“Beautifully presented, the players bring superb musicianship and palpable enthusiasm to each performance. Eliyahu’s ney flute along with Rachel’s succulent vocals are stars . . . creating a sense of human communication with the divine.” -All Things Considered, NPR
“Visionary . . . achingly beautiful . . .” San Francisco Chronicle
“Truly world music, some of the most open, human music you'll hear . . . Essential” -East Bay Express
Rachel & Eliyahu’s much-awaited album Shar P'tach Dodi (Open the Gates my beloved) featuring The Qadim Ensemble, is set to release May 2019. The new album, which took over two years to make, features soulful Jewish music of devotion and longing from around the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This release concert on May 18th will highlight some of the new material, as well as music from Arabic and Turkish traditions. The evening will feature some of the most talented musicians in the Bay Area, including Dan Cantrell, Faisal Zedan, Rachel Valfer, Eliyahu Sills, Josh Mellinger & special guest Ali Paris.
The Qadim Ensemble's previous album, Eastern Wind, received rave reviews worldwide and reached #7 on Billboard's World Music charts.
Qadim is a word found in both Arabic and Hebrew meaning 'ancient' as well as 'that which will come.' The ensemble’s repertoire includes Arabic, Jewish, Turkish Sufi, Hebrew-Yemenite, Armenian, Greek, Ladino and Moroccan music. Qadim is devoted to celebrating the common musical and spiritual heritage of the region's cultures while honoring the great diversity found within them.
About Ali Paris Special guest Ali Paris has collaborated with a long list of world-renowned artists such as Alicia Keys, Quincy Jones, Paco De Lucia and Bobby McFerrin. Ali Paris tours extensively in the US, Europe & The Middle-East. These performances are marked for their exploration of fertile ground in the crossover between Eastern and Western cultures and music genres.
