Next Stage Arts and Jewish Communities of Vermont present Next Stage’s Fall Artist-in-Residence:
Noam “Nani” Vazana is one of the only artists in the world that write & compose new songs in the endangered Ladino language. In her new album Ke Haber (What’s New) she captures the spirit of the ancient, matriarchal language and culture and propels it into the 21st century with socially pertinent lyrics, celebrating migration, gender and female empowerment.
“Music serves as a portal for discovering new cultures, and Nani is one of the few artists in the world composing music in Ladino, the language spoken by her grandmother in Portugal,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Nani lives in Amsterdam and has been frequently highlighted on BBC, performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and stages around the world. We’re honored to host her as our fall artist-in-residence and to present her in the theater.”
Nani’s soundscape bridges over tradition and modern life, capturing the sounds and smells of the marketplace, and fuses them with raw, flamenco-like vocals and surprising instrumentations. Soft choral-like trombones embellish mariachi guitars & percussion with glimpses of piano & cello tracks, making this record a magical realistic mosaic. Nani unveils a piece of history we don’t easily find in other mythology & anthropology.
Nani ranked the Top-20 on the World Music Charts Europe (#13 Ke Haber), represented the Netherlands at the EU Music Festival in Vietnam and performed at the Kennedy Center USA, BBC Radio 3, the London Jazz Festival UK and the Jodhpur RIFF festival India.
Nani showcased at APAP USA, Jazzahead DE and Injazz NL. The held talks at TEDx Amsterdam NL & hosted 3 WOMEX panels. The Dutch NPO network released a mini documentary about her musical work and she also composed music for BBC4 and NPO documentaries.
Nani is a professor at the London Performing Academy of Music and the Jerusalem Music Academy, she chairs of the Amsterdam Artist Collective and founded Why DIY Music and Nova Productions.
Jewish Communities of Vermont is delighted to co-sponsor this performance, made possible by a generous grant from the Covenant Foundation. JCVT weaves together the statewide community–creating connections, promoting common ground, celebrating stories, and supporting organizational enhancement. www.jcvt.org
Next Stage serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community.
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