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| Gerard Edery Leads Ensemble In Celebrating Sepharad Music In the spirit of the first Jews who arrived in New Amsterdam from Brazil in 1694, the Museum invites the community to join the critically acclaimed master of Sephardic song, Gerard Edery and an accomplished ensemble of international musicians for the world premiere of The Spirit of Sepharad: From Casbah to Caliphate, A 500Year Musical Journey. This evocative program tracing the unique migration of Sephardic music from medieval Spain, across North Africa, to the Middle East will take place on Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in Edmond J. Safra Hall at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. The concert officially kicks off The Spirit of Sepharad world tour which will play important cultural capitals with deeprooted connections to the Sephardic musical heritage throughout 2009 and 2010. The soulstirring program will feature beloved Moroccanborn singer and guitarist Gerard Edery? Persian master of folk and sacred music Amir Vahab? worldrenowned percussionist Glen Velez? foremost Armenian oud player Ara Dinkjian? jazz soloist and vocalist Meg Okura? and flamenco dancer and actress Barbara Martinez. The Spirit of Sepharad is more than a concert. It combines music, dance, theatrical narration, illuminating projections, and film footage into a dynamic mixedmedia performance that encompasses all the rich cultures that have influenced Sephardic/Mizrahi Jews. The Spirit of Sepharad is an innovative and eclectic mixedmedia performance featuring an array of musicians from multiple disciplines in songs of secular and liturgical origin spanning many centuries to the present. A unique blend of music from Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Persia, Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Israel will tell a rich musical story. The Spirit of Sepharad is a celebration of the Sephardic/Mizrahi experience that promotes the possibility of coexistence, tolerance, respect, and peace among all peoples. Gerard Edery, creator and director of The Spirit of Sepharad, said, "Launching the tour at the Museum of Jewish Heritage couldn't be more meaningful or symbolic. This beautiful spot overlooking New York Harbor and facing the Old World, to the lands where it all began, is the right place for us to embark. For the project I've gathered a stagefull of worldacclaimed virtuoso musicians who come from a range of traditions, religions, and cultures. The goal of this tour is to invite worldmusic fans to be a part of a cultural caravan, to experience the many facets of Sephardic music, and to appreciate how enjoying this diversity with people of many backgrounds can promote the cause of crosscultural appreciation and understanding. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |