Album Notes

Celebrate life! The elder residents of San Francisco's Jewish Home deliver a delightful collection of absolutely original songs. Waltz to the hysterical "Gefilte Fish." Groove to the smooth jazz of "Jewish Penicillin." Invite the family to sing "Chanukah Tonight!" Travel with this remarkable crew as they share the stories of their lives ("I'm 100 years old"), their loves ("Esther, Mayn Schvester (I have a beautiful grandchild)," and their adventures ("Beautiful Hawaii" "Let the Fire Fall").

Recorded in the synagogue of the Jewish Home's 430-resident geriatric care campus in San Francisco, "Island on a Hill" features the elder Singers & Songwriters (chorus), project producer Judith-Kate Friedman (vocals, guitar), Daniel Hoffman (violin), Beth Custer (clarinet), Randy Craig (piano), Jeanette Lewicki (accordion), Piper Heisig (bass), Patrick Landeza (slack key guitar) and others. The voices and stories of more than 200 elders are represented on 18 tracks and in the full-color 10 page booklet that features their original artwork.

The songs on "Island on a Hill" were composed in collaborative workshops conducted by Judith-Kate Friedman, California Arts Council artist-in-residence at the Home. The project, begun in 1997, gives elders access to songwriting, regardless of their musical backgrounds or health challenges. Songs from the CD are featured in Nathan Friedkin's video documentary "A 'Specially Wonderful Affair" which premiered at the SF Jewish Film Festival (7/2002) and on PBS affiliate KQED-TV (12/2002).

"A collection like none other." "This is awesome!" "Unbelievably great sound!"