Aviva Press

By Maria Esteves - March 22, 2009

The outstanding sold-out musical performance of  "THE SPIRIT OF SEPHARAD" in celebration of Purim presented by and held at Queens Theatre in the Park, New York, on Saturday, March 7, 2009, 8:00pm was a spiritual brilliance! Sephardic music maestro Gerard Edery and the Caravan Ensemble mesmerized audience with a superb mixed media performance (songs, stories, dance and media) of the rich cultural history of Sephardic Judiasm from medieval Spain to across North Africa and beyond the Middle East. A special Q&A with Sephardic Music Maestro Gerard Edery preceded the cocktail reception.

THE SPIRIT OF SEPHARAD, released by Sefarad Records, written/directed by Gerard Edery and Henning Rubsam is a 500-year musical journey that brings to life Spain's intertwined deeply rooted Jewish, Arabic and Spanish culture. Cast includes: narrator Peninnah Schram; oud virtuoso Ara Dinkjian; flamenco dancer/vocals Barbara Martinez; vocals/guitarist Gerard Edery; saz/vocals/percussionist Amir Vahab; and world renowned percussionist Glen Velez. For further information about upcoming performances, call 1.212.924.3746 or visit http://www.sefaradrecords.com. 

THE SPIRIT OF SEPHARAD, (from left-right), Award winning storyteller,
narrator Peninnah Schram; oud-virtuoso Ara Dinkjian; flamenco dancer
/singer/actress Barbara Martinez; writer/director/singer/guitarist
Gerard Edery; three-time Grammy award winner, world renowned
percussionist Glen Velez and saz/singer/percussionist Amir Vahab.

THE SPIRIT OF SEPHARAD, (from left-right), flamenco dancer/singer
/actress Barbara Martinez; oud-virtuoso Ara Dinkjian; writer/director
/singer/guitarist Gerard Edery; three-time Grammy award winner,
world renowned percussionist Glen Velez and saz/singer/percussionist
Amir Vahab.

THE SPIRIT OF SEPHARAD, (from left-right), Award winning storyteller, narrator Peninnah Schram; oud virtuoso Ara Dinkjian; flamenco dancer /singer/actress Barbara Martinez; writer/director/singer/guitarist Gerard Edery and saz/singer/percussionist Amir Vahab.

THE SPIRIT OF SEPHARAD, (from left-right), flamenco dancer/singer
/actress Barbara Martinez; writer/director/singer/guitarist Gerard
Edery and saz/singer/percussionist Amir Vahab.