Of the 100 performances that took place on five different stages at Jacob's Ladder 2003, the highlight of the weekend was Shay Tochner and Dana HaLevi's set.
Simply everything worked. The venue was great. A huge air-conditioned hall that sat an audience of two hundred comfortably, with another 50 or so people standing on the sides and in the back.
The audience was excellent, you could hear a pin drop in the room. With the help of a good sound system, the stage was set and ready to go.
Tochner and HaLevi were both at the top of their form. Shay has accompanied just about everyone in the Israeli-Anglo folk scene, from Irish to Blues to Rock 'n' Roll, while Dana jumped into the folk world as the lead singer for Irish Cream.
The hour-long set whisked by in what seemed a minute. The set mostly consisted of acoustic favorites from the last 30 years, and though we grew up with these songs, it was like hearing them for the first time.
The duo has the ability to make each and every song their own. Additionally, between Shay's finesse on the guitar and the versatility of Dana's voice, they have quickly complied a large and varied repertoire.
This twosome has an open invitation to perform at the Karmiel Folk Klub, and I advise you to see them whenever and wherever you can.
Larry Rosenfeld---
Mother of the Karmiel Folk Klub
Telephones: 04-9902455, 053-414544
Don't Miss.....
Jacob's Ladder Folk Festival
20-21 May 2005
Nof Ginosar, Sea of Galilee,
Israel.
