'RE FALLING ♪ ♪ YOU CAN CALL IT STEPS TOWARDS PROOF ♪ ♪ THAT FROM THE GRIP OF DEATH YOU'RE CRAWLING ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DAYS ♪ ♪ WHAT SOME CALL PEACE AND SOME DELAY ♪ ♪ YOU CAN HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH ♪ ♪ IF ONLY WITH A DREAMER'S GRACE ♪ ♪ IF THE DUST OF MORNING SHAKES ♪ ♪ ITSELF OFF YOU IN GREAT ESCAPES ♪ ♪ IT WILL RETURN TO SAY IT'S PEACE ♪ ♪ REARRANGED BUT THICK AS THIEVES ♪ ♪ JUST HOW WE BELIEVED ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) ♪ I SAY DEEP BREATHS SHOULD BE IN ORDER ♪ ♪ YOU TELL ME THAT OF COURSE THEY ARE ♪ ♪ IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DAYS ♪ ♪ WHAT SOME CALL PEACE AND SOME DELAY ♪ ♪ I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE'LL STAY... ♪ (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - THERE'S SOMETHING KIND OF A LITTLE BIT MAGICAL ABOUT BOOK CLUB IN THAT OVER THE YEARS OR DIFFERENT LINEUPS, WE'VE MORPHED A LITTLE BIT WHERE EVERY ITERATION FEELS NATURAL.

THAT'S KIND OF OUR THERMOMETER FOR WHETHER IT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE CAN JOIN RIGHT IN AND, YOU KNOW, SO LIKE IF I WRITE THIS SONG, I CONSIDER IT KIND OF LIKE THE SKELETON AND THEN IT GETS FLESHED OUT BY THE BAND.

SO, I'M NOT REALLY THE KIND OF ARRANGER OR WRITER THAT'S LIKE YOU MUST PLAY THIS HERE AND DO THAT AND CHANGE THIS KEY.

IT'S MORE JUST LIKE TRUST YOUR FRIENDS AND PLAYERS TO GO WITH THEIR INSTINCT.

AND VERY OFTEN IT ALL JUST WORKS OUT EVEN BETTER THAN YOU COULD HAVE PLANNED.

- IN TERMS OF WHAT MAKES ATLANTA SOUND DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PLACES?

I THINK IT REALLY DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF GENRE OF MUSIC YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO SO MUCH INFORMATION AND SO MUCH MUSIC, BUT YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE SIXTIES EVERY CITY HAD THEIR OWN SOUND, LIKE REALLY.

AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE ONLY HEARING MUSICIANS IN THEIR TOWN.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T ALWAYS HEAR PEOPLE NECESSARILY AND SAY, "THAT GUY MUST BE FROM ATLANTA."

THERE'S TIMES I'LL HEAR SOME HIP HOP WHERE I WILL FEEL THAT WAY.

BUT IT'S NOT OFTEN.

THERE'S OFTEN TIMES I'LL HEAR SOMEONE ELSE SAY, "THIS GUY MUST BE FROM CHICAGO", "THIS GUY MUST BE FROM NEW ORLEANS."

I DON'T, IT'S, IT'S I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE IN ATLANTA KINDA OF GROWING INTO THAT SOUND.

I THINK A LOT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS THAT IN FIVE YEARS I'LL HEAR SOMEONE PLAY A CHORD ON THE PIANO.

AND THEN, "HE MUST BE FROM ATLANTA."

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) ALRIGHT, YA'LL HAVING A GOOD TIME TONIGHT?

THIS HAS BEEN REALLY SPECIAL.

YOU KNOW, TO INTRODUCE THE LAST BAND, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT A FRIEND OF MINE REAL QUICK.

THE GREAT LEGENDARY JOURNALIST NAT HENTOFF.

I REMEMBER HIM SHARING WITH ME WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG KID IN THE TWENTIES WALKING AROUND BOSTON AND HE HEARD SOMETHING COMING OUT OF THE RECORD STORE THAT DREW HIM IN AND IT TURNED OUT IT WAS AN ARTIE SHAW RECORDING OF A JEWISH NIGUN THAT HE HAD REARRANGED FOR A BIG BAND.

