releases
LOS DESTERRADOS - Tu
Los Desterrados boldly combine the Sephardic influences
of Turkish percussion, Greek Sarki, Bosnian Tango and Spanish Flamenco with
an indomitable urban-spirit that gives this medieval music a Metropolitan-makeover
perfect for the 21st century Diaspora.
As the Gypsy Kings reinvigorated flamenco and the Gotan
Project revitalised Tango so Los Desterrados have brought new
life to Mediterranean Gypsy ‘Sephardic’ music.
Featuring traditional instruments such as the cajón and ‘oud
with vocals in Ladino, the language of the Sephardic Jews, or Hebrew, the
unconventional arrangements and rousing rhythms Los
Des wield are heavily influenced by the music they’ve
all grown up on as native North Londoners - rock ‘n’ roll,
jazz, folk, flamenco, funk and soul.
To fully experience Los Desterrados they have to be seen
live. Equally at home playing the legendary Marquee club, jazz-haven Pizza
on the Park, East London’s home for cutting edge music the Spitz,
the home of the London Symphony Orchestra St Lukes or
even Trafalgar Square, all crowds are won over by their exhilarating live
shows. Daniel surmises: “We are far closer to the spirit of bands such
as the Gypsy Kings and Radio Tarifa - bands
who go out their to entertain and involve the audience and put on a
show, than traditional Sephardic acts such as Yasmin
Levy”.
Whilst many fans of Jewish music will be familiar with
the clarinet/violin-heavy Klezmer music of the Eastern
European or Ashkenazi Jews, the music of the Sephardic Jews
is less well known. Growing up in the Iberian Peninsula,
the community was expelled at the end of the 15th century by the Catholic
monarchs.
“Being pushed around from country to country, often vilified, the history
of the Sephardic communities is tragic” adds Jean
Marc, “yet these songs are full of life, pride and passion and
are a link back to a golden age of Spain when Muslims, Jews and Christians lived
together in a time of prosperity and cultural cross-fertilisation.” Hayley agrees: “People
have preconceptions of Jewish culture as being obsessed with
tragedy or the Holocaust yet this music for me is very positive. Jews aren’t
all about misery, death, black hats and curly ringlets – Sephardic songs
tend to be more romantic, earthy and more diverse than a lot of Klezmer songs – these
songs have Latin fire in their bellies!”
Los Desterrados was founded by Daniel (vocals,
guitar, ‘oud) in 1999 with two good friends Jake Baum (guitar)
and Hayley Blitz (vocals). They then called
upon the talents of Jean-Marc Barsam (vocals, bass), Mark
Greenfield (cajón, darbouka, daf) and Ariane Todes (violin)
to help record the debut CD ‘Por Dos Levanim’ in
2001. Recorded the week that Daniel was scheduled to be on
his honeymoon he confirms that “the pain on that CD is real!” The
following year, Jake left to move to Australia and
replaced by Andrew Salida (vocals, flute, guitar), the definitive Los
Des line up was formed.
Daniel is the self-confessed “group fundamentalist”,
a practising Sephardi Jew, he brings the Sephardic and Middle
Eastern influences to Los Des. A former shred-guitar
master he got bored of playing in his bedroom and looking to
his roots for inspiration his love affair with Sephardic music
began by learning Flamenco guitar from a Spanish gypsy.
As a graduate of the Royal Academy and
editor of ‘The Strad’ - the magazine for bowed
string players – Ariane is the classically trained
member of the band. She enjoys the freedom that improvisation has given her
and the connection with her roots. According to family history one of her
ancestors was the doctor of Queen Elizabeth of Spain -
which is how her family escaped persecution when the Sephardim were
exiled.
Hayley is the old skool folkie through and through - teased
at school for liking Fairport Convention as opposed to Duran
Duran - she turned down the offer of a record deal by psychedelic
folksters Pendragon at the age of 18. A fan of the likes
of Mark Murphy and Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Jean Marc got
his stripes singing in male choirs and playing jazz guitar in various bands. Drew,
the youngest member of the band, studied at Guildhall Music
college and honed his skills busking on the underground. Whilst percussionist Mark -
described by Daniel as a bit of a ‘punk’ -
loves the way Los Des has connected him to his Jewish roots
and heritage, Drew’s interest is more “in
the groove the music has than anything else”.
“Because we haven’t heard our grandmothers sing these
songs we’ve come at them from our own angles” adds Hayley. Daniel chips
in “We are modern people and living in London we’re
doing what Londoners do best – taking something and
investing it with what we’ve heard around us, making it our own and
creating something fresh”
TRACKLISTING:
1. Avre Tu Puerta Cerrada
2. Morena Me Yaman
3. Abraham Avinu
4. El Rey De Francia Tres Hijas Tenia
5. Tres Klavinas En Un Tiesto (Minnush)
6. A La Una Yo Naci / Debajo De La Rosa
7. Ki Eshmera Shabbat
8. Adio Kerida
9. La Komida La Manyana
10. Ocho Kandelikas
11. Avrich Mi, Galanika
12. Alta Es La Luna (Bonus Track)
LOS DESTERRADOS - Tu is available through Crusoe
Records and distributed by Creative Vibes
