[Dixielandjazz] Strange Gigs

[Ministry of Jazz]

Say Tom,

Is this pastor single? Sounds like my kind of gal. Got a phone number?

These days my religion precludes me from interacting with religious people.
Hah! Good luck finding a gig without religious implications in Jerusalem!
Actually, my best customers are religious native Israelis, not
English-speaking immigrants and tourists. But you have to be aware of
whether:

* the group allows mixed dancing
* a woman singer is permitted if there are men in the audience (including
boys and girls)
* a woman player is permitted in a male band or for a male or mixed
audiences

I have a religious woman friend, mother of 6 who plays clarinet and sax,
who has a letter from her rabbi granting a waiver of the last point as long
as she or the band she plays with doesn't violate the other two.

And if you play for the secular folks, many are viciously anti-religious,
and you don't dare make any comments or play anything that sounds
traditional or politically conservative.

Just some of the fun we have navigating the murky gigging waters in the Holy
Land.

Elazar
Dr. Jazz Dixieland Band
Tekiya Trumpet Ensemble
Jerusalem, Israel
www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz
+972-2-679-2537



-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Duncan [mailto:tduncan at bellatlantic.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 11:33 PM
To: 'DJML'
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Strange Gigs

We did perform all the liturgical elements at a Lutheran service and the
pastor was fully on board with our program and name. She introduced us as
"special music today performed by, believe it or not, Dr. Dubious and the
Agnostics. Perhaps  by the end of the service they will have made up their
minds." :-)