ABOUT TOWN: Jazzing it Up in Stoughton (And Support Your Legion Baseball Team)

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A PASSOVER BRUNCH! OK. I admit it. I'm no a matzoh kind of guy. Passover, which does have great meaning to the Jewish people, never thrilled me. While everyone else at school was eating peanut butter and jelly in Wonder Bread, I had these dried out large tasteless crackers with peanut butter and jelly.  

But, I've grown up some! Eight years ago I went to a Passover Jazz Brunch and REALLY enjoyed it. The delicious eggs they managed to weave with the matzoh helped, and so did the abundance of other delicious foods, and the music! 

I've discovered since then that music and delicious breakfast will go hand in hand once again at Stoughton's Ahavath Torah Congregation's Eighth Annual Passover Jazz Brunch (and it could be the last one there, pending the merger of three synagogues in the area.)  

The synagogue's brotherhood has brought back this signature event by popular demand, and it will take place this year on Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. Savor a full gourmet kosher-for-Passover brunch with the soothing sounds of the Tal Shalom-Kobi Quartet. 

This amazingly talented group of musicians are not to be missed by fans of quality jazz. The quartet plays everything from swing to bossa nova, from rhythm and blues to Latin music. 

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 5-12. Cost at the door are $25 for adults and $15 per child. Reservations close on March 25.  Reservations are required, and may be obtained by calling the synagogue at 781-344-8733, or via email at office@atorah.org.  Seating is limited. I just hope I am able to walk by then, so I can go! 

Tal Shalom-Kobi, a native of Israel, is a bass player and a music educator who has been active in the world of music for the past fifteen years. Tal holds a degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music, and Masters in Jazz Performance from New England Conservatory. Tal has performed in jazz festivals overseas and locally in venues such as the Berklee Performance Center, Ryles Jazz Club, and Jordan Hall, among others. 

Tal is the leader of the "Four N' More" jazz group, and co-leads the "Jazz Marauders" Latin jazz quartet. Together with her performance career she has stayed active in the field of education, teaching piano and teaching youth ensemble groups in her home studio in Newton. For more information on the quartet, visit http://www.talmusicworld.com/. 

Enjoy a professionally prepared brunch with tasty jazz as a calming interlude during the often-frenetic Passover week. Brunch will include champagne, mimosas, lox, homefries (my personal favorite), matzo brei, eggs, Passover rolls, coffee, and desserts.  

Ahavath Torah Congregation is a Conservative synagogue in Stoughton at 1179 Central St. with Rabbi Jonathan Hausman as its religious leader. The synagogue is among the oldest on Boston's South Shore, having been established in 1920. 

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HELP YOUR TEAM PLAY BALL! The Stoughton American Legion Post 89 Baseball Team is looking for donations from businesses in the Stoughton community to help offset the team costs (equipment, umpires, fields, etc). The team plays in the summer months.   

All donations will be applied directly to team costs, which in turn, will help to defray the per player fees.  Please help the boys out by sending your donation today. You can donate online using the link below or by sending a check (details below). 

Jim Derochea, Manager of Stoughton Post 89 Baseball, said he could use corporate support to help absorb some of the expenses that have been born by the volunteer coaches.

To donate, please go to the following link: http://www.active.com/donate/alpost89-baseball or  To pay by check, please make checks payable to: Jim Derochea, Al Post 89 Baseball, 121 Westview Drive, Stoughton, MA 02072.  

For tax purposes, Stoughton American Legion Post 89 is a 501C Organization, EIN# 042256336.

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