Woven through Daphna Sadeh's composition is a rich red tapestry of Eastern European Jewish Music, laced and beaded with Middle Eastern traditions and Ethnic thread. These original compositions and arrangements weave a vibrant live picture known uniquely as the sound of The Voyagers

Steeped in jazz music composition and performance, Daphna's deep cultural awareness of her roots informs her music. She was born into a multicultural society - "not only Jews, but Arabs, Christians, Bedouin - as a child I was exposed to these cultures. I was born to an Ashkenazi family - my mother's family was from Russia and father from Germany - but I was attracted to Arabic and Middle Eastern cultures. I love visiting the Sinai Desert and the Bedouin culture which I find inspiring".

For Daphna composing music is like drawing a picture - "when I write music I want to deliver a certain impact or create a certain impression, - so I say, I'll use lots of reds here and yellows there - by mixing the colours, the sound created can be fertile and luscious, - one that has an aesthetic feel".

Her band The Voyagers are a group of well-established touring and session musicians. "I am lucky to work with such dedicated and talented musicians. I write to give them a music framework to perform within so they have a lot of freedom to improvise and let go in live performance".

photos:claire borley

Musicians:

Daphna Sadeh - music director, double bass, composition

Stewart Curtis - woodwinds

Eddie Hession - accordion

Nim Schwartz - oud, saz

Ronen Kozokaro - percussion, drums

Nawroz Oramari - Kurdish vocal - guest musician