A musical journey through a century of music of Jewish origin
Jeremy Sassoon’s brilliant tour of Jewish singers and songwriters takes us on a journey of music that's embedded in our hearts and souls. Opening with Gershwin's dramatic 1924 'Rhapsody in Blue', the singer and pianist – accompanied by bassist Nicola Farnon and drummer Phil Johnson – performs works by major names from across the pond (Irvin Berlin, Leiber & Stoller, Carole King and Bob Dylan to name just a handful). We also get a taste of the homegrown, including 10cc, Elkie Brooks, Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, plus a nod to The Clash's Mick Jones.
Sassoon shares anecdotes along the way, such as the fact about Irving Berlin – author of the biggest selling single in the world, 'White Christmas' – who could only play the black notes of the piano, and, perhaps most surprising, that Jewish Brit Anthony Newley wrote the jazz pop classic 'Feeling Good', made famous by Nina Simone. Oliver creator Lionel Bart’s life of excess and hobnobbing is fascinating and we are treated to 'Reviewing the Situation', originally sung by Ron Moody.
We also learn about the song writing powerhouse that was The Brill Building in New York City and Tin Pan Alley, the collection of songwriters dominating popular music in NYC in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Plus, some tidbits about the now appropriated football chants 'Blue Moon' (Man City), 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' (Liverpool) and, of course, 'It’s Coming Home' (England).
The show concludes with a performance of Barry Manilow’s ‘Copacabana’, which has the audience up on their feet singing and dancing along. There really is something for everyone here. As Muddy Waters would say, Sassoon has definitely got his MOJO workin’.
By Mark Bloom
Photos by Andrew Perry
Jeremy Sassoon's MOJO: Musicians of Jewish Origin runs until Sunday 28 August. 6.15pm. £16, £15 concs. Assembly Checkpoint, Edinburgh, EH1 1EY. edfringe.com
Read our interview with Jeremy Sassoon.