Pharaoh’s Daughter, Razzle Dazzle Ball warm up March

PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER

, a six piece, New York based, eclectic groove ensemble, has emerged from the New Jewish Music Movement by blending psychedelic sensibility and a pan-Mediterranean sensuality. Led by guitarist and songstress Basya Schechter, the group blends Hasidic music with folk rock and a Middle Eastern flavor. On Sunday, Mar. 11 at 7 p.m. at Congregation B’nai Amoona, Pharaoh’s Daughter will heat up the sanctuary in its St. Louis debut.

Tickets starting at $18 for general admission up to $72 for reserved seats are available by sending your check to Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 S. Mason Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141.

Phyllis Traub, chair of the evening with her co-chair Marilyn Humiston, filled me in on some interesting scuttlebutt about this musical ensemble.

It’s called Pharaoh’s Daughter because its leader’s name is Basya Schechter, and in the Bible Basya was the Pharaoh’s daughter who rescued Moses from the Nile when he was a baby. She is the ensemble’s leader, songwriter, guitarist and singer. In addition to Basya the musicians include Daphna Mor on recorder, zuma and melodica; Meg Okura, violin; Shanir Blumenkranz, bass; Yuval Lion, drums; Jason Lindner, piano; and Noah Hoffeld, cello. “Together these award-winning musicians offer a rich instrumental tapestry in an original electric and eclectic style. We called this music with attitude! A heady mix of Hasidic, folk rock, with a Middle Eastern flavor tinged with a klezmer beat,” Phyllis explained and added “Our Zamarin Teen Choir will be singing three numbers with Pharaoh’s Daughter. The choir is outstanding. Most of the kids take voice lessons, and they have sung at the synagogue on many occasions including our High Holiday services.” A dessert reception hosted by the B’nai Amoona Sisterhood will follow the concert.

For more information, call Barbara Shechter at 314-576-9990, ext. 126.

THE RAZZLE DAZZLE BALL is always “Some Enchanted Evening” and this year’s will probably top them all. The annual fundraiser for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery, an evening of dinner, dancing, musical entertainment, unique auction items and their signature Champagne and Diamond Extravaganza, is to be held on Saturday, Mar. 24 at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet. Master of Ceremonies will be John Carney, his eighth consecutive year.

Tickets start at $150 per person.

For reservations and more information call Laura Coatney at 314-768-3865.

FOR THE SKINNY on this abbreviated column, read on.

My daughter Leslie Caplan is a rhymester par excellence and has taken to writing a poem a day, some short, some epic and all very funny. The following was one of her efforts a couple weeks ago.

My Mother the Klutz

Oy oy oy, my mother drives me nuts

How can she look so graceful and still be such a klutz?

She’s fallen yet again, tripped over her own feet

How come her tuchus and the floor forever meet?

Once again she’s fractured her pelvis and her arm

But she’s doing well; I’m not sounding an alarm.

If you want to give her sympathy send it to the Light

But besides for being restless, she really is alright.