Behind the Notes

Join Broadway historian Laurence Maslon , host of the NPR radio series Broadway to Main Street, for a conversation about the Jewish composers and lyricists who helped create the modern American musical. In conversation with Joe Alterman , executive director of Neranenah. The documentary Great Performances – Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy , narrated by Broadway legend Joel Grey is streaming on...

In 1943, German SS officers at Auschwitz-Birkenau demanded that an orchestra be assembled among the female prisoners. The Nazis’ insistence on hearing music is what ultimately saved the lives of most of the women and girls tasked with playing instruments. Join Anne Sebba , author of The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival, for a conversation about this little-known story, the impac...

Cartoonist Alan Silberberg—author of Meet the Latkes—has been doodling since childhood, a passion that eventually led to a degree in “Cartoon-Communication Education.” His latest book is The Bagel Who Wanted Everything. Join Silberberg for a heartfelt conversation about his path from screenwriting to children’s book author and how personal loss inspired his turn to Jewish picture books, ultimately...

Violinist and trumpeter Louis Bannet was a celebrated jazz musician in Holland, often called “the Dutch Louis Armstrong.” Once the war began, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz where he faced a chilling ultimatum: pass an audition for the camp orchestra or be sent to his death. Join Ken Shuldman , author of Jazz Survivor: The Story of Louis Bannet, for a conversation about Bannet’s life before,...

Composer David Amram has been playing music professionally for 74 years and the 94 year old has no plans of slowing down. Amram shares stories about his childhood on a farm in rural Pennsylvania, his time in the 7th Army Symphony while stationed in Germany, his friendships and musical collaborations with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Jack Kerouac, and Langston Hughes, the connections between jaz...

Sam Reider is a Latin GRAMMY-nominated pianist, accordionist, composer, and educator from San Francisco, California. His work brings together various streams of American music, from jazz and folk tunes to popular song and contemporary composition. He has appeared as a bandleader and soloist at major festivals and venues around the world and his performances and original compositions have been feat...

Jonah Platt, a true entertainment multi-hyphenate, is an actor, writer, producer, singer and host of the new hit podcast Being Jewish with Jonah. Join Platt for a wide-open conversation about growing up Jewish and the influence it has had on his career, including his upcoming project producing and co-staring alongside Ginnifer Goodwin in the feature film The Mensch and co-writing the musical adapt...

Jews have been a major presence in America's jazz, as musicians and as jazz facilitators, and in Kosher Jammers, Gerber tells that story with a rigour worthy of academia but with a feature writer's creative flair. Besides drawing on a plethora of second-hand sources, Kosher Jammers is absolutely packed with first-hand material, from interviews, phone calls and emails with jazz figures, Jewish and...

A Wide-Open Conversation with Robert Klein and Joe Alterman Award-winning comedian Robert Klein grew up in a Jewish family living in the Bronx surrounded by music. While studying at Yale’s School of Drama, he auditioned for Chicago’s famed improvisational troupe Second City. In 1975, Klein was the first comedian to appear in a live concert on HBO where his set included a bit about antisemitism. Jo...

Mister Kelly’s nightclub, owned by Jewish brothers George and Oscar Marienthal, launched the careers of legendary performers like Barbara Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Steve Martin and Tim Reid. The Chicago club “smashed color and gender barriers to put controversial voices on stage and transformed entertainment in America in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.” David Marienthal, son of George M...

Throughout singer/songwriter Matisyahu's almost 20-year career, “Jewish heritage remains a central theme throughout his life and music.” Known for his hit song One Day, which he performed at the November 2023 Israel Rally in Washington, DC, Matisyahu will talk about his religious and musical journeys. He will also share what it was like to be on the road post October 7 with his recently released a...

Join us for an engaging conversation featuring the charismatic Israeli-born comedian MODI. In conversation with Neranenah's Joe Alterman, MODI delves into the healing power of laughter amidst challenging times. Discover how his Jewish roots and comedic influences like Jackie Mason shaped his career, and his thoughts on being likened to legends like Robin Williams and Richard Pryor. This program is...

This conversation with comedy icon Judy Gold is funny and heartwarming. You'll learn about how her Jewish upbringing shaped her, her background in music, and her take on the major-minor Jewish connection. We're excited to delve into comedy for this episode and hope you are, too!

Neranenah’s Joe Alterman has a delightful and wide-ranging conversation with Israeli music legend, David Broza. Broza has released over 40 albums under his name - many of which are multi-platinum. Today, Broza shares his thoughts with us about Israeli music, Jewish music, Otis Redding, getting to know one's heroes, the concept of music genres, and so much more.

Neranenah’s Joe Alterman has a fascinating conversation with two true renaissance men: musician, producer, arranger, composer, and podcast host Leo Sidran, and his iconic father - legendary writer, pianist, journalist, and producer Ben Sidran. Ben’s book “There Was A Fire: Jews, Music & The American Dream” has been an inspiration and guiding light for the entire Neranenah organization.