The Sons of Sepharad comprises of musicians Aaron Bensoussan (Voice, Oud), Gerard Edery (Voice, Guitars & Saz) Alverto Mizrahi (Voice) Rex Benincasa (Percussion) and world-renown Oud player, George Mgrdichian. This recording is culled from performances in synagogues located in Chicago, Toronto and London. Bensoussan, Mizrahi and Edery are individually known for the high-caliber vocalizing in the Sephardi tradition. A tradition going back to the Medieval times in Spain and Portugal that carry on the messages and meaning of the Jewish faith.

In the music itself there is an interesting mix of various cultures that have been in Spain throughout the centuries. What might be thought of as traditionally Arabic/Middle Eastern instruments (Oud, Doumbek) are shown to be used and appreciated in the Sephardi tradition. The guitar is played with a vigorous strumming in the Spanish style. The minor-key pieces certainly add to overall seriousness of the performances. The wide-open, warm singing is the centerpiece of the group, especially when they come together in 3-part harmony. Although the recording sounds like great care was taken to capture all the nuances, the performers sounds they could carry a room without out the microphones. All the singing is sung in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Greek, Turkish and Ladino (the spoken and written Hispanic language of Jews of Spanish origin).

While the music is created for a specific purpose it can enjoyed as an insight to Jewish music for all the non-Sephard ic peoples or strictly as a mesmerizing musical endeavor

- Cameron Blades -

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