Yasmin Levy is from Israel, but she never sings in Hebrew. Or as she says herself: 'That's the language in which I buy milk and bread'. Levy is the ambassador of Ladino, the main language of Spanish, Arabic and Turkish Jews for centuries. Today Ladino is an endangered language, but Levy is determined to bring music in this language to as many people as possible. That is why she regularly performs
… outside Israeli borders and recorded this album with a string orchestra from Istanbul. The orchestra's arrangements fit perfectly with Levy's passionate songs. That is not very strange: Yasmin's father was born in Turkey and Sephardic music is also audibly influenced by Turkish music. Like a true dove of peace, the singer combines influences from Arabic, Spanish, Turkish, Jewish and Gypsy music. Levy's albums are always of a high standard. That fact makes it extra special that the modest Libertad is one of her most beautiful albums to date. (PdK)more
