Sunday, November 11th, 2012 | 7pm
Yemen Blues  (part of the Israeli JazzPhest)
$25 in advance/$30 day of show | Members: $18.75/$22.50

The international super group returns to the Bride for the second consecutive year to blow audiences away with their message of unity and their hybrid musical groove which fuses American jazz, soul, and funk, with various ancient and modern folk music traditions spanning the Middle East clear across the African continent.

The group features top-flight musicians from New York, Uruguay and Israel and is led by Israeli-born vocalist-gimbri player Ravid Kahalani (once band member to Idan Raichel). Yemen Blues, hailed “One of the exciting world music bands right now” by Chicago Time Out, promise a festive and fascinating oasis for a genuine encounter between “Yemenite music and Black music from Africa and America…” fusing, “ancient roots with contemporary sounds…” including blues, jazz, soul and funk to deliver a “refreshing, stirring” new sound (GoJerusalem.com).

Since the ensemble’s formation in 2010 and their subsequent reception after delivering a breathtaking live performances at the WOMEX and BABEL MED music fairs, Yemen Blues is quickly becoming an international sensation.

Yemen Blues is Ravid Kahalani (vocals / gimbri), Omer Avital (oud / bass), Galia Hai (viola), Yoed Nir (cello), Hadar Noiberg (flute), Itamar Borochov (trumpet), Rafi Malkiel (trombone), Rony Iwryn (latin percussion), Itamar Doari (middle eastern percussion).

Painted Bride proudly presents this unique ensemble to area world music fans in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia.
About Yemen Blues

Ravid Kahalani, who grew up in a traditional Yemenite family in Israel, learned the language and the traditional chants of his origin, and extended his influences to the areas of blues, soul and jazz from West Africa and America as well as classical opera singing.  When Ravid joined forces with highly talented and insightful bassist-composer Omer Avital in 2010, finally, Ravid’s original Yemenite songs, his love for jazz, blues and African music came together in one musical project – the musical concept of Yemen Blues was born.  An ultimate celebration of colorful grooves, the pure happiness and deep emotion of Yemenite singing, an innovative sound with a potent message, Yemen Blues is “a language you will understand no matter where you come from”, singer Ravid Kahalani says.  “It is my origin and my influences all together as well as meeting with this group of amazing musicians.”