I just counted the number of WhatsApp Groups to which I subscribe.

59.

Way too many.

And that doesn’t include the hundreds of individual WhatsApp accounts I use to communicate with various people.

Here’s just a sampling of the groups I belong to: Stamford guys … ba’alei tefilla … local synagogue … two school alumni groups … community announcements … Israel news … mitzvah opportunities … shiva info … halacha Q&A … neighborhood minyan … kosher food deliveries.

I recently joked that I need to subscribe to a WhatsApp group for people who belong to too many WhatsApp groups!

However, there is one WhatsApp group that I love. I thoroughly enjoy reading the comments shared in this group, and I also post to the group regularly.

It’s called Jewish Musicians of CT, and it was created by Daniel Wallis, a guitarist and music aficionado who grew up in Manchester, England, and who moved to the Stamford community several years ago.

The group started in September 2020 during the COVID era, as a space for local Jewish musicians to connect with each other, discuss music, and organize jam sessions. Wallis encourages members to share what music they are listening to, post recordings they have made, and arrange local music sessions.

Our chat is rarely boring, always filled with friendly banter, jokes and camaraderie among the members. We frequently share music links, memes and humorous commentary. Members often discuss various genres, bands, and specific songs we enjoy. We also discuss musical equipment, and technical aspects of playing music. Various configurations of the group have performed together at shul events in the community and at impromptu jam sessions.

Overall, the group is a lively and supportive space for Jewish musicians in the Stamford area to share our passion for music, collaborate, and build friendships around common interests.

“The group started off with around 10 members, and has since grown to 41, some more active than others,” explained Wallis. “For many members, it’s a place to chat about music they’re listening to and share recommendations, and for others it’s a place to discuss musical equipment they’re looking into buying or have bought, songs they’ve recorded and upcoming jams.”

The group is a mixture of younger and older music lovers: a Dylan groupie, who played in his own band for several years before he moved to the suburbs and who has multiple recordings on Spotify … a musician and sound engineer who has played with Simply Tsfat and spent many years in New Haven, Connecticut, interacting with some of the most famous rock ’n roll bands in history … several bass guitar players, some of whom fit the light-hearted stereotypes (laid back, underappreciated, quiet but essential) but others who go against the grain … a guitar player who used to have a beer brewing business in his home and turned me on to bluegrass … a guitar-playing Orthodox rabbi, who is equally skilled at quoting from the Gra and the Grateful Dead and equally comfortable at a tish celebration and a Phish concert. And yes, there are also a couple of women in the group—a Billy Joel fan who can really belt out a rock song and a singer/guitarist with a magnificent voice, who recorded one of the best versions of “You Can Close Your Eyes” by James Taylor that I have ever heard.

And then there is me. I’m probably the oldest person in the group, and I tend to discuss classic rock, because I was fortunate to live and breathe that music during the 1970s. Although the younger members in the group grew up with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Oasis, most of them still have a deep appreciation for 1970s classic rock. And they are very jealous that I was able to see the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, the Who, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Bob Dylan, the Band, the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and many other great musicians in concert during their prime—often for under $10 a ticket!

We have spirited Talmudic discussions on who the greatest guitar players are. Personally, I gravitate towards Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler, mainly because musically they are the most enjoyable guitarists for me to listen to. But others will make strong arguments for Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Eddie van Halen. Shivim panim l’torah, I guess! Other recent topics for discussion: best songs covered by other artists and groups that never put out a bad album. If you think there are lively discussions in the beit midrash on halachic topics, you should visit our WhatsApp group—and you’ll witness some very serious arguments about music.

Speaking of Eddie van Halen, the news of his death on October 6, 2020, led to a notable conversation among group members expressing their shock and sadness, sharing links to articles, and reflecting on Van Halen’s impact on the music world. This topic resonated deeply with group members, given their shared passion for rock music and guitar playing.

Wallis says that his musical tastes have also broadened because of the group. He explained, “I have been introduced to bands such as Boston, Stone Temple Pilots and Arcade Fire, musical groups that I would not have listened to otherwise. And from the jamming sessions with other group members, I’ve also improved as a musician and become a better performer.”

Growing up in England, Wallis had a very different musical experience than other American-born members of the group. “I never heard of bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish, but they seem to have a big following here, at least in Stamford. There were also other artists that I was only vaguely familiar with, such as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. This might partly be due to the social circles I was part of in England. On the other hand, bands like Oasis and Blur, which were massive in England, tend to be thought of more as one-hit wonders in America.”

Wallis appreciates the fact that he has found others in the Stamford Jewish community who love rock ’n roll music as much as he does. “Our community is vibrant and growing, and music is just one of the ways that brings the community together. The group has members from all backgrounds and ages, allowing people to make social connections they might not have otherwise made. I can safely say that the group has facilitated some very strong friendships to form and has helped build a stronger sense of community.”

I probably should unsubscribe to a couple of dozen WhatsApp groups that I rarely frequent these days. But nothing will take me away from Jewish Musicians of CT.

What is your favorite WhatsApp group?

Michael Feldstein, who lives in Stamford, Connecticut, is the author of “Meet Me in the Middle” (meet-me-in-the-middle-book.com), a collection of essays on contemporary Jewish life. He can be reached at [email protected].