Kol Oud Tof Trio

The name of this group means "voice, oud, drum," and that is what this Israeli group features. Esti Kenan-Ofri is an Italian-born, classically trained soprano with a lilting, sweet voice; Armand Sabach is a Moroccan-born oud player who specializes in classical Arabic music; percussionist Oren Fried is an Israeli native with an extensive background in jazz. The result is a seamless and engaging collaboration that combines Hebrew liturgical poetry, Ladino and Arabic classical modes in a beautiful blend.

This CD brings together for the first time four different Moroccan Jewish musical repertoires which until now have been presented separately: Spanish women's songs from northern Morocco, sung in their original language, Haketia, the Ladino of the Jews of Northern Morocco; songs in the Jewish-Moroccan-Arabic dialect; Moroccan Jewish liturgical music; and classic Andalusian songs in Hebrew, a tradition which finds its principal expression in "bakkashot' (petitions).

— Courtesy Calabash Music