new sephardic cd: "the liturgy of ezra bessaroth"

[SteveBaral <SteveBaral...>]

Hazzan Isaac Azose To Release CD: "The Liturgy of Ezra Bessaroth"

By Steven Baral

On September 15, 1999, Hazzan Isaac Azose, of Seattle, WA will release his 
first CD, "The Liturgy of Ezra Bessaroth". The double CD, which is previewed 
on the internet at www.ezrabessaroth.org/pages/cd.html represents the 
culmination of Hazzan Azose' 33 years of service to the Sephardic Rhodesli 
Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, in Seattle, WA.

The CD contains 63 tracks that represent a broad cross-section of the 
traditional Judeo-Spanish Tefillah and include excerpts from the Daily, 
Shabbat and Holiday Prayers. 17 of the tracks are sung in Ladino, as is the 
custom of the Synagogue. The unique musical heritage reflects an unbroken 
continued tradition from the Spanish Exile of 1492 until the present day, 
which has been preserved only in Seattle and a few other cities in the world. 
One of the aims of the CD is to further preserve this heritage for future 
generations.

Hazzan Azose was born in Seattle in 1930 and grew up in a home where Ladino 
was spoken. Both his grandfathers  were rabbis in Turkey and the United 
States. His Uncle, Rabbi Solomon Maimon, is the venerated leader of the 
Seattle Sephardic Jewish Community. Hazzan Azose was brought up at the 
Sephardic Bikur Holim Synagogue, founded by Jews from Turkey. The 
Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, where Hazzan Azose has been Hazzan since 1966 
was founded by Jews from the Island of Rhodes, in 1910.

For information as to how to order the CD, which retails for $20 plus $3.20 
shipping, please contact Steven Baral,  by e-mail: webmaster (at) 
ezrabessaroth(dot)org

---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+