Music at the Center presents Benjamin Lapidus and Sonido Isleno

Music at the Center, the new music concert series at the East Midwood Jewish Center, will kick off 2016 with a concert of Latin Jazz by local Brooklyn artist Benjamin Lapidus and Sonido Isleno on Saturday evening, January 9, at 5:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom of the historic building at 1625 Ocean Avenue.

When asked to label Sonido Isleño’s music, critics and fans agree that it is Latin Jazz in the truest sense of the term: Sonido Isleño explores different ways of mixing Jazz and Spanish-Caribbean music. This is the direct result of the New York musicians involved, who are completely bi-cultural, a benefit of being residents of the largest Caribbean city in the United States. Active since 1996, Sonido Isleño is the brainchild of EMJC member Dr. Benjamin Lapidus and is made up of master musicians who have performed and recorded with a who’s who of Latin music including Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, and The Buena Vista Social Club.

EMJC member Hagai Kamil is the lead organizer for the new music series. He is also the owner of a local music school, The Brooklyn Music Studio. Kamil was inspired to start the series at the center last fall. “My hope is to bring together many different communities in a family-friendly environment to enjoy music,” he said. “We’re starting off with Latin Jazz but will have many other types of music, including classical.”

Following the concert, there will be an opportunity to meet the artists. Tickets for the event are $25/adults $20/seniors Free/children 13 and under -- Available at the door or online now:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-at-the-center-ben-lapidus-sonido-isleno-tickets-20007434776

Upcoming concerts: Oran Etkin and the Benny Goodman Project (Feb 6); Gregory Harrington (Feb 27)

East Midwood Jewish Center is a 91 year old egalitarian, Conservative congregation in Brooklyn. It is led by Rabbi Matt Carl and Cantor Sam Levine and has an awarding Hebrew School/Arts Based Jewish Education program led by Audrey Korelstein. There are daily morning and evening egalitarian minyans, weekly Shabbat services, weekly children’s events, and an adult education program called NightShul. In addition, the building is open to the public daily for swimming, yoga, basketball and other sports. EMJC is on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. For more information, visit emjc.org or call 718-338-3800.