Sean Altman brings ‘Jewmongous’ to Bickford

It all started when Sean Altman realized he had a height advantage over the person whose birth is commemorated on Dec. 25.

At 6 foot, 3 inches, Altman estimated that he would definitely stand at least a head taller than the average male living in the Middle East 2,000 years ago.

The result: a song called “Taller than Jesus,” a play on John Lennon’s controversial statement in the 1960s that the Beatles were “bigger than Jesus.” “My point is that, yeah, Jesus could do miracles. But I’m indisputably taller,” says Altman.

The number marked his first attempt at writing what he calls “Jewish novelty songs.” “That became one of the most popular songs in my own act,” says Altman, who first gained attention as the lead singer of the vocal group Rockapella.

Over time, Altman amassed enough other songs to craft a show called “Jewmongous.” Backed by a percussionist, Altman will perform at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum this Saturday, Dec. 19.

“Jewmongous” is being presented as part of the Sanctuary Concert series, normally held at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham.

Opening for Altman is Carla Ulbrich, another artist who mixes comedy and music in songs like “Joe’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriends,” a paean to her husband’s former flames.

Altman says that “Jewmongous” is designed to be understandable to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences. “Typically, about a third (of the attendees) are not Jewish, but they have Jewish friends or family,” Altman says.

Though he was raised Jewish, Altman says he still approaches Judaism almost as an outsider. “I was raised Jewish, but secular,” he says. “In a room full of Jews, I’m the least Jewish person.” (The title of his new CD is “The Least Jew-y Jew in Jewville.”)

“I was bar mitzvahed, but even then I was keenly aware of being a fraud,” he says. “I wanted to do what ancestors did, even though I didn’t believe in the spirituality.”

For example, Altman says he viewed Passover as “Jewish Thanksgiving.” “I have positive associations with it, even though I may not have known what I was singing.”

All these attitudes are reflected in “Jewmongous.” “I’m always affectionate, and I’m always proud. But I also express some mystification about aspects of this religion.”

“Being Jewish is a bloodline,” he says. “I feel Jewish, but I don’t believe in God. I sing in Hebrew at bar mitzvahs. But I don’t believe. And I’m comfortable with that.”

Altman says he has always liked comedy songs. His Rockapella work (such as the title song for the show “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?”) was marked by witty lyrics and musical allusions.

He later was part of a duo called What I Like About Jew, which he laughingly admits was “crass” in its humor.

“ ‘Jewmongous’ is a little more appropriate,” Altman says. “There are a few curses, and there’s a little scatological humor. It definitely deals with adult themes.”

Altman says he is happy to be sharing the stage with Carla Ulbrich, with whom he has occasionally played in the past. “I’ve been a fan of her songs for a while,” he says.

Ulbrich - a blonde from the South who now lives in Somerset - says that she is happy to work with Altman again. “It’s from him that I learned I was a shiksa (non-Jewish woman),” she says with a laugh. “I would never have known.”

Her own humor tends to be observational in nature. She originally wrote comic songs as a break from her more serious and introspective material.

The popularity of those comedy numbers caused Ulbrich to reassess what she wanted to do. “It bothered me at first that the (comic songs) were more popular. But now I realize that you have to claim it and own it. This is what I do.”

That motto could apply to Altman, as well. “My career has been tragically funny,” he says. “I keep choosing these novelty acts with limited appeal. I went from an a capella group to a male singer-songwriter to what I’m doing now. But I’m OK with it.”

JEWMONGOUS

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown

TICKETS: $25

INFO: 973-971-3706 or www.bickfordtheatre.org