Sephardic Israeli singer Yasmin Levy, a rising star in world music circles, will perform at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, November 1st as part of her debut American tour, and TC Jewfolk readers get a special discount and an opportunity to attend an exclusive after-party with Yasmin’s band. [Update: Free Tickets No Longer Available.]
Born in Jerusalem, Israel in 1975, Yasmin was raised with a deep connection to Ladino, an ancient language spoken by the Sephardic Jews who fled Spain in 1492. It is in this language that Levy, along with her four-member band, famously interprets traditional songs and infuses them with emotive vocals and modern arrangements filled with Arabic and Flamenco notes.
Win one of three FREE pairs of tickets to see Yasmin Levy at the Ordway!
The Ordway has given TC Jewfolk three pairs of tickets to raffle off to our lucky readers to see Yasmin Levy on November 1st. To win, between now and 12noon on Thursday, October 15th, go to the comments section of this blog post and answer this question. Yasmin Levy says her Mano Suave album features musicians from Iran, Israel, Turkey, Paraguay, Armenia, and Spain: describe a traditional musical instrument from one of those countries. We’ll enter your name in our raffle (drawn randomly with the help of The Hat). One submission per person.
TC Jewfolk Discount
The Ordway is also offering TCÂ Jewfolk readers $20 tickets (a substantial discount) to the show. Just call Ordway’s box office a 651-224-4222 or go online at ordway.org and use the promo code “JEWFOLK.” The $20 ticket cost include all fees, and is not available for previously purchased tickets.
The first 50 people that purchase tickets with the promo code “JEWFOLK” are invited to an exclusive post-show party with Yasmin Levy and her band! The reception will be on the second floor Marzitelli Foyer immediately following the Main Hall performance. There will be appetizers & a cash bar, and music.
The Ordway is also offering a pre-show extra before Yasmin Levy’s performance (free with a ticket to the show) with the Ordway’s Vice President of Programming and Producing Artistic Director James Rocco, and others, for a unique insider’s look behind the scenes.
More about Yasmin Levy
Yasmin Levy’s concert at the Ordway will be based on the first American release of her CD, Mano Suave. This album from 4 Q Records, features a blend of traditional Ladino songs and original compositions influenced by her culture and studies. “Mano Suave is what Jerusalem sounds like,” explains Yasmin.
She told Fly Global Music, “I tell myself that my music is a big thing, bringing people together. My band come from all parts of the world. Everybody says music is another language, it is international — I work with Muslims and Christians, and I am Jewish. I work with Germans and I am Israeli. This is what music means to me in life.”
Yasmin sees her music as a form of Tikkun Olam, repairing of the world. She said in the same interview with Fly Global Music,“Because the language of Ladino is dying, I see my job as more than the music — it is like a holy mission.  I see myself as a butterfly going from one flower to another spreading the knowledge of the tradition. And I know that for the rest of my life — even though I know I will do other songs, my own and others — I will sing Ladino songs for the rest of my life — for the Jewish people, my father and the world.”
Watch Yasmin Levy on Youtube.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rmK99BZsKo
Iran has the sitar!
Sign me up! 🙂
An oud is popular through at the middle east.
A darbuka (goblet drum, if you will) is a popular traditional middle east regional instrument
no sephardic band is complete without an oud.
The baglama is a stringed instrument traditionally used in Turkey.
I would say the Oud – especially popular with Sephardim that went to what is now modern Turkey
There is a romantic instrument, shaped like the prophet Jonah’s gourd with a short neck and body with more strings than a guitar.
Duduk is a traditional Armenian musical instrument. At first duduk was made of cane, but later in the Middle Ages Armenian masters made it from apricot tree wood. Duduk is an old double reed instrument of special type. Its tone range is half an octave.
A Santur from Iran, a hammered dulcimer, is a trapezoidal-shaped instrument with 72 strings and two sets of bridges, hit with mallets
I’ll add the dumbek, a popular drum.
The kamanche is a tall three- or four-stringed Persian instrument played with a bow and found in different variations in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its base is traditionally made from a gourd or wood. It often has a spike at the bottom and is played seated like cello.
Thank you all for entering the contest! No more new entries in the contest – I’ll draw the three pairs of tickets tonight! Anyone who doesn’t win should still call the Ordway to go to this awesome show. The TC Jewfolk discount is awesome (I got 2 tix for my grandparents through it) – best seats available for only $20 each. And do forget to mention the after-party! See you there.
The winners are Phillip, Brenda and Oren. Thank you all for playing! Please check out our other upcoming contests!
Thank you! I won! Phillip A. Smith
i’d love to’ come to’ the After-Party! Details?
Phillip Smith. Note: email is the same.
[email protected]
You’re on the list Phillip. All the information that I have about the after party is in this email. Let me know if you have any more questions! And have fun!