Nuriya & Gerard Edery Ensemble

Posted on Tuesday, August 23

13th annual World Music Festival: Chicago 2011 and KFAR Jewish Arts Center
Nuriya & Gerard Edery Ensemble

Nuriya – Born in Mexico City to Jews who fled their countries, Iraq and Syria due to religious persecution, Nuriya Almaya’s most formative years were abundant with music from the Middle East, Mexico, Caribbean, Spain and Europe.

Her elders made their mark with their perpetual playing of old Arabic records and singing of Pismonim (prayers sung to melodies of secular music) at family gatherings.  Her homes embraced a vivacious way of life where the Middle-East and the Latin culture became effortlessly intertwined.

Nuriya’s nomadic curiosity took her to Cuba to study folkloric music and dance with the Muñequitos of Mantanzas. In Israel she studied ancient Hebrew and Arabic melodies with Iraqi master Yair Dalal.

Her enchantment with the melismatic arabesques of Oum Kalthoum and Agustin Lara and the music of her Sephardic and Mizrahi ancestors are clear in her own performances.

Sunday, September 18
7:00pm
$15
Mayne Stage
1328 W. Morse Ave.