Andy Statman and Michael Daves, "Surfin' Slivovitz": musical syncretism at its finest

I'm fond of syncretism, "the combination of different forms of belief or practice" (Merriam-Webster). Christmas, of which we are now on the eighth of the twelve days, is a syncretic holiday, combining Christian celebration of Jesus' birth with Roman and other pagan rites appropriate to the winter solstice. Where I especially enjoy syncretism is in cuisine, where I encounter it regularly when I enjoy a bánh mì for lunch, combining Vietnamese fillings with a French baguette, and in music. As I noted in a previous post, most of what we consider American popular and church music has African influence.

Andy Statman is a musical syncretist. He first became known as a bluegrass performer on mandolin, but became interested in combining bluegrass sounds with jazz, and with the klezmer music he knew from his Jewish childhood. In the video above he plays mandolin, while Michael Daves plays guitar, on "Surfin' Slivovitz," which Andy wrote and which combines elements of bluegrass, klezmer, jazz, and '60s California surf guitar music. Their performance took place at the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, which annually presents the Brooklyn Folk Festival.

Slivovitz is a potent plum brandy made in Eastern Europe that has a special place in Jewish tradition.

Goodbye, 2025; hello 2026, something better?

 

The consensus, at least among those whose views I am exposed to regularly, is that 2025 is best behind us. Carll Tucker, a writer I've come to respect and like, calls it "The Year From Hell." Still, he expresses some hope for the future. The last time I bade farewell to a year here was 2020, the year the pandemic struck. What little optimism I expressed was based on the outcme of that year's election. While the political scene improved for me in 2021, my fortunes took a turn for the worse when I fractured my left ankle the day before Thanksgiving. 

That fracture has led to three surgeries. The last of them, in 2023, involved the fusion of my ankle and the placement of a lot of metal in my left foot. This was going well until this September, when I suddenly developed excruciating pain when I put any weight on my left heel. I went to the nearby ER, where it was determined that I had an infection attached to the metal. I was hospitalized and put on a course of intervenously administered antibiotics. After a week I was transferred to a rehabilitation facility where I continued to receive IVs, but also was given physical therapy. The therapy helped, and after several weeks I went from IV to oral antibiotics. After a month in rehab, I came home.

Since then, things have improved, but I've not gotten back to 100%. I've been fortunate to get onto the MTA's Access-A-Ride service that allows me to get to distant medical appointments, and even social occasions, at minimal cost, accompanied by Martha, my personal attendant, at no extra cost. I can't say enough about how helpful and patient Martha has been through my difficulties.

My personal hope for 2026 is that I'll be restored to full mobility, and can again take long walks down to and through Brooklyn Bridge Park, or take the subway to wherever I want. More importantly, I hope to continue my spiritual development, and do all I can to advance God's mission of love and compassion for all humankind.