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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Yemen Blues

March 13, 2020
Schiffbauplatz, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland

Imbued in youth with the melodies of the Yemenite synagogue, Israeli frontman Ravid Kalahani—gold-bedizened, man-bunned, mantic—has taken this malawach, stuffed it with other musics (Arabic, African, Bukhari, Latin, blues, jazz, funk) and other selves (dancer, opera singer, Hare Krishna, drug addict, chef), and now serves up something irresistible. —E.E.