Swing Kings Give Galilee a Musical Treat

May 2018 ESRA News Art | Culture

The Pzazz Band ... performed in the Lower Galilee

Israel's own 'King of Swing', Glaswegian Harvey Benson and pzazz Band together with ace songstress Gilda Hami, paid a repeat visit to the lower Galilee recently when they performed at Karmiel municipal auditorium. This was their second gig in the beautiful garden city located in the frozen north with their eclectic program of Jazz, Blues and famous Broadway hits. The evening went with the aforementioned swing for which the band is famous amongst Israel's Anglo community. Solo vocalist Gilda, who sings in the Billie Holiday style, belted out many of those perennial favorites that audiences of a certain age love so much. All money raised from the performance is going towards a special project for Karmiel Kfar Yeladim for which ESRA Karmiel is fundraising.

■ Continuing with their fundraising series of concerts for ESRA in 2018, you can catch PzazzBand and Gilda on June 13 for ESRA Rehovot, June 21 for ESRA Modin and on August 6 for ESRA Herzliya. For details check out their website: www.pzazzband.com

About the author

Brian Fink

BRIAN Fink was born in Barrow-in-Furness in the UK towards the end of World War II, where his mother had gone to escape the Manchester blitz and when his father was serving in the British Army. The Finks moved back to Manchester when his father was demobbed at the end of the war.

Brian attended a high school in north Manchester and went on to do a vocational course on garment construction and tailoring (his parents were then in the garment industry) at Hollings College in Manchester (today part of Manchester Metropolitan University). Brian received a certificate on successful completion of the course.

He served as chairman, co-chairman and treasurer at different times for his synagogue, Shaarei Shalom, in north Manchester (and was awarded honorary life membership upon his aliyah). Brian was also chairman of a Jewish vegetarian society in Manchester and had also served on a local Joint Israel Appeal committee.

When Brian retired as a bookseller and publishers agent, he and Natalie moved to Israel in March 2010. They live in Karmiel. He writes a monthly piece on Israeli life for their former synagogue magazine.

Brian is a founder member of the ESRA Karmiel Committee and was a past-chairman of ESRA Karmiel. He initiated the annual quiz in 2010, devises the questions and acts as quizmaster. He organized a car treasure hunt, which will hopefully become an annual event. He also volunteers with English-speaking high school students in Karmiel.

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