Biography

Emil Zrihan, cantor of the synagogue in Ashkelon, kept the Judeo-Andalusian and folk traditions of his mother country, Morocco, alive in his heart. Following immense success on stage, here at last is the international debut album by the man nicknamed "the voice of the mocking bird". The impressive vocal range and power of Zrihan's counter tenor express both the emotional intensity of North African religious music and the vivacity of Andalusian music. His fascinating "mawals" (improvisations) are subtly enhanced by oud, violin, accordion and darbuka, which repeat the themes with spirit and gusto. The upbeat rhythmic tempo, with its Mediterranean flavour, alternates with passages imbued with the languor of the Orient: a mix which evokes the family gatherings, songs and dances of the Sephardic culture. As the guest of honour on Zrihan's recent album, Baldi Olier adds sensitivity tempered with a confident guitar style stemming from the purest flamenco tradition. The producer, Yossi Fine, has managed to capture the strength of Emil Zrihan's extraordinary voice, adding bass and both African and Brazilian percussion to the traditional instruments, thereby conferring on this album a sound which is at once profound and elegant, light and playful, and which invites the listeners to move and to dance. Emil Zrihan, the Moroccan Nightingale, was acclaimed as the surprise of Womex 97. This performer captivates audiences with his exceptional voice and stage presence, and he stamped a note of deep satisfaction on everything that happened at the Womex Festival, with his holy songs from North Africa and tonal Arabic-Andalusian music.