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"This Hanukkah fest wants to school us in Jewish music—and not just your grandpa’s klez." - Time Out NY

"Our Hannukkah-side suggestion is the annual Sephardic Music Festival...look at this festival as the un-Ashkenazi festival." - National Public Radio, WNYC

SMF 2012 will take place between December 8th and the 12th
(click here to see the event schedule)

ABOUT THE 8th ANNUAL SEPHARDIC MUSIC FESTIVAL:

Move over, "I have a Little Dreidel"--there's an exciting new sound in the air this Hanukkah. The 8th annual Sephardic Music Festival will be lighting up Hanukkah in venues around New York from December 8-12, with a new Festival compilation album scheduled for release on December 11. Founded by American-Israeli producer Diwon, the Sephardic Music Festival is the first Jewish music festival to focus exclusively on Sephardic music and culture and showcase the latest Mizrahi, Yemenite, and Ladino artists from around the world. The festival offers a platform for performers of traditional Sephardic folk music and innovators who fuse traditional Sephardic rhythms, melodies, and motifs with modern musical styles. With an incredible range of artists this year, the Sephardic Music Festival presents a colorful tapestry of music and culture as rich, vibrant, and diverse as the Jewish world itself.

December 8th: The kick-off event will be held at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory featuring Copal, Cannibal Animal Machine and The Sway Machinery, whose combination of rhythmic power and potent folklore takes no prisoners. On stage the energy of submerged worlds is torn out into the light of day. And indeed, the historical tradition of Cantorial music, which is the focus of the band’s work, is very much a lost world. The music of The Sway Machinery invites the listener to become like children wandering in the forest, discovering something mythic and wonderful.

December 9th: The 2nd Sephardic Story Slam will feature stories presented by Israeli-American artists ISRAMERICA at Lolita Bar.

December 10th: The Sephardic Scholar Series continues this year with a free concert at the CUNY Graduate Center with the NY Andalus Ensemble, accompanied by a lecture by Samuel R. Thomas.

December 11th: The Festival will showcase talented Sephardic and Flamenco musicians at the historic Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. Vanessa Paloma will highlight Judeo-Spanish women’s songs and their connections to women’s spiritual expression. Borders-crossing duo Nadav Lev and Remy Yulzari will explore highlights of Sephardic music with a personal approach that derives from various musical genres.

December 12: Israel's Mika Karny and the Kol Dodi Ensemble will perform with Zion80, Hasidic New Wave & Yakar Rhythms at (Le) Poisson Rouge. Kol Dodi is a unique ensemble of Israeli Moroccan, Yemenite and Ethiopian musicians and singers, led by one of Israel’s all time favorite female vocalists – Mika Karni. Zion80's 12-piece band sets the beautiful melodies of Reb Shlomo Carlebach in polyrhythmic Afrobeat arrangements to the flavor of Fela Kuti. Hasidic New Wave will be joined by the very special Senegalese drum ensemble, Yakar Rhythms, to celebrate the release of their CD box set on John Zorn's Tzadik Records.

The Sephardic Music Festival’s second compilation album, set for release on December 11, includes everything from folk songs to hip hop, electro, and dance music. The album's tracks incorporate Jewish liturgical and ceremonial texts, Sabbath songs, and classic love poems as well as original compositions inspired by traditional themes.

Cheb i Sabbah, among the most talented world music producers, kicks off the compilation with "Im Ninalou" (If the Doors are Locked), a traditional Yemenite song made famous by the late, great Ofra Chaza.

Israeli club kids Axum blow up the compilation with their energetic "Knowa." Dunkelbunt remixes Marseille-based Watcha Clan, who combine Balkan brass and Sephardic folk with Gnawa trance and hip-hop.

DeLeon's distinctive style of rock transforms ancient Sephardic folk music into a sound that is both brand new and centuries old. On Ansi Dize La Novia, DeLeon borrows Manu Chao-esque grooves to convey an ancient tale of a bride being described to a groom. Each of her features is more beautiful than the last, just like each of this song's verses is funkier than that which preceded it.

Jerusalem native Mor Karbasi chills out the compilation with her beautiful song, "Arvoles." You'll feel like you're floating along on a carpet as Karbasi sings gently to the accompanying piano.

