Review for new CD

[Gerard Edery <gedery...>]

                                                    The Jewish Herald-Voice

Page 42                                    Arts and Entertainment               
           June 6 2002

 

Jukebox                             (from Page 41)

 

"The Gerard Edery Ensemble

Sing to the Eternal"

(Sefarad)

 

Genre:  Sephardic

Description:  Hearing Gerard Edery's perfect enunciation and creamy baritone, 
it's easy to spot his operatic training at work.  And then there's his virtuoso 
guitar and saz (Persian lute) playing, a mix of classical, flamenco, and folk 
stylings.  Winner of the 1997 Sephardic Musical Heritage Award, Edery has built 
up quite a distinguished career around the world on the concert and festival 
circuit doing Sephardic, flamenco, Middle Eastern and Jewish programs.

            His ensemble included Armenian oud player George Mgrdichian, one of 
greatest Middle Eastern lute players living in the United States, and electric 
bass player Sean Kupisz, a musician with whom I am not familiar but who adds a 
great deal to "Sing to the Eternal."

Key Tracks:  The tunes on this album are from the Sephardic sacred repertoire.  
Some are familiar Shabbat tunes like "Adon Olam" and "Ya Ribbon" set to 
original or traditional Moroccan melodies.  Other tunes like the haunting 
"Shalom Alechem, Señores," is a Ladino tune that expresses the feelings of 
withdrawal that sometimes comes over one when confronted with such a cruel 
world.  Edery also includes a mystic poem, set to music by the Sufi poet Rumi, 
that works well in this context.

Appeal:  An excellent program with a wide dynamic range performed by some 
excellent musicians with excellent control.  Highly recommended.  Available at 
www.gerardedery.com, Gerard Edery's website.





Sefarad Records Corp.
392 Central Park West
Apt. 17Y
New York, NY  10025
Phone/Fax: (212) 662-9712
gedery (at) adiglobal(dot)com
www.sefaradrecords.com