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April 8, 2011
Jewish radio landmark
Long-running broadcast offers diverse programs.
MICHELLE DODEK
“We communicate to the unaffiliated in the Jewish community. People who feel they are not part of the official Jewish community have a link through us,” said Alan Tapper, when asked about the impact of the Anthology of Jewish Music program on Vancouver’s Coop Radio.
The original host of Anthology of Jewish Music, Tapper started playing Jewish music on the local airwaves 30 years ago and has been connecting with a wide variety of listeners ever since.
Tapper’s description of the purposes of the program sounds more like something one would hear about a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver than about a weekly radio show run by volunteers that features Jewish music.
The radio hosts are quick to point out that they receive no funding from the formal Jewish community and are solely funded by contributions from listeners who support their presence on CFRO 102.7 FM. A few times a year – including right now – they “nudge” their audience to call in and demonstrate their enthusiasm for the show by making a donation. These funds keep Anthology of Jewish Music on the air and provide some proof that it has a significant number of listeners and that they value its programming.
Although the focus of the show, which runs from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings, is music, both Tapper and another host, Ethan Minovitz, like to keep people informed about what is happening in the Jewish community as well. Having this connection with their listeners is an important feature of what they do.
“Many of the people who listen to our show can’t access Jewish performances. Some are shut-ins or people in seniors housing and they are overjoyed to hear about what’s happening and to listen to the Ladino or Yiddish music we play,” said Minovitz.
As the self-titled oldest DJ in town, Tapper remembers going to Yiddish theatre as a child growing up in London, England, and he likes the idea that he can give back some Yiddishkeit to the community here. “It’s the only regular Jewish music show in this part of the world,” he noted.
The range of programming is broad, and is chosen by the hosts each week in order to showcase a cross section of Jewish music.
“We play all kinds of music. Sephardi music, Mizrahi music from North Africa, Jewish singers and songwriters in English, klezmer and Ladino music, as well as Jewish classical tunes, cantorial arrangements and popular musicians singing their versions of Jewish music – Barbra Streisand has a beautiful ‘Avinu Malkeinu,’” Minovitz pointed out.
Tapper expanded on their selections: “The station wants us to include Canadian content as much as possible. There is a wealth of local talent that we feature and try to promote. We play new releases when people give them to us.” They also play Israeli music, he added, notably featuring a recent finalist at Eurovision. Tapper watches out for Eurovision every year because Israel tends to do very well, he said.
In addition to their extensive Jewish music sources, however, it is a relief, they said, to be able to access material on YouTube.
Anthology of Jewish Music offers a range of exposure to Jewish culture, including eclectic selections of the diverse contributions Jews have made to popular and classical music. George Gershwin and Stephen Sondheim are two of Tapper’s favorites. Hearing diverse genres is more entertaining for Jewish listeners, as well those in the general community in Vancouver, he noted.
Listeners each week are greeted by one of the two hosts on alternate-week rotation. In years past, the program had a larger roster of volunteers, which meant a four- or five-week rotation. Past hosts include David J. Litvak, Jack Nortman, Sharon Disend, Marny Jarvis and Arie Chark.
The station is located just off Pigeon Park in the Downtown East Side and the hosts see their location as a community service and have never had any sort of problem with the residents in the neighborhood. In fact, Tapper has taken his teenaged grandchildren, Adam and Rachel, to co-host with him, making the show an intergenerational affair. “Once Adam had been on, Rachel wanted a turn as well,” said Tapper proudly.
There is no telling what type of Jewish music you will hear on the show from week to week, but Minovitz is adamant that he will never play a straight version of “Havah Nagilah.” In its 30 years of unique Jewish programming, pretty much anything else goes on Anthology of Jewish Music.
The Coop Radio Spring Member Drive is on until April 15. To support this station and Anthology of Jewish Music, visit coopradio.org or call 604-684-8494.
Michelle Dodek is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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