Tel Aviv's Cohen@Mushon highlights the 90's golden era hip hop sound. Diwon also throws down a couple of his own tracks, including a Middle Eastern instrumental single and a "Maoz Tzur" holiday-inspired song with an LMFAO feel. The latter track features ex-Hasidic gay rapper Y-Love and Ladino songstress Sarah Aroeste.

Like the Sephardic Music Festival itself, the album highlights the remarkable diversity of the Jewish community. More information about the album, and the entire Festival, including show times and venue details, can be found at www.sephardicfest.com. The website features a tantalizing musical preview on Sephardic Music Fest Radio and a sneak peak of the festival on the promotional video.

* click here to see the event schedule


ABOUT THE SEPHARDIC MUSIC FESTIVAL COMPILATION VOL. 2:

The Sephardic Music Festival’s second compilation album is set for release on December 11. Selections range from traditional Sephardic folk songs to hip hop, electro, and dance music. Album tracks incorporate Jewish liturgical and ceremonial texts, Sabbath songs, and classic love poems, as well as original compositions inspired by traditional themes. Cheb i Sabbah, among the most talented world-music producers, kicks off the compilation with “Im Ninalou” (If the Doors are Locked), a traditional Yemenite song made famous by the late great Ofra Chaza. Israeli club kids Axum blow up the compilation with their energetic “Knowa.” Dunkelbunt remixes Marseille-based Watcha Clan, which mixes Balkan brass and Sephardic folk with Gnawa trance and hip-hop. DeLeon uses their distinctive style of rock to transform ancient Sephardic folk music into a sound that is both brand new and centuries old. On Ansi Dize La Novia, DeLeon borrows Manu Chao-esque grooves to convey an ancient tale of a bride being described to a groom. Each of her features is more beautiful than the last just as each of this song’s verses is funkier than that which preceded it. Jerusalem native Mor Karbasi chills out the compilation with her beautiful song titled “Arvoles.” The listener can’t help but feel that they are floating along on a carpet as Karbasi sings gently to the accompanying piano. Tel Aviv’s Cohen@Mushon highlights the 90?s golden era hip hop sound. Diwon includes a couple of his own tracks including a Middle Eastern instrumental single and a “Maoz Tzur” holiday-inspired song with an LMFAO feel. The latter track features ex-Hasidic, gay rapper Y-Love and Ladino songstress Sarah Aroeste. Like the Sephardic Music Festival itself, the compilation album highlights the remarkable diversity that exists within the Jewish community. While other Jewish music festivals focus mostly on Ashkenazi tunes, themes, and beats, the Sephardic Music Festival offers a fascinating exploration of Sephardic music and culture from around the world.  


more info at http://sephardicmusicfestival.com/store

ABOUT THE SEPHARDIC MUSIC FESTIVAL COMPILATION VOL. 1:

The Sephardic Music Festival’s first compilation album is set for release on November 30. It is an eclectic mix of Sephardic folk songs, as well as electro, hip hop, and dance music inspired by traditional Sephardic tunes, themes, and beats. The compilation features artists from around the Jewish world. Grammy Nominated artist Matisyahu combines a suite of Middle Eastern inspired hip hop riffs with a time-honored Yemenite chorus sung by Yehuda Solomon. Yasmin Levy's impassioned song "Mi Korasón" (My Heart) emphasizes the underappreciated romantic side of the Ladino language. Moshav -- an L.A. based group of expatriate Israeli musicians -- contributes a powerful rendition of the Yemenite wedding song "Abba Shimon" in Judeo-Arabic. In addition, world renowned Sephardic performer Yair Dalal -- who appeared at the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize Gala in Oslo -- offers a memorable interpretation of the classic Shabbat song "Ya Ribon."  

Like the Sephardic Music Festival itself, this compilation offers a taste of the amazing depth and breadth of Mizrahi and Sephardi inspiration, culture, and creativity. Album tracks incorporate Jewish liturgical and ceremonial texts, Shabbat songs, and classic love poems, as well as original compositions inspired by traditional themes. The album presents a tapestry of harmonies, rhythms, and motifs as rich, vibrant, and diverse as the Jewish world itself.

more info at http://sephardicmusicfestival.com/store


PAST PERFORMERS:
The SMF highlights a diverse range of performers which in the past have included, Yair Dalal, Hadag Nachash, members of Shotey Hanevua, Piamenta, Soulico, Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, DJ Shotnez of Balkan Beat Box, Michal Cohen, and Matisyahu to name a few.
(click here for past event schedules).


