La Sirena

Aviva Chernick was the lead vocalist for the Toronto-based world music band, Jaffa Road, when she discovered the treasure of Ladino music through a mentor, Flory Jagoda. Her renditions of these songs of loss and longing that came out of a very harsh refugee experience incorporate modern jazz and other contemporary musical tropes. Beautifully evocative of other times and places.

NO FCC's; Favorite tracks: 5, 6, 9,

1- A Ti, Espanya – 4:18-- by Aviva's teacher, Flory Jagoda, an original song in Ladino of the Jews' longing for Spain after they were expelled; sweet and simple

2-- Min Hameitzar-4:52 –lyrics from Psalm118:5 – in English and Hebrew; mysterious

3 –Kol Dodi –4:10 – lyrics from Song of Songs 5:2 set to a modern-sounding minor key melody; has spoken words two thirds of the way through

4—Buena Semana –4:32 – song composed by Jagoda in Ladino, the language of the Jews of medieval Spain and the Sephardic Jews in the diaspora, “A Good Week for All”

*5 –La Sirena- 3:45-- traditional Ladino song of a girl in a tower who calls to passing sailors; lyrics in English as well

*6—Arvoles Yoran –4:55 – “Trees Cry for Rain,” the dryness of the trees as a metaphor for the refugee in a strange land crying for her beloved

7—Esta Montanya de Enfrente –4:56- traditional Ladino “The Mountain Ahead” – lovely mandolin accenting the recuerdos of the song

8—Laz Tiyas—2:43 – rhythmic with pretty harmony and little yells

*9—Adon Olam –4:14 –liturgical poem in Hebrew set to traditional Yemenite melody; mysterious and beautiful

10—Rikordus di mi Nona -1:42-- written by Flory Jagoda, remembering the grandmas; a capella; heartfelt