2nd Annual Sephardic Music Festival

Sephardis Get Funky

This Chanukah, New Yorkers will get the chance to celebrate everything that makes Sephardi culture fresh and happening. The second annual Sephardic Music Festival, organised by DJ Handler, boss of Modular Moods, features a breathtaking array of diverse Sephardic-flavoured sounds.

From Israeli hip-hop to black converts to Orthodox Judaism, the nine-day event starts on December 16 and finishes on Christmas Eve. Among the events to look forward to are Y-Love, performing with Pharoah’s Daughter on opening night.

Y-Love, aka Yitz Jordan, is a black MC who discovered the delights of Judaism, so much so that he can rhyme in English, Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish and even Aramaic. Pharoah’s Daughter, fronted by Basya Schechter, perform mighty Middle East fusion music, influenced by a variety of cultures.

Other highlights include legendary Uzbekistan-born Ezra Malakov, who performs Bukharian music, and is a Chazan in Queens.

The ever-popular Afro-Semitic Experience also feature, on December 21, blending Jewish and African sounds into infectious grooves.

Plus throughout the Festival, DJ Handler himself and Y-Love will also appear on other nights, while a free mix tape featuring some of the best artists, by DJ Handler, will be given out at events.

With something on the bill for the glorious hip as well as the totally untrendy, this is an essential event.

For more information: www.SephardicMusicFestival.com