7th Annual Merry Christmas From a Jewish Atheist Pianist – Berkeley, CA

A Message from Sam Rudin:

When I was much younger, I, like many pianists, would get some lucrative gigs during the holidays, playing the seasonal favorites in the background of parties and events. And I used to think, “wouldn’t it be great to play this stuff in a concert setting, for actual listeners?”

Clearly, in terms of heritage and beliefs, my connections to the holiday are slim. But as a sentient being in the USA, I am fully acculturated, and as a musician, I couldn’t help noticing that, if I chose carefully, and stayed far away from Rudolph and Frosty…hey, a lot of this music is really good – and not just good, but flexibly available to a lot of interpretations. And after all, it is an important part of our ever-diminishing shared culture.

So, in spite of the somewhat flippant headline, this will be an entirely respectful, and musically sincere, evening. So if you can’t be with your family tonight, or if your own heritage and belief systems have you heading out for Chinese food – please stop by and and indulge in our shared musical tradition. And no!, the night will NOT include an obligatory chorus of “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.”

Sam Rudin is the creator and owner of The Back Room, and is an exciting pianist whose music embraces the whole range of 20th century American music.

“A master of musical Americana…his scope is near limitless…enormous talent.” — Lee Hildebrand, East Bay Express

Special holiday price: just $12.

Photo credit: Irene Young

Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Thank you for your support!

Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.