Rabbi Deborah Silver, spiritual leader of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation in Metairie, announced the synagogue’s popular “All-Star New Orleans Jazz Seder” will be available online for congregants and others to enjoy as part of their individual Passover celebrations. The synagogue has held this innovative musical event regularly since 2008.

The seder features a collection of local Jewish musicians accompanying popular songs from the Passover Seder including “Dayenu,” “Avadim Hayinu,” “Had Gadya” and other holiday favorites as well as other traditional songs from both the liturgy and the New Orleans jazz playbook to enhance the obligatory annual retelling of the Passover story. Passover this year will take place from sundown on March 27 through April 4.

“For years, our musical Seder has been one of our most popular and highly anticipated events,” said Rabbi Silver. “We are sad we cannot be together in-person to celebrate the Seder just yet, but we hope that by offering a pre-recorded version our community and others worldwide will be able to heighten their spiritual experience and enjoy the incredible musical talent that we have in our congregation and community.”

Local musicians in the Jazz Seder ensemble include Ben Schenk, clarinet, (Panorama Jazz Band); Rene Coman, bass (The Iguanas); Marc Stone, guitar; Joe Krown, piano; Hannah Krieger-Benson (who also works with the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans), trumpet and background vocals; Doug Garrison (The Iguanas), drums; Rick Perles, violin, and Meryl Zimmerman, who also serves as the synagogue’s education director, on lead vocals.

The event will be available prior to the start of the holiday on Shir Chadash’s website at ShirChadash.org and on the synagogue’s YouTube page and Facebook pages. It showcases the synagogue’s traditional second-night Seder (which this year falls on the night of Sunday, March 28) but can be viewed any time. The Seder also features the youth of the synagogue as well as leadership and commentary by Rabbi Silver.

The musical component was recorded live in early March at the outdoor venue The Broadside, with video production by Nolafy LLC and sound engineering by Pete Winkler. Will Samuels is producer of the online program.