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Ben ZIMET is a yiddish singer and storyteller. His parents were Polish
Jews. He is a Canadian citizen and has lived most of his life in Paris.
He now navigates between Paris, and Dakar, in West Africa. After his
growing years in America, Ben ZIMET settled in Paris in the early 60s.
Here, he made his stage début with the great pianist and accordeon
player Eddy SCHAFF, at the famed Café-Théâtre de la “Vieille Grille.”
This was in 1973. Later, he created and presented his “Songs and
Tales out of Yiddishland” all over Europe and throughout the world,
telling his stories in French or in English and singing in Yiddish the
unique world of the East European Jews. Among his venues are
the famed “Théâtre de la Ville” in Paris, and Peter Brook’s “Bouffes
du Nord” Theater.He has performed in many international music
and storytelling festivals as well. His “Yiddish Cabaret” musical
theater (with twelve performers) was created at Pompidou Center
in Paris where he also initiated the First International Festival
of Yiddish Culture…in 1979. Ben ZIMET has taken part in scores
of TV shows in France, Germany, Sweden and Rumania.
German TV(NDR) and FR France have devoted two 52’
documentaries to his work. Ben ZIMET has recorded 12 cds to date,
solo or with his former partner, Talila. He has acted in several films,
including Peter Brook’s “Meeting with Remarkable Men,” and Tony
Gatlif’s ”Swing.” He is also the creator and director of Gorée, Senegal’s
International Storytelling and Music Festival ,now in its fourth
year since 2007. |
