S3E41 Is Music the Purest form of Spirituality? (Michelle Alany)

 Welcome to the genesis. In this episode, I talk with violinist, vocalist, and composer Michelle Elani, who was part of the first art lab cohort way back when. She is a musician who weaves together different musical and cultural universes into a totally unique and beautiful fabric. Michelle has lit up a great many venues with her music. She's toured internationally with both her own music. And is a supporting artist in various capacities around Europe. She's toured with a fusion rock driven Viking blues band. She's played with the Trans Siberian Orchestra and then sold out theaters performing silent movie film scores in Texas, and she's brought music to packed jazz and blues Listening rooms in Austria led raucous jams and Chilean bars, as well as other international dives and halls. Not to mention an ongoing gig that she has at her current hometown of Portland, Oregon, where she plays regularly at the Laurelthirst. Flowing into her musical soul, into her sound is her background in classical music. Traditional and original Sephardic. That is Judeo Spanish music, Balkan in Israeli song, klezmer, jazz, blues, rock. It's all in there. Michelle and I talk about family musical calling and the search for a sound that feels rooted and free. We discussed the role that music played in her upbringing, how her Jewish identity finds its way into her work and her projects, and what it takes to find one's unique voice. As an artist, but for me, the core and the most delightful part of this conversation is our discussion about the spiritual quest that is part of musical expression. Take a listen. See what  the show notes contain so you can find her recorded music and take in a performance of hers here in Portland or wherever you might be listening here and beyond. Thanks so much for listening to the genesis. The Genesis: Conversations About Jewish Arts and Culture is conceived of and created by Rabbi Josh Rose, and is a program of Art/Lab: Jewish Arts and Culture. Theme music by Rabbi Josh Rose.   Links Art/Lab: artlabpdx.org Michelle Alany: michellealany.com, @michellealanymusic, facebook.com/michellealany, youtu.be/JHoX4USW_zE. , www.youtube.com/live/yzXBAX9tFdk?si=Zr89g-QzBlGLup0N, www.youtube.com/live/HVX3vjceVZ0?si=Hviveui1eOfKRtHa Michelle's Allbums: michellealany.bandcamp.com/ Barbès Brooklyn: barbesbrooklyn.com LaurelThirst Public House: laurelthirst.com