AND MATT TOLD ME THAT THAT ONE RECORDED, ONE RECORDING MADE HIM FEEL WELCOMED INTO THE JAZZ FAMILY.

AND FOR ME, IT'S, IT'S IS A GROUP LIKE YOU'LL SEE NEXT THAT MADE ME FEEL WELCOMED INTO THE JAZZ FAMILY.

WE'VE ALL GROWN UP HEARING KLEZMER, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WHEN I FIRST HEARD DIXIELAND IN NEW ORLEANS THAT I REALLY FELT WELCOMED INTO TO THE JAZZ FAMILY.

AND FELT MORE CONNECTED TO MY JEWISH BACKGROUND.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH THE, WHATEVER THIS JEWISH MUSIC THING IS I KNOW EVERYONE HAS THEIR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS AROUND KLEZMER MUSIC, BUT THIS THIS NEXT BAND WILL FIGHT ALL THOSE TODAY.

THEY PLAY BALKAN, BALKAN BEAT MUSIC.

THEY'RE VERY FUN.

AND THEY'LL MAKE YOU SMILE SMILE, MAKE YOU DANCE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S THE PARTY TIME OF THE SHOW.

(LAUGHING) SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MERCURY ORKESTAR.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) - ONE TWO, READY.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC) (UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC) (AUDIENCE CHEERS) - THERE'S A LOT OF BRASS MUSIC IN ATLANTA, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

THERE'S SO MANY GREAT BRASS BANDS AND THEY'RE ALL DOING KIND OF THEIR OWN UNIQUE THING.

WE HAVE A COUPLE GREAT NEW ORLEANS BANDS, AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT SORT OF AFROCENTRIC BANDS, AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT, REALLY HEAVY JAZZ BANDS.

BUT WE'RE BRINGING THAT SORT OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN MIX INTO IT.

A LOT OF MIDDLE EASTERN SCALES, BUT WITH SOME REALLY FUN RHYTHMS, AND E-FLAT CLARINET ON TOP OF IT ALL.

SO, NO OTHER BRASS BAND IN ATLANTA HAS AN E-FLAT CLARINET.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT SUCKER, YOU JUST WANT TO JUMP OUTTA YOUR SEAT.

THIS ONE'S A LITTLE FURTHER AFIELD.

THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT AFRO GROOVE, A LITTLE BIT, I DON'T KNOW, A LOT OF HIP HOP, A LOT OF ATLANTA IN THIS ONE.

YEAH.

THIS IS KIND OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT BY THE WAY, IT'S CALLED "BRING IT BACK."

(UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK NOW.

♪ ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK NOW.

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK NOW.

♪ ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRINGING IT BACK NOW.

♪ ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK.

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) CITY WINERY, HOW YOU DOING TONIGHT?

YOU'RE DOING GOOD!

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) YOU FEEL THAT GROOVE, YOU FEELING THAT?

COME ON!

♪ BRINGING MUSIC BACK FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW DAYS, ♪ ♪ HORNS, DRUMS 'TIL I MAKE A CASE UP IN THIS PLACE.

♪ ♪ WE GOT THE BRASS ATTACK WITH THE RATATAT ♪ ♪ PICKING UP THE SLACK.

♪ ♪ WE GOT THE BASS WITH THE TUBA HORN UP IN YOUR FACE.

♪ ♪ RHYTHM, STAY IN TIME, TO EXCITE, WE TAKE NO SLIGHT, ♪ ♪ WE'RE SHAKEN OFF, NO!

WE FIGHT!

♪ ♪ BUT NOT WITH GUNS AND KNIVES, OUR MUSIC IS OUR ARGUMENT ♪ ♪ WITH TWO BY SIX THEY STAB US AND WE POW, POW, POW!

♪ ♪ TUBA SHAKE, OW ♪ ♪ AND OUT OF SPACE LIKE TIME, OUR MUSIC IS A NEW, ♪ ♪ IT MAKES YOUR HEAD GO ON, ♪ ♪ TAPS IT SIDE TO SIDE LIKE A... ♪ ♪ BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO SO YOU GRAB YOUR BOMB ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE OUR MUSIC'S SO DOPE YOU'RE GONNA GET ADDICTED!

♪ ♪ GOT 99 PROBLEMS BUT A WILL AIN'T ONE!

