The University of Denver's Center for Judaic Studies (CJS) wraps up their year-long project , SHEMA: What Jewish Culture Sounds Like, by hosting singer Jewlia Eisenberg and her band Charming Hostess for two concerts - May 10 at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret and on May 11 at The Rock N'Soul Café in Boulder. Eisenberg, who is a composer, extended-technique vocalist, cantor, and founder of Charming Hostess, has been the focus of performances, lectures and classes at the University and throughout the metro Denver area for the past two months. Their concerts in Denver and Boulder bring this ambitious series to a dynamic close.

Nerdy, sexy, commie, girly! Charming Hostess is a whirl of harmony, hot rhythm and radical braininess from San Francisco known for their bold and eclectic vocal performances. Their music explores the intersection of text and the sounding body-- complex ideas expressed physically, based on voice and vocal percussion, handclaps and heartbeats, sex-breath and silence. Living where Diasporas collide, incorporating piyyutim and Pygmy counterpoint, doo-wop and niggunim, work songs and Torah chanting. Charming Hostess was founded by Jewlia Eisenberg to make ambitious music for voices and rock out at the same time. CD's produced under the Tzadik label include Sarajevo Blues, Trilectic and Eat & Punch. Samples of their music can be heard at http://charminghostess.us.

As reviewed by The New York Times, "Charming Hostess makes music like no other...Thrown in with lively North African wedding songs and Eastern European folk songs are originals that display a proudly feminist, radical-Jewish, pro-sex sensibility. The blend lets listeners discover whether they can think and dance at the same time."

These amazing vocalists will be performing in Denver and Boulder this weekend. All performances are open to the public:

Charming Hostess Takes the Stage - Twice!

Denver Performance:

Saturday, May 10, 9 p.m. - Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, 1601 Arapahoe St., Denver
$25 for the general public, $15 for DU faculty and staff and $5 for students with a DU ID.

Tickets available from Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret at www.lannies.com or by calling 303.293.0075.

Boulder Performance:

Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. - The Rock N'Soul Café, 5290 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
$18 for the general public, $10 University faculty and staff and $5 with a University student ID

Tickets available at the door the evening of the performance or by calling 303.443.5108

Additional information available at www.du.edu/cjs.

SHEMA: What Jewish Culture Sounds Like is supported by Rose Community Foundation, Hillel at the University of Denver, and the divisions of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Denver, Menorah:Arts, Culture and Education at the Boulder JCC and Shalhevet Productions.

The Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver offers educational programs that advance knowledge and enrich understanding of Jewish culture. Situated within the University of Denver's Division of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Center for Judaic Studies offers resources and community outreach programs, which serve the University and the greater community. For additional information on this and other programs offered by Center for Judaic Studies, please call (303) 871-3020 or visit www.du.edu/cjs.