NPR Music

Support Public RadioLogin

globalFEST

Yemen Blues In Concert: globalFEST 2012

Yemen Blues performs during globalFEST at New York City's Webster Hall on Jan. 8.
Ryan Muir for NPR

Yemen Blues performs during globalFEST at New York City's Webster Hall on Jan. 8.

Yemen Blues: globalFEST 2012

January 10, 2012 Inspired by sounds from Bedouin rhythms to New Orleans brass bands, the band plays live in concert.

By Anastasia Tsioulcas

"Raw" and "rooty" are two good words for this young, wide-wandering band founded by the Yemeni Jewish singer Ravid Kalahani and Israeli bassist Omer Avital. At times, it evokes New Orleans second-line bands, the mesmerizing and earthy sounds of West African stringed guimbri, and rocking Middle Eastern rhythms, all of which course together in a raucous party of a stage show.

With Kalahani's soulful vocals alternating between the grit of the Mississippi Delta to the falsetto of Prince-style funk, Yemen Blues was one of the breakout favorites from this year's globalFEST lineup.

Set List
  • "Eli"
  • "Yemen Blues"
  • "Um Min Al Yaman"
  • "Trape La Verite"
  • "Jat Mahibathi"
  • "At Va'Ani"

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor

More globalFEST

More globalFEST
 

Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and Terms of Use. NPR reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location, in any medium. See also the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Community FAQ.

Podcast + RSS Feeds

Podcast RSS

  • Concerts
     
  • globalFEST