Here in Philadelphia, we are about to celebrate the 8th season of our annual Israeli World Music & JazzPhest running from November 7-23, 2015. This year’s festival is now a region-wide Tri-State event featuring new partners, new venues and a diverse, unique lineup of artists. The Consulate produces this festival as part of a larger vision to introduce local communities to Israeli music and culture, as well as an opportunity for further collaboration and discourse between Israeli and US artists.
The festival opens Nov. 7th in partnership with the Exit Zero International Jazz Festival in Cape May, NJ featuring the Shai Maestro Trio (11/7) and Oran Etkin (11/8), both reflecting their boundary-pushing musical approaches. Etkin’s new project Reimagining Benny Goodman, a Distinctly Modern Homage to the King of Swing, will be particularly appealing to those with fond memories of Swing’s heyday, refracted through new Israeli and African-derived musical traditions.
November 8th will also mark the Philadelphia premiere of Balladino, an Israeli ensemble offering fresh and authentic reinterpretations of Sephardic and Ladino melodies. Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish, is the spoken and written language of Jews of Spanish origin and Balladino’s music incorporates this dialect along with other Middle Eastern influences that are part of the Sephardic heritage.
More incredible music is forthcoming later in the week as well as the following one. You can learn more by clicking here which will take you to the World Music & JazzPhest’s dedicated website where you can also purchase tickets. Hope to see you at the shows!
Yaron Sideman
Consul General Of Israel,
Mid-Atlantic Region