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ C'MON, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, Y'ALL.

♪ ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK.

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK Y'ALL.

♪ ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, Y'ALL.

♪ ♪ BRINGING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK TO THE GOLDEN.

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ BRING IT BACK, BRING IT BACK, Y'ALL.

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) - I LOVE THE MUSIC OF ATLANTA, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON HERE.

THERE'S A GREAT FOLK MUSIC SCENE, THERE'S GREAT SOUTHERN ROCK.

THERE'S GREAT HEAVY METAL, THERE'S GREAT BRASS BANDS, WHATEVER YOU WANT YOU CAN FIND HERE.

THEY'RE GREAT LATIN BANDS.

SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT JUST BECOMES THE MIXING POT OF ATLANTA.

(APPLAUSE) - THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE NEXT TUNE IS ONE WE LEARNED IN HONOR OF THIS SHOW.

IT'S A SEPHARDIC MELODY THAT'S FOR THE PRAYER THAT YOU WOULD SING AT THE END OF THE SABBATH.

(MID TEMPO MUSIC) (MID TEMPO MUSIC) - SO A GOOD WEEK TO ALL OF YOU.

SPECIAL THANKS TO WABE AND NERANENAH AND THE BREMAN MUSEUM FOR THIS GREAT SHOW, AN AWESOME NIGHT, I LOVE SEEING THE DIVERSITY OF MUSIC IN ATLANTA AND THIS IS REALLY A SPECIAL COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

(APPLAUSE) - ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE FOR YOU BUT HOLD ONTO YOUR SEATS.

ONE, TWO, AND... (MID TEMPO MUSIC) (MID TEMPO MUSIC) ♪ ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ YA YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA YA.

CHEJ!

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA YA.

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA YA.

CHEJ!

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA YA.

CHEJ!

♪ (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) (UP TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ YA, CHEJ, CHEJ, CHEJ, YA, CHEJ, CHEJ, CHEJ, ♪ ♪ YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, YA, CHEJ!

♪ - OH, IN 15 YEARS FROM NOW I HOPE MERCURY ORKESTAR IS STILL DOING WHAT WE DO HOPEFULLY PLAYING REGULARLY AND BRINGING MORE AND MORE SONGS TO THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - ALL RIGHT, HOW ABOUT IT FOR MERCURY ORKESTAR, YES.

AND HOW ABOUT IT BOOK CLUB?

(AUDIENCE CHEERS) HOW ABOUT IT FOR BETH SCHAFER?

YES.

FOR WABE, SOUNDS LIKE ATL.

THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT, IT'S BEEN A REAL TREAT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERS) - THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO A YOUNG MUSICIAN WHO WANTS TO JUST DO THIS IS YOU REALLY GOTTA LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.

YOU GOTTA TRUST YOUR GUT.

YOU KNOW, I MEET A LOT OF KIDS WHO, YOU KNOW, IN A JAZZ CLASS AND I ASK THEM WHAT THEY LISTEN TO BUT THEY DON'T LISTEN TO JAZZ.

SO WHY ARE THEY STUDING?

YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH THING.

YOU NEED TO DO YOUR WORK.

YOU NEED TO STUDY BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART BECAUSE AT THE END OF THIS IT'S THE MUSIC JOURNEY IS REALLY JUST THE JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY.

(MID TEMPO MUSIC) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) ♪ WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH US?

♪ ♪ MOONLIGHT AT NOON ♪ ♪ MOONLIGHT AT NEW YORK YORK ♪ ♪ YORK YORK ♪ ♪ SUN AT MIDNIGHT ♪ ♪ SUN AT MIDNIGHT ♪ ♪ YORK YORK ♪ ♪ YORK YORK ♪ - OPA!

♪ FROM THE SKIES ABOVE ♪ ♪ LIGHT IS STREAMING ♪ ♪ NOBODY KNOWS ♪ ♪ NOBODY KNOWS ♪ ♪ NOBODY KNOWS ♪ ♪ NOBODY KNOWS ♪ ♪ NOBODY KNOWS ♪ ♪ WHY IT'S SHINING ♪ (UP TEMPO MUSIC) - W-A-B-E (MUSIC TONES)