Sons of Sefarad - Gerard Edery

What is Sefarad?
Sefarad is the hebrew name for Spain or for the geographic area we now know as Portugal and Spain.
What is so interesting about Sefarad and Spain?
Lets tell a short story: Izabel and Felipe were kings of Spain in the lates 1400.
They stablished a dictatorial law to get rid of all jews from Spain that must left the country until october 1492, or die or convert to Christianity. Those were Inquisition days. The Christian managers - priests, priors, the pope himself, etc...- were struggling to end with the existence of the jews in Spain, Portugal and its far posession lands, and then as they conquer more and more land, they would pushing the jews far and far away. At that time after a last talk with Izabel tryied by Abarbanel (or Abravanel), a jew that had some transit inside the courts, most of the jews left Spain and get to all over Europe, spreading their Sefardic culture.
From there comes the word Sefardi (or Sefaradi).
In a general way, Sefarad is the orient, since the otoman empire dominates for long time that area.
Considering it the middle east countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi-Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Morocco among others. At the time of the Otoman empire, this oriental culture mixed itself with other local cultures including thats from the Iberic Peninsula.
From there does come lots of traditional chants, songs and gererically sounds, that are very peculiar. Sometimes according to the local or language of the song, you will think one is singing spanish, but dont make that mistake. That would be Ladino - a mix from old spanish and hebrew.
I consider Mizrahit songs (songs from the orient) as hot sounds that pinch you all to dance and chant or simply to hear and enjoy. Mostly Happy and Joyous, this particular type of music rises one's blood's temperature.

"Sons of Sefarad", is how Gerard Edery, Aaron Bensoussan, Alberto Mizrahi among others, chose to label their group. Is a big group indeed, and you can read all the names and bios at their site (see link bellow).
I am speechless to talk about any one of this incredible group. Their sound is unique. Gerard Edery's voice is so strong and dense inside the arrangements he made himself or with his partners. The construction of any musical phrase is a jewel inside each musical piece.
I would dare to say that each song is a string of rare and perfect pearls.
More is useless to say. Visit their site, hear some samples, buy CD's and get more, listening to them in our regular selection.
Sefarad records is a member of YidishMusic's Suporters and we thank them very much for that!

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