The evening news usually depicts Israel as a country dominated by conflict with its Arab neighbors. As a result, most outsiders have little insight into what daily life is really like for its inhabitants. Comprised largely of immigrants, modern Israel is home to diverse groups of people who have come from around the world to settle in this cultural melting pot. Jews, Arabs and Christians live and work together peacefully in Jerusalem, a city whose ancient history and mysticism are held sacred to all three religions. In the bustling cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, nightclubs, boutiques and beachside bars are more common than bus bombings and missile strikes.
Nowhere is the diversity of Israel more evident than in its music. A beguiling fusion of European and Middle Eastern melodies with other elements from the vast Jewish Diaspora, Israel’s music reflects the multiple influences of its inhabitants. Putumayo World Music presents Israel - a collection highlighting a new generation of Israeli musicians who transcend the political strife depicted on the evening news. From Yemenite chants to Jamaican reggae, this collection represents some of the diverse sounds impacting the popular music of modern Israel.
Watch the video: The Idan Raichel Project - "Mi Ma'amakim"
The Idan Raichel Project burst onto the Israeli music scene in 2002, changing the face of Israeli popular music and offering a message of love and tolerance resonating strongly in a region of the world where the headlines are too often dominated by conflict. With an enchanting blend of Ethiopian and Middle Eastern flavors coupled with sophisticated production techniques and a spectacular live show, the Idan Raichel Project has become one of the most unexpected success stories in Israeli music today. While he regularly fills large concert halls at home, the international release of his recordings on the Cumbancha record label promises to introduce the work of this inspirational collective to a wide global audience.
Two percent of Putumayo’s proceeds from the sale of Israel will be donated to Latet – Israeli Humanitarian Aid, in support of its efforts to provide assistance to needy populations in Israel and around the world, and to A New Way, which strives to develop tolerance, friendship and cooperation among Jewish and Arab children and parents in Israel.
