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The Life and Times of Jonah Rank A Comedy/Pop Musician - who also happens to write Jewish music

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Jonah Rank



Last Updated: 12/27/2009

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Status: Single
City: SYOSSET
State: NY
Country: US
Signup Date: 6/26/2006

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Sunday, December 27, 2009 
That shouldn't be newsworthy, but what should be newsworthy is that I'm getting closer to being well!

Also, I did some work on applications and resume-work...
4:11 AM 
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Saturday, December 19, 2009 
I recorded a new song whose title can be decoded (if you have way too much time) based off of the Subject of this Blog Post; I recorded the song on Sunday last week. I'm very proud of the song; it's a bit more experimental, but I think it's going to be appreciated--as its few performances have already been appreciated.

Also I had an interview 9 days ago. I think it went well; we shall see in mid-January perhaps...

More news to come soon I hope...
10:55 PM 
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009 
David Irwin sent a track to me today on which I play piano.

I am very pleased.

Hopefully the track will be available soon.

Also on Sunday, I recorded a track for a performance which I will not be able to make...
5:13 AM 
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Sunday, November 15, 2009 
There was a lot of useful information in this E-mail I just sent out, so I'm just gonna copy and paste...


Hello world!
 
 
Anyway, Lydia Walker, Phillip Askew and I are back again! This coming week: Thursday night (November 19) at Streng Studio (at Barnard Hall) at 9:30 PM and Saturday night (November 21) at New York City Center Studio 4 at 8:00 PM, the three of us will be performing an exciting new piece. Notably, there will also be a performance at Streng Studio as well on Friday November 20 at 8 PM; however, although my music will be playing for Lydia and Phillip, I will not be playing live: you'd hear a recording of me.

How much does it cost? $10 for non-students, and $5 for students. I hope to see you there!
 
In other news: you might recall that I recently appeared in a fake music video for "Fire and I," the first single released from the 13 tracks I produced for Ghanaian singer/songwriter/poet/author IshmaelOsekre's debut album No Turning Back From Here. Well, thanks to MySpace and BandCamp, 9 tracks we recorded are now available for free hearing! (Actually, Internet pirates probably have the 4 other tracks available somewhere for free listening, but that's beside the point.) Here are some fun facts about these 9 tracks (which you can find by clicking on the album-covers on the right side of BandCamp or by toggling through the player at MySpace):
 
 
 
Well, anyway: there's still a lot of exciting Jonah Rank news to come! So, hold your horses (unless your horses aren't fans of my music)! But for now, that's all that's newsworthy on this rainy November eve in New York City.
 
Happy early Thanksgiving!

3:23 AM 
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Sunday, November 15, 2009 
There was a lot of useful information in this E-mail I just sent out, so I'm just gonna copy and paste...


Hello world!
 
 
Anyway, Lydia Walker, Phillip Askew and I are back again! This coming week: Thursday night (November 19) at Streng Studio (at Barnard Hall) at 9:30 PM and Saturday night (November 21) at New York City Center Studio 4 at 8:00 PM, the three of us will be performing an exciting new piece. Notably, there will also be a performance at Streng Studio as well on Friday November 20 at 8 PM; however, although my music will be playing for Lydia and Phillip, I will not be playing live: you'd hear a recording of me.

How much does it cost? $10 for non-students, and $5 for students. I hope to see you there!
 
In other news: you might recall that I recently appeared in a fake music video for "Fire and I," the first single released from the 13 tracks I produced for Ghanaian singer/songwriter/poet/author IshmaelOsekre's debut album No Turning Back From Here. Well, thanks to MySpace and BandCamp, 9 tracks we recorded are now available for free hearing! (Actually, Internet pirates probably have the 4 other tracks available somewhere for free listening, but that's beside the point.) Here are some fun facts about these 9 tracks (which you can find by clicking on the album-covers on the right side of BandCamp or by toggling through the player at MySpace):
 
 
 
Well, anyway: there's still a lot of exciting Jonah Rank news to come! So, hold your horses (unless your horses aren't fans of my music)! But for now, that's all that's newsworthy on this rainy November eve in New York City.
 
Happy early Thanksgiving!

3:23 AM 
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Friday, November 06, 2009 
Because the Submit Application button worked today.

Anyway, I better get to bed...

I have a very very small gig Saturday night...

I have to determine exactly what I will play...
6:21 AM 
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Thursday, November 05, 2009 
Two weekends ago, at a study session coordinated by the Jewish Theological Seminary and led by Jon Adam Ross, I was introduced to one text which I was shocked to have never encountered before in my studies of Judaism (and I am thankful to have finally been introduced to it).
In the 3rd century CE, Rabbi Yehudah Ha-Nasi, discouraging Jews from participating in a culture of Roman theater which the Rabbis associated with violence (as exhibited in gladiator matches) or idolatry (such as the dramas of Greek gods) recorded a law in the Mishnah (in Avodah Zarah 1:7) that begins with the following:
אין מוכרין להם דובין ואריות וכל דבר שיש בו נזק לרבים.
It is forbidden to sell them bears, lions or anything that has the potential to injure the public.
These words, read in their traditional context, don't sound necessarily like the words of animal rights activists. But, this statement--when read in the context of what we know about the inherent abuses and dangers in using animals in entertainment--is certainly compassionate towards animals.
The passage is concerned with the well-being of these animals. Our passage lists bears and lions specifically, but the passage doesn't identify those potential customers to whom we can't sell these animals! (Of course, we presume that the Rabbinic ban is on selling animals to entertainers, to businesspeople with stadiums and to any people who make it their business to put animals on stages.) Not only are Jews so discouraged in the Mishnah from participating in a culture that utilizes animals in violent means, but Jews are forbidden from making money from and from reaping the benefits of a culture that endorses this literally inhumane practice.
When it comes to that dangerous subject of animals in entertainment, this brief dictum is unwavering in the graveness of the sin: not only are Jews forbidden from supporting animals in entertainment, Jews are forbidden from being supported by animals in entertainment.
Although I usually like to have more to say on a subject, I am writing this blog post now because I did not want to forget this source. I hope to study this topic more in the near future and to have then a few more insights into the subject.
Also, for just a few mild introductory thoughts about the use of animals in entertainment, feel free to examine this site or this page.
1:53 PM 
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Wednesday, November 04, 2009 
'Nuff said.

I need the submit button to work...

Btw, I'm getting good reviews of the new song "My Mac 'N' Keys."

Thanks to all those with the good words! 
1:30 AM 
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Sunday, November 01, 2009 
You heard it here first.

Or you heard it somewhere else first.

Or you didn't hear it.

You probably should hear it though.

Anyway, it's a song about Mac(intosh) (a)n(d) key(board)s and the creation of digital music.

You can find the lyrics up here. And they will shortly be up at the lyrics webpage I believe.
12:04 AM 
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Monday, October 05, 2009 
You may recall mentioning that I had recorded a piano-punk track called "Yome Yome" for a film entitled A Modest Education.

Guess what?

I've seen the film now! It's 4 relz!

Some more exciting updates coming really really soon, unless someone beats me to the announcements...
5:43 AM 
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