Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Found! El Avram, Avram Grobard...

The journey was only from New York City to Wachtung, New Jersey -- but the distance we traveled was best measured in decades rather than miles. We are proud to say that we have just located and interviewed Avram Grobard, the legendary former Israeli paratrooper turned West Village night club owner and performer who fused Israeli, Jewish, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Arabic, and Japanese sounds into a folk cocktail. His El Avram clubs in New York and Florida became a veritable underground railroad for a flood of Israeli acts hoping to strike it big in America after the Six Day War and were frequented by the likes of Louis Armstrong while acting as a launch pad for performers as universally beloved as George Karlin, Gabe Kaplan, and cult heroes like Jonny Yune.

In Grobard's own words, the clubs were "a downtown bouillabaisse of Mediterranean condiments -- an Israeli owner, an Amermenian oud player, an Israeli Arab chef in the kitchen, and Greek, Italian, Spanish, and French Music in the air." The bouilabaisse had Spanish ingredients to begin with -- the club was previously El Chico, a latin music hub with a bull's head and a sombrero hanging over the stage. Mr. Grobard informed us in interview that the name change was part homage to the El Chico roots, and part a money saving stroke of genius, as in Hebrew, El is one of the names of the deity and so El Avram translates through roughly as Almighty Avram. With that justification, Grobard was able to forgo the expense of totally rebranding the club and kept the Latin decor. To our delight, he took us to the finished basement of his beautiful home, and revealed that he had moved the entire club to Wachtung, fixture by fixture. The tables, chairs, stage, and bar were all there, replete with PA system, and El Avram's personalized accordian. Put a bouncer on the door, and the club could be back in business.

It was an honor to interview El Avram and to video the story of his arrival, club success, and recording career. His funk guitar classic Any Time of the Year is rarely off our turntable. Grobard's swarthy chest hair drawing the eye despite being surrounded by what we now know were three Playboy bunnies. We thank El Avram for his patience and detail in interview and celebrate his career by sharing our favorite track, Orcha Bamidbar, in which the relentless horns and jaunty keys play off Grobard's precise yet seductive vocal magic.

If you know of any former musical performers like El Avram, please let us know so we can capture their story for our archive.

El Avram performs in his nightclub, reconstructed in the basement of his home:And how it looked back in the day. Louis Armstrong drops in to check out the talent, and El Avram celebrates. He was told there'd be cake.





20 comments:

Penis Enlargement Pills said...

I am thoroughly convinced in this said post. I am currently searching for ways in which I could enhance my knowledge in this said topic you have posted here. It does help me a lot knowing that you have shared this information here freely. I love the way the people here interact and shared their opinions too. I would love to track your future posts pertaining to the said topic we are able to read.

kamagra said...

I have to say, that my father really loved El Avram, he says they were an excellent band, and one of the best in their genre...

pharmacy reviews said...

This is perfect seeing this legendary former really happy clapping and other things I think it was the most perfect interview that you could get.

playhouse plans said...

"Thanks for sharing such a great post. You may want to learn enchanting leveling guide or get in shape with led vs lcd or getting to know on Canon 550d
"

COLLEGE CONSULTING said...

Great Post. Please visit our website for college consulting , Freshman and Transfer College Admissions Consulting | San Francisco Bay Area

college consulting said...

I Like the post . Please visit our website for Freshman and Transfer College Admissions Consulting | San Francisco Bay Area college consulting

myessaypro1 said...

This is a great blog. We are just starting to blog about our office and I look forward to
seeing the new site!
Nice Post. Please visit our website for essay editing
Expert Proofreading at Reasonable Prices

how to get a girls number said...

"Thanks for sharing such a great post. You may want to learn wow enchanting guide or get in shape with p90x or getting to know on what do you need for p90x

Lefebre said...

The post is very nicely written and it contains many useful facts. I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement. Thanks for sharing with us.

Dramik 98 said...

nice post . plz visit our website for Encino dental implants

mydesertdenta said...

Desert Dental:
11. henderson dentures
12. sedation dentistry las vegas
13. las vegas implant dentist
14. las vegas sedation dentist
15. las vegas cosmetic dentists
16. denture repair las vegas
17. cosmetic dentist las vegas
18. henderson invisalign
19. dental implants in las vegas
20. henderson invisalign dentist

dramik said...

Your post is awesome. Thanks for sharing such a nice post. Encino wisdom teeth
Tarzana tooth removal
Sherman Oaks tooth removal
Encino tooth removal
Tarzana Cosmetic Dentistry

HGH for sale said...

This is positively a good post and was worth my time looking at it.Thanks.

steroids pharmacy said...

Informative articles and news, great to read all the responses and input, thanks for your contributions and opinions.

bodybuilding said...

It's always interesting to read all the comments and informative news and site news, etc. Thanks for all the responses and topics.

buy steroids said...

I would love to track your future posts pertaining to the said topic we are able to read.

workout routines said...

I think it was the most perfect interview that you could get.

Craig Chilvers said...

I just wanted to leave a comment to say that I enjoy your blog. Looking at the number of comments, I see others feel the same way! Congratulations on a very popular blog.

Car finance calculator Australia

green home said...

Thanks for the Great Post. Green Earth Concept Malaysia. Manufacturing | Oil & Gas | Food Processing Industry | Environ Cooling Water Treatment, Commercial | Home Care Products. It also maintain the green home, green products, green product, buy green, eco friendly products, environmental products, eco green products, environmentally friendly products. Thank you for staying with us.

Steroids Online shopping center said...

Retro is always On Vogue
Thank You for sharing this ...

Don’t go on black market it may harm You, buy Injectable Steroids from official supplier.