Yasmin Levy
Yasmin Levy | |
|---|---|
 Yasmin Levy in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | December 23, 1975 Jerusalem, Israel |
| Origin | Turkey |
| Genres | Sephardic music, world, flamenco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Adama |
| Website | yasminlevy |
Yasmin Levy (Hebrew: יסמין לוי; born December 23, 1975) is an Israeli singer-songwriter of Judeo-Spanish music.
Biography[edit]
Yasmin Levy was born on December 23, 1975, in Baka, Jerusalem.[1] She is of Sephardic Jewish descent. Her parents were immigrants from Turkey. [2]
Her father, Yitzhak Isaac Levy (1919–1977),[3] was a composer and hazzan (cantor), as well as a pioneer researcher into the history of the Ladino music and culture of Spanish Jewry and its diaspora, being the editor of the Ladino language magazine Aki Yerushalayim.[4] He died when Levy was just one year old, but she names him as one of her greatest musical influences.[5]
Career[edit]
With her distinctive and emotive style, Levy has brought a new interpretation to the medieval Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) song by incorporating more "modern" sounds of Andalusian flamenco and traditional Turkish music[2] as well as combining instruments like the darbuka, oud, violin, cello, and piano.[citation needed]
Her debut album was Romance & Yasmin, which was followed by her second album La Judería (Spanish: The Jewish Quarter).[6]
On her second album, La Judería, she also covered the popular songs "Gracias a la Vida" by Violeta Parra and "Nací en Álamo" from the film Vengo, directed by Tony Gatlif, which in its original version won the 2001 César Award for Best Music Written for a Film (itself being a cover[7] of "The Song of the Gypsies" (Greek: "Το Τραγούδι των Γύφτων"), written by Greek songwriter Dionysis Tsaknis in 1990).[citation needed].
In her own words in 2007:[1]
I am proud to combine the two cultures of Ladino and flamenco, while mixing in Middle Eastern influences. I am embarking on a 500-year-old musical journey, taking Ladino to Andalusia and mixing it with flamenco, the style that still bears the musical memories of the old Moorish and Jewish-Spanish world with the sound of the Arab world. In a way it is a ‘musical reconciliation’ of history.
Other roles[edit]
Levy is a goodwill ambassador for the charity Children of Peace.[citation needed]
Accolades[edit]
In 2006, Levy was nominated in the "Culture Crossing" category for the fRoots / BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards.[8]
In 2008, Levy's work earned her the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation Award for promoting cross-cultural dialogue between musicians from three cultures.[9]
The Sunday Times named Sentir as one of the Top 100 albums of 2009, and placed it in their Top 10 World Music releases of the year.[5]
Discography[edit]
Full albums[edit]
- 2004: Romance & Yasmin
- 2005: La Judería
- 2006: Live at the Tower of David, Jerusalem
- 2007: Mano Suave
- 2009: Sentir
- 2012: Libertad
- 2014: Tango
- 2017: "Rak Od Layla Echad" ('Just one more night')
- 2021: Voice & Piano
Singles for movie soundtracks[edit]
- 2011: "Jaco", for My Sweet Canary (featuring the oud player Tomer Katz)
- 2011: "Una Pastora", for My Sweet Canary (featuring the qanun player Mumin Sesler)
Collaborations[edit]
- 2008: Tzur Mishelo Achalnu, for Avoda Ivrit 2, featuring Shlomo Bar
- 2010: Tzur Mishelo Achalnu, for Kol HaNeshama, featuring Shlomo Bar
- 2012: Yigdal, for Yehuda Halevi Pinat Ibn Gabirol - The Collection
References[edit]
- ^ a b Cartwright, Garth (August 15, 2008). "Awards for World Music 2007 - Yasmin Levy". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ a b "Yasmin Levy Makes Music out of Madness". eSefarad (in Spanish). September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ "Yitzhak Levy - Classical Music Daily". www.classicalmusicdaily.com. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "LA PAJINA DJUDEO-ESPANYOLA". November 9, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Yasmin Levy". WOMEX. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ Chrysler, Ivan (February 12, 2007). "Awards for World Music 2006 - Yasmin Levy". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Vengo (2000) – Soundtracks". IMDB. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
- ^ "Radio 3 - Awards for World Music 2006 - Nominees". BBC Radio 3. March 22, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "2008 Event Media Release – Yasmin Levy". Sydney Opera House. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
Further reading[edit]
- "Yasmin Levy - Sing like a butterfly". FLY Global Music. February 22, 1999. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
- Werman, Marco (March 16, 2011). "Israeli singer Yasmin Levy's flamenco twist" (audio). The World from PRX.
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