Emanu-El’s ‘Eclectricity!’ to brim with talent, great tastes

The Oak Hill Band

Rhode Island’s got talent, of course. Rhode Island’s Jewish community has oodles of talent especially musical talent.

We have vocal soloists, a cappella singers, satirical Purim spielers, rock ‘n’ roll bands, tunes from the Broadway songbook, Yiddish theater, Hebrew and Israeli composers, and tunes from  1970s and 1980s rock. We’ve got them all!  On March 12 at 7 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El Providence, you will find them all during “Eclectricity! Music, Food and a Fun Night Out.”

The jam-packed evening of talent opens with a set by a local favorite: Amy Olson, along with accordionist Christina Crowder and percussionist Michael Goldberg. Olson will offer a sampling of Yiddish and Broadway show tunes in a cabaret setting. She has performed with klezmer bands in Minnesota and Rhode Island and has been featured as a guest artist with the International Association of Yiddish Clubs. Dubbed “The Diva of the Yeshiva,” Olson made her New York City cabaret debut at the Cornelia Street Café in Greenwich Village in 2013. She is the executive director of University of Rhode Island Hillel. 

After Olson, the Alef Beats, Brown RISD’s premier Jewish-themed a cappella singing group, takes the stage. The group, whose members come from all over the U.S., came together because of a love of music and a passion for Jewish culture. Its repertoire runs the gamut from Ethiopian niguns to Lonely Island remakes and includes a dollop of traditional Hebrew and Yiddish tunes. Infused with melodic sparkle and one-of-a-kind musical swagger, the Alef Beats will have audience members tapping their toes and demanding an encore.

After a break for a locally themed and prepared buffet, as well as a sneak preview of this year’s Purim spiel at Emanu-El, the Oak Hill Band takes center stage. The band members hail from throughout Rhode Island and several are veterans of Temple Emanu-El’s  Purim spiels. The happy spiel spirit is definitely part of the performance. The band’s motto: “vintage rock, R&B, blues, folk, country – dancing shoes recommended.”  Eclectricity, indeed! 

Of course, these days, Providence’s got talent in music and in food. The buffet for Eclectricity is sure to prove this point. The focus will be on Rhode Island tastes and treats. The buffet selections for the evening will be wide-ranging.

Eclectricity is the first of three events offered this spring by Arts Emanu-El at Temple Emanu-El. On April 3, Arts Emanu-El will host its first art exhibit, featuring deeply moving photographs of Jewish Poland, taken by artist and photographer Alan Metnick. On May 4, Arts Emanu-El will join with the Yom Ha-Shoah Committee of Temple Emanu-El to present a performance of “Phoenix from the Ashes: Terezin in Words and Music” by Judith Lynn Stillman. Reservations for each event are available three weeks prior to the event date.

To purchase tickets for Eclectricity on March 12 at 7 p.m., visit TEProv.org or send a check to: Temple Emanu-El; 99 Taft Ave.; Prov., RI  02906. Note: Ticket price includes entertainment and buffet. Beer and wine charged by the glass. Early purchase: $12; $15 at the door. 

LINDA SHAMOON is co-chair of Arts Emanu-El at Temple Emanu-El in Providence.