MORE ABOUT SMF:
The Sephardic Music Festival (SMF) aims to increase interest in and awareness of Sephardic cultures, including Mizrahi, Yemenite, and Ladino traditions. The festival showcases the latest Sephardic musical talents from all over the world. Artists at the forefront of the Sephardic music scene as well as artists inspired by Sephardic music, perform at numerous venues around New York City during the eight nights of Chanukah. The SMF highlights the diversity that exists within the Sephardic branch of Jewish culture and history by showcasing today's Sephardic musical talents in the United States. Part of the festival is the Sephardic Scholar Series which assembles a panel of ethnomusicologists and performers to discuss the roots of sounds being presented. Other Jewish music festivals have mostly been dominated by Ashkenazic (Eastern European) beats and melodies, whereas the SMF is the first to exclusively focus on Sephardic tunes and culture. The festival attracts a diverse audience of hipsters, professionals, and music lovers of all ages, denominations, and ethnicities. It also serves as a platform for the preservation and continuation of Sephardic heritage by promoting a variety of music styles, such as Ladino which is nearly extinct as a spoken language. The goal of the Sephardic Music Festival is to give people the opportunity to learn and enjoy this rich, sensual tradition that has the power to make hips shake and souls soar.


ABOUT SHEMSPEED:
Shemspeed is an independent recording label and artists' promotional agency devoted to world Jewish music. Shemspeed works with cross-over artists with strong positive and unifying messages.  Shemspeed promotes over 15 dynamic Jewish artists, representing a wide range of music genres including Hip-Hop, Reggae, and Rock. These artists include, but are not limited to, Y-Love (revolutionary Jewish Hip-Hop), Diwon (Yemenite / Sephardic Hip-Hop, Israeli Music, and more), DeScribe (Soul Awakening Hip-Hop, R & B, Soul), Electro Morocco (Israeli Rock, Dance Music), and Eprhyme (Kabbalistic Hip-Hop, Party Music).  Shemspeed is the brainchild of the Founder/Director Erez Safar, an American-Israeli DJ/Producer extraordinaire (his musical persona is Diwon).  His vision of an entrepreneurial venture devoted to Jewish music with a strong educational and social message has evolved into Shemspeed, a company becoming synonymous with unifying people through culture and education, celebrating diversity and common ground. 

As a Jewish social entrepreneurial venture, our mission extends far beyond selling CDs and booking concerts.  Shemspeed combines passionate performances by cutting-edge musicians with powerful, thought-provoking, innovative  programming.  Shemspeed's repertoire of programs is always evolving.  Current offerings include the 40 Days and 40 Nights College Tour, Jewish High School Music Project, The Keffiyeh Project, and our longest running program -- the Sephardic Music Festival.  By way of this work, we are also attempting to put forth a public Jewish face to multi-cultural, inter-faith, creative, and collaborative bridge-building. 


ABOUT THE FOUNDER:

Erez Safar - a.k.a. Diwon (pronounced dee-wan) - is an LA-based DJ, producer, and songwriter. Safar serves as CEO of Bancs, an American independent hip hop and dance record label, and Shemspeed, an independent recording label and promotional agency devoted to producing and developing dynamic multicultural artists and interactive media. The producer of the extremely successful annual Sephardic Music Festival in New York City, Safar recently moved to Los Angeles to launch two new companies, Design & Code Creative (designandcodecreative.com), a graphic design company, and Music PR Co. (musicprco.com), a public relations company for artists.

Safar began as a radio personality at WMUC (University of Maryland’s campus radio station) in 2003, alongside popular music insider Peter Rosenberg. Soon after, Erez created Modular Moods and his first signed artist debuted on the Top 40 CMJ Music Charts. He has since performed across the globe, negotiated deals with Warner Brothers and Sony, and continues to sign the most dynamic and inspiring artists to Bancs Records and Shemspeed Entertainment. Safar has been selected by The Forward as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Jews and has been featured in countless publications and TV programs including the New York Times, BBC and CBS. His businesses have been profiled in Bloomberg Business Week, Time Magazine, and on NBC. His artists have performed with stars such as Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Idan Raichel, and Eminem; they’ve been profiled in Rolling Stone, SPIN, The New York Times, and XXL; and they’ve been seen and heard around the world on Conan O’Brien, CBS, and BBC World programs.