Yemen Blues | SFJAZZ 2024-25 Season
Yemen Blues
Middle Eastern Soul

Yemen Blues

DEC 6-22 | Holidays at SFJAZZ

Dec 19, 2024
Miner Auditorium
ThuDec 19
7:30 PM

$25 | $35 | $65 | $85 | $95

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The passionate and charismatic Yemeni-born Israeli singer Ravid Kahalani leads a roaring quartet making intoxicating music that merges West African rhythms and ancient Jewish Yemeni melodies, blues, and funk. They take the Miner stage for the first time in over eight years, bringing music from their newest release Shabazi – A Tribute to the Poet and more.

Begun by Kahalani in 2010, the group appeared in Paste magazine’s list of 10 International Acts to Watch and performed a captivating set at globalFEST in 2012, the most prestigious world music festival in America, turning them into a global phenomenon.

Since last performing at SFJAZZ in support of their Bill Laswell-produced sophomore album Insaniya, Yemen Blues has pared down from a sextet to a powerhouse quartet led by Kahalani’s yearning vocals and gimbri (Moroccan lute), and featuring founding Israeli/Uruguayan percussionist Roni Iwryn, bassist and oud master Shanir Blumenkranz, and drummer Dan Mayo.

Shabazi – A Tribute to the Poet is the band’s first studio release since 2015, a project that pays tribute to 17th century Yemeni poet Shalem Shabazi, setting his beauteous texts to powerful new compositions that blend the ancient and the modern, and the west and the east.

“Spirituality unites us,” Kahalani explains. “Love unites us. We move to extremes, but it’s soulful.”

More

The passionate and charismatic Yemeni-born Israeli singer Ravid Kahalani leads a roaring quartet making intoxicating music that merges West African rhythms and ancient Jewish Yemeni melodies, blues, and funk, bringing music from their newest release Shabazi – A Tribute to the Poet

Quite simply, it’s one of the most exciting bands in world music right now.

time out chicago on yemen blues

Quite simply, it’s one of the most exciting bands in world music right now.

time out chicago on yemen blues

Personnel

Ravid Kahalanivocals, gimbri
Shanir Blumenkranzbass, oud
Dan Mayo drums
Rony Iwryn percussion

The flavors of West African roots and enhanced modern compositions are bringing together a breathtaking experience and a mixture of beautiful complex grooves

all about jazz on yemen blues

Personnel

Ravid Kahalanivocals, gimbri
Shanir Blumenkranzbass, oud
Dan Mayo drums
Rony Iwryn percussion

The flavors of West African roots and enhanced modern compositions are bringing together a breathtaking experience and a mixture of beautiful complex grooves

all about jazz on yemen blues

Watch & Listen

Yemen Blues

Ahalel El Asher Yatzak

Yemen Blues

Levavi Yehsheka Ofra

Yemen Blues

Ahalel El Asher Yatzak

Yemen Blues

Levavi Yehsheka Ofra

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