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SARAJEVO
BLUES: Following up on the enormous
success of Trilectic, Jewlia Eisenberg's Charming Hostess gives us a remarkable
program scored for voices, beatbox, and string trio. Juxtaposing music
and text from the Jewish, African, and Bosnian Diasporas, Charming Hostess
sings of genocide and nationalism, freedom under siege, the nature of
evil, and resisting war by any means necessary--themes that Jews think
about, maybe even obsess over. Incorporating Jewish, Balkan and Sufi musical
influences, Jewlia's boldly original compositional voice weds the sexy,
soulful sound of 60's girl groups to the ambition and scope of 21st century
classical music. Sarajevo Blues is an exciting new release with some of
the most creative women working in new music today.
Read
the lyrics.
Listen
Order "Sarajevo Blues" from
the band or buy
downloads from
others.
 TRILECTIC:
The heart of Jewlia/ChoHo's 2002 release, “Trilectic,” is
a song cycle for female voices exploring the tumultuous relationship of
two radicals: Walter Benjamin (critic/philosopher of aesthetics, language
and history) and Asja Lacis (Bolshevik firebrand and queen of agitprop).
These two had an intense connection, both political and erotic. They talk
about whether Benjamin should join the Communist party, what’s wrong
with Zionism, and how the masses are controlled by spectacle. But they
also discuss their sensual world---for instance, what it’s like
to lie in bed with a lover, just kissing and touching. The music is both
sexy and cerebral, as suits these lefty nerds in love. Released on Tzadik's
Radical Jewish Culture Series.
Read
the lyrics
Listen
Order "Trilectic" from the
band or buy downloads
from others.
 PUNCH:
The Hostesses here are an extraordinary
7 piece band: tight, a little rockish, comprising bass, drums, guitar,
fiddle, various horns, accordion and other occasional instruments (singing
saw, for instance) - but the work is distinguished by the amazing vocal
arrangements (everyone sings, and exceptionally). Full of additive rhythms
stretched harmonies and pinpoint playing, this is evolved material, executed
with great skill - and great looseness. Some traditional pieces from Bulgaria,
Palestine, Transylvania and Southern America appear in very personalized
arrangements alongside original songs that lean on zydeco and traditional
American folk music.
Read
the lyrics.
Listen
Order "Punch" from the
band or download
mp3's.
 EAT:
A hoedown where bodacious babes belt the blues in Bulgarian while a punk-klezmer
band rocks out in accompaniment.
Read
the lyrics.
Listen
Order "Eat" from the
band or download
mp3's.
 THICK:
Marika & Jewlia from Charming Hostess put out THICK: Art-funk!
The seedy underbelly of the Supremes! This CD by Charming Hostesses Jewlia
Eisenberg and Marika Hughes features songs about sexuality and its discontents.
Thick is filled with passion, catchy hooks and avant-garde lyricism. Just
released on the Tzadik Oracles series 2004. Read an early review.
Read more about Red
Pocket.
Listen
Order "Thick" from the
band or buy downloads
from others.
 "The
Grim Arithmetic of Water" is an
evening length dance performance that responds to the urgencies of water-its
scarcity, its depletion, its contamination, and our inescapable need for
it. The piece will layer gesture, force, tenderness, and a vital physicality
to communicate the impact of water's scarcity on the human body."
Listen
Order "Grim"
from the band
or download
mp3's.
 "A
Biography of Lilith" opens with
the story of Lilith, the first woman, for some the first feminist, who
left Eden vowing vengeance for Adam's treatment of her. In Lynne Sach's
beautiful meditation, a modern Lilith muses on the choices she has made,
while intertitles chronicle historical superstitions regarding Lilith's
power, and songs and compositions by Charming Hostess help give her voice."
BBC's The World - by Benjamin Temchine, Sept 2005.
WNYC with John Schaefer on Soundcheck, March 2005.
Nextbook with Laurel Snyder, Sept 2005.
KALX with Eric Fixler, March 2005.
Hebrew University Radio with Omri, August 2006.
Russia Today - Entertainment T.V., Aug 2007.
KALW with Emily Wilson on Artery, March 2008.
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Jewlia/Charming
Hostess 
